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Pentax Q vs Sony A380

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Pentax Q front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Pentax Q vs Sony A380 Key Specs

Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Released June 2011
  • Later Model is Pentax Q10
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A350
  • Refreshed by Sony A390
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Pentax Q vs Sony A380 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Pentax Q vs Sony A380, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Q (12MP) and the A380 (14MP) is relatively close but the Q (1/2.3") and A380 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The Q was released 23 months after the A380 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the Q scores versus the A380 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Sony A380

 Q A380 
LaunchedJune 2011August 2009More modern by 23 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Pentax Q

 A380 Q 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax Q and Sony A380

 Q A380 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Pentax Q vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you should think about its weight and volume. The Pentax Q enjoys physical measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") and a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) and the Sony A380 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Check out the Pentax Q vs Sony A380 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the Q and the A380.

Pentax Q vs Sony A380 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the Q and A380 is 93 and 68 respectively.

Pentax Q vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The picture underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the Q and A380.

All in all, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The Q because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A380 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more modern Q will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax Q vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q Portrait photography info
Sony A380 Portrait photography info
45
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax Q Street photography features
Sony A380 Street photography features
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (180g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
76
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q Sports photography factors
Sony A380 Sports photography factors
31
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
59
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q Travel photography info
Sony A380 Travel photography info
57
lighter than competitors in class (180g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (230 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
53
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (500 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax Q
Landscape photography with Sony A380
51
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7")
not so great battery pack (500 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q Vlogging features
Sony A380 Vlogging features
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (180g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
9
no video
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Pentax Q vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q and Sony A380
 Pentax QSony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Q Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-06-23 2009-08-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax Q Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 8 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/2000 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 180g (0.40 lb) 519g (1.14 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 47 67
DXO Color Depth score 20.2 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 11.8
DXO Low light score 189 614
Other
Battery life 230 shots 500 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI68 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $695 $899