Pentax P80 vs Sony A9

Below, we will be evaluating the Pentax P80 and Sony A9, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the P80 (12MP) and A9 (24MP) and the P80 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) use totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The P80 was revealed 8 years earlier than the A9 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick view of how the P80 grades vs the A9 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax Optio P80 and Sony Alpha A9. The full galleries are provided at Pentax P80 Gallery and Sony A9 Gallery.

When you are intending to travel with your camera, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax P80 offers external measurements of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony A9 has measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Check out the Pentax P80 and Sony A9 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the P80 compared to the A9.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the P80 and A9 is 95 and 65 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by researching specifications. The pic here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the P80 and A9.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The P80 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A9 will result in more detail because of its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged P80 will be behind in sensor tech.