Pentax K-01 vs Sony RX100 VA

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Pentax K-01 vs Sony RX100 VA

Leave Feedback

APS-C 369.7mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-01 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-01.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 70.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX100 VA Review.

Buy From

Differences

Pentax K-01 advantages over Sony RX100 VA

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.81 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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

500 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Sony RX100 VA advantages over Pentax K-01

Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Thinner
41 mm vs 58 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/180 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
6 years vs 13 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More dots on screen
1229k vs 921k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.80 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
20.1 vs 16.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
23.9 fps vs 5.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
233 vs 9 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
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
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

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
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-01 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-01

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 40mm Lens

All K-01 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony RX100 VA

Sony RX100 VA

All RX100 VA Deals

Review Excerpt

Very good image quality and excellent high ISO performance. Premium build quality. In-body image stabilization. Lots of creative features. Full HD movie capture with manual exposure control.
Barely any smaller than a standard SLR, but lacks viewfinder and phase-detect autofocus. Contrast-detect AF is slow and unreliable. Body design is clumsy and uncomfortable. Very slow raw burst shooting.
Read our Pentax K-01 Review

We haven’t reviewed the Sony RX100 VA.
Read our Sony RX100 VA Initial Test

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX10

Pentax K-01

Samsung NX10

$359
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$700
APS-C

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX10

Sony RX100 VA

Samsung NX10

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$700
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Samsung NX10

Compared to Samsung NX20

Pentax K-01

Samsung NX20

$359
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$400
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX20

Sony RX100 VA

Samsung NX20

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$400
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Samsung NX20

Compared to Samsung NX30

Pentax K-01

Samsung NX30

$359
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX30

Sony RX100 VA

Samsung NX30

$998
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Samsung NX30

Compared to Sony RX100 V

Pentax K-01

Sony RX100 V

$359
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$998
1 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Sony RX100 V

Sony RX100 VA

Sony RX100 V

$998
1 inch

Bigger JPEG buffer
Bigger RAW buffer

$998
1 inch

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Sony RX100 V

Compared to Sony ZV-1

Pentax K-01

Sony ZV-1

$359
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$800
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Sony ZV-1

Sony RX100 VA

Sony ZV-1

$998
1 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Internal flash

$800
1 inch

Touchscreen
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Sony ZV-1

Compare Other Cameras?