Pentax K-x vs Sony A57

Cameras
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Pentax K-x vs Sony A57

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APS-C 369.7mm²
12.4 megapixels
ISO 200 - 6400

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

APS-C 369.7mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A57 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A57.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-r
Compare K-x vs K-r
Compare Pentax K-r vs Sony A57

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Differences

Pentax K-x advantages over Sony A57

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$650 vs $800 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
More cross-type AF points
9 vs 3
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Faster shutter
1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony A57 advantages over Pentax K-x

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
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

550 vs 420 shots
Capture more photos
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
More dots on screen
922k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More viewfinder magnification
0.69x vs 0.57x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
16.1 vs 12.4 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
More AF points
15 vs 11
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 4.3 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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

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Buy the Pentax K-x

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Buy the Sony A57

Review Excerpt

Read our Pentax K-x Full Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Sony A57, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Sony A57 First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A380

Pentax K-x

Sony DSLR-A380

$702
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$849
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
HDMI out

Compare Pentax K-x vs Sony DSLR-A380

Sony A57

Sony DSLR-A380

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$849
APS-C

Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Sony A57 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Compared to Pentax K-7

Pentax K-x

Pentax K-7

$702
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$1300
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
Top deck display

Compare Pentax K-x vs Pentax K-7

Sony A57

Pentax K-7

$800
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony A57 vs Pentax K-7

Compared to Pentax K-r

Pentax K-x

Pentax K-r

$702
APS-C

Less expensive
Shoots 24p video

$850
APS-C

Fast startup
External Mic Jack

Compare Pentax K-x vs Pentax K-r

Sony A57

Pentax K-r

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
External Mic Jack

Compare Sony A57 vs Pentax K-r

Compared to Nikon D5100

Pentax K-x

Nikon D5100

$702
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$650
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Higher effective ISO

Compare Pentax K-x vs Nikon D5100

Sony A57

Nikon D5100

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$650
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A57 vs Nikon D5100

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Pentax K-x

Pentax K-5 IIs

$702
APS-C

Less expensive
Shoots 24p video

$497
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
More dynamic range

Compare Pentax K-x vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A57

Pentax K-5 IIs

$800
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A57 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

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