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Pentax K100D vs Sony A500

Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Pentax K100D front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax K100D vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Revealed December 2006
  • Replacement is Pentax K100D S
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
  • Announced August 2009
  • Newer Model is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Pentax K100D vs Sony A500 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Pentax K100D versus Sony A500, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the K100D (6MP) and A500 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The K100D was revealed 3 years before the A500 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the K100D scores vs the A500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Sony A500

 K100D A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Pentax K100D

 A500 K100D 
AnnouncedAugust 2009December 2006Fresher by 33 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k210kCrisper display (+20k dot)

Common features in the Pentax K100D and Sony A500

 K100D A500 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Pentax K100D vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax K100D has got exterior measurements of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K100D versus Sony A500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view scale comparison of the K100D compared to the A500.

Pentax K100D vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K100D and A500 is 64 and 63 respectively.

Pentax K100D vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K100D vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the K100D and A500.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Sony A500 to offer greater detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older K100D is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Pentax K100D vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K100D vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K100D vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K100D
Portrait photography with Sony A500
51
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low MP (6MP)
63
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax K100D Street photography highlights
Sony A500 Street photography highlights
58
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
more heavy than competitors in class (660 grams)
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K100D Sports photography details
Sony A500 Sports photography details
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (6MP)
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K100D
Travel photography with Sony A500
42
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (660g)
low MP (6MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
43
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery (520 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K100D Landscape photography details
Sony A500 Landscape photography details
52
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
low MP (6MP)
does not have Timelapse function
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery (520 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K100D as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
9
no video shooting
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Pentax K100D vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K100D and Sony A500
 Pentax K100DSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K100D Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2006-12-03 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3008 x 2008 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 210 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 660g (1.46 lbs) 630g (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") 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 - 520 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/MMC card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $0 $638