• APS-C 372.1mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • ISO 80 - 102,400
  • Detailed specifications
  • Pentax K-500
  • Sony Alpha ILCE-A7S III
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Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:   Sony A7S II
A7S III vs A7S II
General
Model Number: K-500 A7S III
Alternate Model Number(s):   ILCE-7SM3
Camera Format: SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $599.95 $3499.99
Street Price: $596.95 $3,348.00
Date Available: 2013-07-15 2020-09-01
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 30.1 oz (852 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
21.7 oz (614 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8 in.
(130 x 97 x 71 mm)
5.1 x 3.8 x 2.7 in.
(129 x 97 x 70 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony Sony
Effective Megapixels: 16.3 12.1
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 8.40 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.0x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed  
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 79  
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.7  
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 13.1  
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,087  
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)
4240 x 2832 (12.0 MP, 3:2),
4240 x 2384 (10.1 MP, 16:9),
2768 x 1848 (5.1 MP, 3:2),
2768 x 1560 (4.3 MP, Other),
2128 x 1416 (3.0 MP, 3:2),
2128 x 1200 (2.6 MP, Other),
12416 x 1856 (23.0 MP, Other),
8192 x 1856 (15.2 MP, Other),
2160 x 5536 (12.0 MP, Other),
2160 x 3872 (8.4 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.3), 12-bit RAW (.DNG), RAW+JPEG JPEG (8-bit), HEIF (10-bit), RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG, RAW+HEIF
Continuous-mode frames/second: 6.0 n/a
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
640x480 (30p/​25p/​24p)
4264x2408 (60p)
3840x2160 (120p/​60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (240p/​120p/​60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
Movie File Format: MOV MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with monaural audio XAVC S (Long GOP, H.264 MP4); XAVC HS (Long GOP, H.265 HEVC); XAVC S-I (All-Intra, H.264 MP4)
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 n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 83mm  
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm  
Zoom Ratio: 3.06x  
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/38 (tele)  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
 
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 52.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a Up to 4x; 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 4D AF: 759 points (PDAF), 425 points (contrast-detection AF); Wide (759 points (PDAF), 425 points (CDAF))/Zone/Center/Flexible Spot (S/M/L)/Expanded Flexible Spot/Tracking (Wide/Zone/Center/Flexible Spot (S/M/L)/Expanded Flexible Spot); Touch AF
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: 0.64" 9.44M-dot QXGA color OLED, 100% coverage, 0.90x magnification, -4.0 to +3.0 diopter, 25mm eyepoint from the eyepiece lens
Focus Peaking: Yes Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a 9,437,184 dots (3,145,728 pixels)
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.61x 0.90x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.92x 0.90x
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) 1,440,000 dots (480,000 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No Yes
Selfie Screen: No Yes
Max Playback Zoom: 16.0x 13.3x
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 51200 102400
Minimum ISO (native): 100 80
ISO Settings: Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps) Auto, 80 - 102,400, expandable to 40 - 409,600
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 57-step Magenta/Green and 29-step Amber/Blue 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
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 3 Custom Settings; Creative Look; Slow & Quick Motion; HDR: Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1-6 EV at 1.0 EV step)
Self Timer: 2 or 12 seconds 2, 5, 10; 3/5 shots after 2/5/10 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 Auto, Fill Flash, Hi-Speed Sync, Off, Rear Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync
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 Enhanced Multi Interface Hot Shoe, Sync Terminal
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC / CFexpress
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:   2x CFexpress Type A+SD UHS-II
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, RAW+HEIF
Movie File Format: MOV MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with monaural audio XAVC S (Long GOP, H.264 MP4); XAVC HS (Long GOP, H.265 HEVC); XAVC S-I (All-Intra, H.264 MP4)
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 Yes, via USB or Wi-Fi
Connections (extended): Wired remote port USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5Gbps), Multi-Terminal Micro USB (with remote support), Type-A HDMI, 3.5mm Microphone and Headphone jacks
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution):    
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):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press?
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 6.0  
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 30  
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid):    
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):    
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused):    
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time:    
Play -> Record Time:    
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 710 shots (Lithium AA)  
Battery Life, Video:    
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: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: Yes
Software
Included Software: Software CDROM (SILKYPIX Developer Studio for PENTAX included) Capture One Express (for Sony) free download
OS Compatibility:   Windows, Mac OS X
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.