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Pentax K20D vs Sony A77

Portability
59
Imaging
54
Features
52
Overall
53
Pentax K20D front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
64
Features
83
Overall
71

Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 Key Specs

Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Superseded the Pentax K10D
Sony A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Old Model is Sony A700
  • New Model is Sony A77 II
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Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Pentax K20D vs Sony A77, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the K20D (15MP) and A77 (24MP) but they feature the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

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The K20D was launched 4 years earlier than the A77 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the K20D scores against the A77 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Sony A77

 K20D A77 

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Pentax K20D

 A77 K20D 
AnnouncedOctober 2011June 2008More modern by 40 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax K20D and Sony A77

 K20D A77 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and size. The Pentax K20D features outer measurements of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Sony A77 has specifications of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

See the Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the K20D vs the A77.

Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K20D and A77 is 59 and 59 respectively.

Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The picture underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the K20D and A77.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony A77 to render more detail utilizing its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged K20D will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K20D
Portrait photography with Sony A77
72
manual focus
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
78
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K20D Street photography information
Sony A77 Street photography information
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
75
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K20D Sports photography factors
Sony A77 Sports photography factors
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
74
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K20D
Travel photography with Sony A77
64
weather proofing
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
63
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (470 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K20D as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A77 as a Landscape photography camera
71
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
71
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
not so great battery pack (470 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K20D
Vlogging with Sony A77
9
can't record video
76
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone jack
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Pentax K20D vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K20D and Sony A77
 Pentax K20DSony SLT-A77
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K20D Sony SLT-A77
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2008-06-25 2011-10-25
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4672 x 3104 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 16000
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 50
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 732g (1.61 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 65 78
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 13.2
DXO Low light rating 639 801
Other
Battery life - 470 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $700 $900