Pentax Q vs Sony A7R IV

Here, we will be contrasting the Pentax Q and Sony A7R IV, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the Q (12MP) and A7R IV (61MP) and the Q (1/2.3") and A7R IV (Full frame) have different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The Q was launched 9 years prior to the A7R IV and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A7R IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the Q scores against the A7R IV with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax Q and Sony Alpha A7R IV. The complete galleries are provided at Pentax Q Gallery and Sony A7R IV Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax Q offers physical measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) and the Sony A7R IV has proportions of 129mm x 96mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 665 grams (1.47 lbs).

See the Pentax Q and Sony A7R IV in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the Q versus the A7R IV.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Q and A7R IV is 93 and 62 respectively.

Sometimes, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the Q and A7R IV.

As you can see, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The Q featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A7R IV will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 49 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older Q will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.