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Pentax Q vs Sony A300

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Pentax Q front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Pentax Q vs Sony A300 Key Specs

Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Launched June 2011
  • Refreshed by Pentax Q10
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Revealed January 2008
  • Renewed by Sony A330
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Pentax Q vs Sony A300 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Pentax Q vs Sony A300, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the Q (12MP) and the A300 (10MP) is very close but the Q (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The Q was launched 3 years after the A300 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the Q matches up against the A300 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Sony A300

 Q A300 
RevealedJune 2011January 2008Newer by 42 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Pentax Q

 A300 Q 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax Q and Sony A300

 Q A300 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax Q vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax Q enjoys outside measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") having a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) and the Sony A300 has measurements of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Pentax Q vs Sony A300 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the Q against the A300.

Pentax Q vs Sony A300 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Q and A300 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Pentax Q vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the Q and A300.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The Q due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax Q will render more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The younger Q should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax Q vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q Portrait photography highlights
Sony A300 Portrait photography highlights
45
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax Q Street photography advice
Sony A300 Street photography advice
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (180g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q Sports photography information
Sony A300 Sports photography information
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
54
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax Q
Travel photography with Sony A300
57
lighter than competition in class (180g)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
45
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q Landscape photography information
Sony A300 Landscape photography information
51
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
57
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
Sony A300 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
9
no video
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Pentax Q vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q and Sony A300
 Pentax QSony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Q Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-06-23 2008-01-30
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount Pentax Q Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 8 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 180 grams (0.40 lb) 632 grams (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 47 64
DXO Color Depth score 20.2 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 11.4
DXO Low light score 189 538
Other
Battery life 230 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI68 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $695 $0