Canon SX530 HS vs Pentax K-1 II

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Canon SX530 HS vs Pentax K-1 II

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1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
16.0 megapixels
24.00mm - 1200.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SX530 HS Review.

35mm 861.6mm²
36.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 819,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-1 II Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-1 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-1 II.
Compare Pentax K-1 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-1 II conclusion.

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Differences

Canon SX530 HS advantages over Pentax K-1 II

Less expensive
$259* vs $1997
Save money for lenses or accessories
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Lighter weight
442g vs 1010g
Lighter weight

Pentax K-1 II advantages over Canon SX530 HS

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Bigger pixels
~ 4.88 vs 1.34 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

670 vs 210 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Newer
7 years vs 10 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Higher-res screen
346k vs 154k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
36.4 vs 16.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Longer exposure
30 vs 15 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
4.5 fps vs 1.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
819200 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-1 II User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Canon SX530 HS.
Read our Canon SX530 HS Preview

Excellent build and comfortable handling; Bright, roomy viewfinder and articulated LCD; Great image quality; Good performance for the class; In-camera stabilization, GPS and Wi-Fi; Incredibly feature-rich design.
Bulkier than APS-C DSLRs; Top ISOs are for the spec sheet, not the real world; JPEGs are a bit punchy by default; Slow startup; Below-average battery life; Only a relatively modest update to the K-1.
Read our Pentax K-1 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus SP-820UZ

Canon SX530 HS

Olympus SP-820UZ

$479
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$299
1/2.3 inch

Shoots 60p video
Bulb shutter

Compare Canon SX530 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Pentax K-1 II

Olympus SP-820UZ

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$299
1/2.3 inch

Internal flash
Lighter weight

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Compared to Canon SX520 HS

Canon SX530 HS

Canon SX520 HS

$479
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
More telephoto lens reach

$345
1/2.3 inch

Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Canon SX530 HS vs Canon SX520 HS

Pentax K-1 II

Canon SX520 HS

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$345
1/2.3 inch

Internal flash
Lighter weight

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Canon SX520 HS

Compared to Canon SX540 HS

Canon SX530 HS

Canon SX540 HS

$479
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

$364
1/2.3 inch

More pixels
Shoots 60p video

Compare Canon SX530 HS vs Canon SX540 HS

Pentax K-1 II

Canon SX540 HS

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$364
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
NFC

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Canon SX540 HS

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon SX530 HS

Canon 5D Mark IV

$479
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2249
35mm

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon SX530 HS vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-1 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Nikon D850

Canon SX530 HS

Nikon D850

$479
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2597
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX530 HS vs Nikon D850

Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D850

$1747
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
High resolution composite

$2597
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Nikon D850

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