• APS-C 372.1mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Pentax K-500
  • Sony Alpha ILCE-A7 III
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Sony A7 II
A7 II vs A7 III
Successor:   Sony A7 IV
A7 III vs A7 IV
General
Model Number: K-500 A7 III
Alternate Model Number(s):   ILCE-7M3
Camera Format: SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $599.95 $1999.99
Street Price: $596.95 $1,864.67
Date Available: 2013-07-15 2018-04-10
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 30.1 oz (852 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
33.3 oz (945 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8 in.
(130 x 97 x 71 mm)
5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9 in.
(127 x 96 x 74 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony Sony
Effective Megapixels: 16.3 24.2
Sensor Format: APS-C 35mm
Sensor size: 372.09mm2 (23.70mm x 15.70mm) 847.28mm2 (35.60mm x 23.80mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 4.81 microns 5.93 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.0x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 79 96
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.7 25.0
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 13.1 14.7
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,087 3,730
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4928 x 3264 (16.1 MP, Other),
4224 x 2816 (11.9 MP, 3:2),
3456 x 2304 (8.0 MP, 3:2),
2688 x 1792 (4.8 MP, 3:2)
6000 x 4000 (24.0 MP, 3:2),
3936 x 2624 (10.3 MP, 3:2),
3008 x 2000 (6.0 MP, 3:2),
3936 x 2624 (10.3 MP, 3:2),
3008 x 2000 (6.0 MP, 3:2),
1968 x 1312 (2.6 MP, 3:2),
6000 x 3376 (20.3 MP, 16:9),
3936 x 2216 (8.7 MP, 16:9),
3008 x 1688 (5.1 MP, 16:9),
3936 x 2216 (8.7 MP, 16:9),
3008 x 1688 (5.1 MP, 16:9),
1968 x 1112 (2.2 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.3), 12-bit RAW (.DNG), RAW+JPEG JPEG, RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 6.0 9.9
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
640x480 (30p/​25p/​24p)
3840x2160 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (120p/​100p/​60p/​60i/​50p/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
Movie File Format: MOV MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with monaural audio XAVC S / AVCHD 2.0 / MP4; Audio: LPCM / Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, stereo
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No n/a
HD Video Out: No Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2/3) Sony E
Lens: smc PENTAX-DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL; 11 elements in 8 groups, 6 bladed diaphragm Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS SEL2870
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 83mm 28 - 70mm
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm 28 - 70mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.06x 2.50x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/38 (tele) f/3.5-22 (W) / f/5.6-36 (T)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
40 cm to Infinity
15.7 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 52.0mm 55.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a Up to 4x; up to 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Phase Detect:: SAFOX IXi+, 11 point (9 cross type focus point in the center), with light wavelength sensor and diffraction lens; Live View: Contrast detection AF (face detection, tracking, select, spot) Fast Hybrid AF (Phase-detect + Contrast-detect AF): 693 phase-detection AF points covering 93% of image area, 425 contrast AF points; Wide (693 points (phase-detection AF), 425 points (contrast-detection AF)) / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot (S/M/L) / Expanded Flexible Spot / Lock-on AF (Wide / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot (S/M/L) / Expanded Flexible Spot)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.92x mag., -2.5 to +1.5 diopter, 21.7mm eyepoint (from view window), Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen (interchangeable) EVF: 0.5-inch (1.30cm), 2359K-dot XGA color OLED, 100% coverage, 0.78x magnification, -4.0 to +3.0 diopter
Focus Peaking: Yes Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a 2,359,296 dots (786,432 pixels)
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.61x 0.78x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.92x 0.78x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots (307,200 px) 921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 16.0x 18.8x
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 51200 51200
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps) Auto (ISO 100-12800, selectable lower limit and upper limit), 100 - 51200, expandable to 50 - 204800
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent (D, N, W, L), Tungsten, Flash, CTE, 3 Manual and 3 Kelvin temperature presets Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (4 settings), Flash, Custom, Color Temp./ Filter (2500-9900K with 15-step Magenta/Green compensation), Underwater
Shutter Speed Range: 1/6000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: TTL open-aperture: 77-segment, Center-weighted, Spot 1200-zone Evaluative Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot, Spot Standard/Large, Entire Screen Avg., Highlight
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Sensitivity Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority, Scene (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Sunset, Blue Sky, Forest, Night Scene, Night Scene HDR*, Night Snap, Food, Pet, Kids, Surf & Snow, Backlight Silhouette, Candlelight, Stage Lighting, Museum, *JPEG only); Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color; Dynamic range adjustment (Highlight, Shadow); HDR: Auto, HDR 1, HDR 2, HDR 3 Scene Modes: Portrait, Sports Action, Macro, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Night Portrait; HDR: Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1-6 EV at 1.0 EV step)
Self Timer: 2 or 12 seconds 2 or 10; 3/5 shots after 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer): Yes  
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: P-TTL: On, Redeye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync + Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Hi-speed Sync, Wireless; Red-eye reduction: On/Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 12.0 m / 39.4 ft. n/a
Flash Range Description: Depends on lens n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/180 1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation: -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe Multi Interface Hot shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-II
Other Memory:   Slot1:SD UHS-II; 2:MS/SD UHS-I
Dual Card Slots: No Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 12-bit RAW (.DNG), RAW+JPEG RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: MOV MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with monaural audio XAVC S / AVCHD 2.0 / MP4; Audio: LPCM / Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, stereo
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No Yes
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No Yes
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,USB 3.0 Super Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: No No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wired or IR Optional via RM-VPR1, USB or Wi-Fi
Connections (extended): Wired remote port USB-C (USB 3.1 Gen 1), Multi-Terminal Micro USB (with remote support), Type-D Micro HDMI, Microphone and Headphone jacks
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution):   0.57
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   0.57
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 6.0 9.9
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 30 163
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   9.7
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   33
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   9.7
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   30
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid):   0.20 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):   0.125 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused):   0.023 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time:   1.7 seconds
Play -> Record Time:   0.9 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   710 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 710 shots (Lithium AA) 610 shots
Battery Life, Video:   115 minutes
Battery Form Factor: 4 x AA or proprietary D--LI109 Lithion-ion Proprietary
Usable Battery Types: AA (Alkaline, NiMH, Lithium) or optional D-LI109 Lithium-ion rechargeable NP-FZ100 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 4 x AA Lithium disposables 1 x Proprietary NP-FZ100 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): No Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: No
Internal Charging Supported: Yes
Software
Included Software: Software CDROM (SILKYPIX Developer Studio for PENTAX included)  
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Entry-level model: Similar to K-50 in IQ and performance, but not weather sealed, comes with 4 Energizer lithium AAs, and only available in black.