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Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230

Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60
Pentax K-7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed October 2009
  • Renewed by Pentax K-5
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A200
  • New Model is Sony A290
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Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230 Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Pentax K-7 and Sony A230, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the K-7 (15MP) and A230 (10MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The K-7 was announced 5 months after the A230 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the K-7 scores vs the A230 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Sony A230

 K-7 A230 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Pentax K-7

 A230 K-7 

Common features in the Pentax K-7 and Sony A230

 K-7 A230 
AnnouncedOctober 2009May 2009Same age
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-7 provides outside dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs) and the Sony A230 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-7 and Sony A230 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the K-7 against the A230.

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the K-7 and A230 is 60 and 69 respectively.

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through specs. The pic here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-7 and A230.

All in all, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Pentax K-7 to produce more detail with its extra 5MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively.

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-7
Portrait photography with Sony A230
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW files
54
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-7 Street photography details
Sony A230 Street photography details
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
no moving screen
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-7
Sports photography with Sony A230
69
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10MP)
low battery power (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-7 Travel photography information
Sony A230 Travel photography information
64
weather proofing
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
45
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low battery power (230 CIPA)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-7 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A230 Landscape photography highlights
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
51
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no liveview
low megapixels (10MP)
low battery power (230 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-7 Vlogging features
Sony A230 Vlogging features
25
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
9
can't shoot video
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Pentax K-7 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-7 and Sony A230
 Pentax K-7Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-10-02 2009-05-18
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4672 x 3104 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 2000 3200
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT color LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 750g (1.65 lb) 490g (1.08 lb)
Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 61 63
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 11.4
DXO Low light rating 536 531
Other
Battery life 980 photographs 230 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $599 $569