Pentax K-500 vs Sony A5000

Cameras
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A5000

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APS-C 372.1mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-500 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-500.

APS-C 357.3mm²
20.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A5000 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A5000.

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Differences

Pentax K-500 advantages over Sony A5000

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
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

710 vs 420 shots
Capture more photos
Higher-res screen
307k 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
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Faster JPEG shooting
6.0 fps vs 3.3 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
30 vs 15 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 16000 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A5000 advantages over Pentax K-500

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
Thinner
35 mm vs 71 mm
Thinner
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Lighter weight
388g vs 852g
Lighter weight
More pixels
20.1 vs 16.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 27 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
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
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A5000 User Reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-500

Kit with 18-55mm and 50-200mm Lenses

Kit with 18-55mm and 50-200mm Lenses
Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm Lens

All K-500 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5000

Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)

Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Silver)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (White)

All A5000 Deals

Review Excerpt

We haven’t finished our review of the Pentax K-500, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Pentax K-500 First Shots

We haven’t reviewed the Sony A5000.
Read our Sony A5000 Initial Test

The Competition

Compared to Sony A57

Pentax K-500

Sony A57

$597
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$800
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Sony A57

Sony A5000

Sony A57

$298
APS-C

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$800
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A5000 vs Sony A57

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Pentax K-500

Pentax K-5 IIs

$597
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Top deck display

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A5000

Pentax K-5 IIs

$298
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony A5000 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Canon T5i

Pentax K-500

Canon T5i

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$539
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Canon T5i

Sony A5000

Canon T5i

$298
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$539
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A5000 vs Canon T5i

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Pentax K-500

Sony NEX-5T

$597
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$299
APS-C

Touchscreen
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5T

Sony A5000

Sony NEX-5T

$298
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
Internal flash

$299
APS-C

Touchscreen
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Sony A5000 vs Sony NEX-5T

Compared to Sony A5100

Pentax K-500

Sony A5100

$597
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$348
APS-C

Touchscreen
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Sony A5100

Sony A5000

Sony A5100

$298
APS-C

Less expensive

$348
APS-C

Touchscreen
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A5000 vs Sony A5100

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