Pentax K20D vs Sony DSLR-A500

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Pentax K20D vs Sony DSLR-A500

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APS-C 368.2mm²
14.6 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K20D Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K20D.

APS-C 369.7mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Sony DSLR-A500 Review.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-7
Compare K20D vs K-7
Compare Pentax K-7 vs Sony DSLR-A500

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Differences

Pentax K20D advantages over Sony DSLR-A500

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
9 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Pentaprism viewfinder
Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
More viewfinder magnification
0.63x vs 0.53x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
14.6 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
38 vs 5 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony DSLR-A500 advantages over Pentax K20D

Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
DSLR-A500 test data on DxO Mark K20D test data on DxO Mark

772 vs 639 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
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

1000 vs 530 shots
Capture more photos
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Faster JPEG shooting
4.9 fps vs 2.8 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
12800 vs 6400 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

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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
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 Sony DSLR-A500

Review Excerpt

Read our Pentax K20D Full Review

We haven’t reviewed the Sony DSLR-A500.
Read our Sony DSLR-A500 Initial Test

The Competition

Compared to Samsung GX-20

Pentax K20D

Samsung GX-20

$800
APS-C

Less expensive

$1400
APS-C

Higher effective ISO

Compare Pentax K20D vs Samsung GX-20

Sony DSLR-A500

Samsung GX-20

$850
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$1400
APS-C

Lens selection
Top deck display

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Samsung GX-20

Compared to Sony DSLR-A380

Pentax K20D

Sony DSLR-A380

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$849
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
HDMI out

Compare Pentax K20D vs Sony DSLR-A380

Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A380

$850
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$849
APS-C

More pixels
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Compared to Pentax K-7

Pentax K20D

Pentax K-7

$800
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$1300
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
HDMI out

Compare Pentax K20D vs Pentax K-7

Sony DSLR-A500

Pentax K-7

$850
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Top deck display

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Pentax K-7

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Pentax K20D

Sony DSLR-A550

$800
APS-C

Less expensive
Lens selection

$859
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Higher effective ISO

Compare Pentax K20D vs Sony DSLR-A550

Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A550

$850
APS-C

Less expensive

$859
APS-C

More dots on screen
More pixels

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Compared to Sony DSLR-A560

Pentax K20D

Sony DSLR-A560

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$750
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K20D vs Sony DSLR-A560

Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A560

$850
APS-C

Fast startup
Less shutter lag

$750
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
More cross-type AF points

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A560

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