Pentax P80 vs Sony A350

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Pentax P80 and Sony A350, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the P80 (12MP) and the A350 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the P80 (1/2.3") and A350 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The P80 was revealed 15 months later than the A350 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the P80 matches up vs the A350 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax Optio P80 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A350. The full galleries are available at Pentax P80 Gallery and Sony A350 Gallery.

If you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax P80 has external dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony A350 has specifications of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax P80 and Sony A350 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the P80 compared to the A350.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the P80 and A350 is 95 and 62 respectively.

Normally, its hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements just by seeing technical specs. The photograph underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the P80 and A350.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The P80 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A350 will provide extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern P80 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.