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Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43
Pentax Q7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Pentax Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax Q10
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Pentax Q7 and Sony A500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the Q7 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the Q7 (1/1.7") and A500 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The Q7 was brought out 4 years later than the A500 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a concise summation of how the Q7 grades vs the A500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Sony A500

 Q7 A500 
RevealedAugust 2013August 2009More recent by 49 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Pentax Q7

 A500 Q7 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax Q7 and Sony A500

 Q7 A500 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax Q7 offers external measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Pentax Q7 and Sony A500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the Q7 versus the A500.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Q7 and A500 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by checking technical specs. The photograph here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the Q7 and A500.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The Q7 comes with the tinier sensor which will make obtaining bokeh tougher. The newer Q7 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q7 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
48
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax Q7 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others (200g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/1.7")
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax Q7
Sports photography with Sony A500
32
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
low battery (250 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery pack (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax Q7
Travel photography with Sony A500
60
lighter than others (200g)
built-in flash
low battery (250 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
43
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery pack (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q7 Landscape photography factors
Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
low battery (250 CIPA)
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (520 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q7 Vlogging advice
Sony A500 Vlogging advice
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (200g)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
9
can't shoot video
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Pentax Q7 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q7 and Sony A500
 Pentax Q7Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Q7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-08-08 2009-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax Q Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 8 143
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.90 m (ISO100/m) 12.00 m
Flash options P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/2000 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 200g (0.44 lb) 630g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 250 shots 520 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI68 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 sec, 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $480 $638