Pentax Q7 vs Sony A380

Let's look more in depth at the Pentax Q7 versus Sony A380, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the Q7 (12MP) and the A380 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the Q7 (1/1.7") and A380 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The Q7 was released 4 years later than the A380 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the Q7 scores against the A380 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Q7 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A380. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax Q7 Gallery and Sony A380 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax Q7 has exterior measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony A380 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Check the Pentax Q7 versus Sony A380 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the Q7 and the A380.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Q7 and A380 is 92 and 68 respectively.

Typically, it can be hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through a spec sheet. The photograph here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the Q7 and A380.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The Q7 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A380 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger Q7 should have a benefit in sensor technology.