Clicky

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500

Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72
Pentax K-70 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Launched June 2016
  • Successor is Pentax KF
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Pentax K-70 and Sony A500, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-70 (24MP) and A500 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The K-70 was manufactured 6 years after the A500 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a short summation of how the K-70 grades against the A500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Sony A500

 K-70 A500 
IntroducedJune 2016August 2009Newer by 83 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Pentax K-70

 A500 K-70 

Common features in the Pentax K-70 and Sony A500

 K-70 A500 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Touch display Missing Touch display

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-70 provides physical measurements of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") along with a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs) while the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Pentax K-70 and Sony A500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the K-70 compared to the A500.

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-70 and A500 is 62 and 63 respectively.

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions simply by viewing technical specs. The image here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-70 and A500.

As you can tell, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Pentax K-70 to provide you with extra detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The younger K-70 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-70 Portrait photography information
Sony A500 Portrait photography information
80
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-70
Street photography with Sony A500
71
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
good ISO range (102,400)
more heavy than competitors in class (688g)
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Pentax K-70 Sports photography info
Sony A500 Sports photography info
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low battery pack (410 per charge)
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (520 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Pentax K-70 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
64
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
low battery pack (410 shots)
more heavy than competitors in class (688g)
43
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-70 Landscape photography information
Sony A500 Landscape photography information
78
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
good ISO range (102,400)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
low battery pack (410 shots)
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery power (520 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-70
Vlogging with Sony A500
71
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (688g)
9
no video recording
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Pentax K-70 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-70 and Sony A500
 Pentax K-70Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-70 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2016-06-08 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor PRIME MII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 102400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 688 gr (1.52 lb) 630 gr (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 410 images 520 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $649 $638