Pentax P70 vs Sony A560

Below, we will be reviewing the Pentax P70 and Sony A560, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the P70 (12MP) and the A560 (14MP) is relatively similar but the P70 (1/2.3") and A560 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The P70 was revealed 18 months prior to the A560 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the P70 grades against the A560 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax Optio P70 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A560. The full galleries are viewable at Pentax P70 Gallery and Sony A560 Gallery.

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax P70 offers outer measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony A560 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check the Pentax P70 and Sony A560 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the P70 against the A560.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the P70 and A560 is 95 and 64 respectively.

More often than not, its tough to visualize the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the P70 and A560.

Clearly, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The P70 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Sony A560 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The older P70 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.