Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A900

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A900, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the RS1500 (14MP) and A900 (25MP) and the RS1500 (1/2.3") and A900 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The RS1500 was unveiled 2 years later than the A900 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a short highlight of how the RS1500 matches up versus the A900 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax Optio RS1500 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A900. The full galleries are available at Pentax RS1500 Gallery & Sony A900 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Pentax RS1500 features external measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony A900 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A900 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the RS1500 compared to the A900.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the RS1500 and A900 is 93 and 54 respectively.

Often, its tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by reading through technical specs. The visual underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the RS1500 and A900.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The RS1500 with its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony A900 will give greater detail having an extra 11MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern RS1500 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.