Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230

In this write-up, we are matching up the Pentax Q7 and Sony A230, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the Q7 (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is fairly similar but the Q7 (1/1.7") and A230 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The Q7 was released 4 years later than the A230 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the Q7 grades against the A230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Q7 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax Q7 Gallery and Sony A230 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax Q7 comes with outer dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Sony A230 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Look at the Pentax Q7 and Sony A230 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the Q7 compared to the A230.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the Q7 and A230 is 92 and 69 respectively.

Often, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph here might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the Q7 and A230.

Clearly, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The Q7 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax Q7 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The newer Q7 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.