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Pentax Q vs Sony A700

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Pentax Q front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 front
Portability
58
Imaging
50
Features
58
Overall
53

Pentax Q vs Sony A700 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
  • Revealed June 2011
  • Replacement is Pentax Q10
Sony A700
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 768g - 142 x 105 x 80mm
  • Introduced December 2007
  • Succeeded the Konica Minolta 7D
  • Later Model is Sony A77
Photography Glossary

Pentax Q vs Sony A700 Overview

The following is a complete comparison of the Pentax Q and Sony A700, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Q (12MP) and the A700 (12MP) is very comparable but the Q (1/2.3") and A700 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The Q was released 3 years after the A700 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the Q matches up vs the A700 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Sony A700

 Q A700 
IntroducedJune 2011December 2007Newer by 43 months

Reasons to pick Sony A700 over the Pentax Q

 A700 Q 
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax Q and Sony A700

 Q A700 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Pentax Q vs Sony A700 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax Q features outside dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") having a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Sony A700 has proportions of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") having a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Check out the Pentax Q and Sony A700 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the Q vs the A700.

Pentax Q vs Sony A700 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Q and A700 is 93 and 58 respectively.

Pentax Q vs Sony A700 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony A700 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions just by checking out technical specs. The pic here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the Q and A700.

As you have seen, both the cameras come with the identical megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The Q offers the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field trickier. The fresher Q should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax Q vs Sony A700 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony A700 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q vs Sony A700 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A700 as a Portrait photography camera
45
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
54
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax Q Street photography details
Sony A700 Street photography details
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
64
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q Sports photography info
Sony A700 Sports photography info
31
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (230 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
56
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q Travel photography features
Sony A700 Travel photography features
57
lighter than competition in class (180g)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
49
weather proof
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q Landscape photography advice
Sony A700 Landscape photography advice
51
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (230 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
62
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
no liveview
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
Sony A700 as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
missing external microphone jack
9
can't shoot video
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Pentax Q vs Sony A700 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q and Sony A700
 Pentax QSony Alpha DSLR-A700
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Q Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-06-23 2007-12-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 11
Lens
Lens support Pentax Q Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 8 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.6x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, rear curtain, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/2000 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 180 grams (0.40 pounds) 768 grams (1.69 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 142 x 105 x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 47 66
DXO Color Depth rating 20.2 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 11.9
DXO Low light rating 189 581
Other
Battery life 230 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI68 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots One Two
Cost at release $695 $1,000