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Pentax K-r vs Sony A55

Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52
Pentax K-r front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Pentax K-r vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced March 2011
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Later Model is Sony A57
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Pentax K-r vs Sony A55 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Pentax K-r versus Sony A55, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the K-r (12MP) and A55 (16MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-r was brought out 7 months after the A55 and they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the K-r matches up against the A55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Sony A55

 K-r A55 
RevealedMarch 2011August 2010More modern by 7 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Pentax K-r

 A55 K-r 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax K-r and Sony A55

 K-r A55 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Display resolution921k921kExact same display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Pentax K-r vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-r features outside measurements of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-r versus Sony A55 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the K-r compared to the A55.

Pentax K-r vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the K-r and A55 is 67 and 67 respectively.

Pentax K-r vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-r vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by viewing specs. The pic underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the K-r and A55.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Sony A55 to provide you with extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more recent K-r will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-r vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-r vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-r vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-r Portrait photography advice
Sony A55 Portrait photography advice
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
73
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-r Street photography highlights
Sony A55 Street photography highlights
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
77
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-r
Sports photography with Sony A55
55
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (470 per charge)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-r as a Travel photography camera
Sony A55 as a Travel photography camera
47
built-in flash
not so great battery (470 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
62
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-r Landscape photography features
Sony A55 Landscape photography features
65
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (470 per charge)
67
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
terrible battery pack (380 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-r Vlogging advice
Sony A55 Vlogging advice
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
78
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic port
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Pentax K-r vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-r and Sony A55
 Pentax K-rSony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-r Sony SLT-A55
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-03-11 2010-08-24
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Prime II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 2848 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 15
Cross type focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage 96 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/6000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 598 grams (1.32 lbs) 500 grams (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 73
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 755 816
Other
Battery life 470 photographs 380 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI109,4 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,100 $800