Pentax K100D vs Sony A550

Following is a in depth overview of the Pentax K100D versus Sony A550, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the K100D (6MP) and A550 (14MP) but they use the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The K100D was revealed 4 years earlier than the A550 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the K100D scores against the A550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax K100D & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The full galleries are provided at Pentax K100D Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax K100D features external measurements of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs) while the Sony A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K100D versus Sony A550 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the K100D against the A550.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K100D and A550 is 64 and 63 respectively.

More often than not, its tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes merely by seeing technical specs. The image here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the K100D and A550.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Sony A550 to show extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged K100D will be behind in sensor technology.