Sony A7 vs Pentax K-70

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A7 vs Pentax K-70

Leave Feedback

35mm 855.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A7 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7.
Compare Sony A7 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7 conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 102,400

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-70 Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-70 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-70.
Compare Pentax K-70 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-70 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A7 II
Compare A7 vs A7 II
Compare Sony A7 II vs Pentax K-70

Buy From

Differences

Sony A7 advantages over Pentax K-70

Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.97 vs 3.92 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Thinner
48 mm vs 74 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
769g vs 1122g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.71x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bigger RAW buffer
28 vs 11 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Pentax K-70 advantages over Sony A7

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Fast startup
~1.00 vs 2.1 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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

410 vs 340 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
203 mm vs 70 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Less shutter lag
0.13 vs 0.23 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster JPEG shooting
6.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
6.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 51200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
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 Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-70 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A7

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 lens

All A7 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-70

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Silver)
Kit with 18-135mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 18-135mm Lens (Silver)

All K-70 Deals

Review Excerpt

Incredibly small body for a fully-featured, full-frame camera; Very high resolution; Hybrid autofocus is reasonably fast and confident; Significantly better burst-shooting performance than A7R; Excellent image quality even at very high sensitivities; Faster x-sync than A7R; Accepts existing Alpha-mount and E-mount lenses, and can optionally crop to APS-C image circle.
Grass-is-greener syndrome when compared to its higher-res sibling; Moderate performance; Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Mediocre battery life when using electronic viewfinder; Weak low-light autofocus considering its price; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.
Read our Sony A7 Review

Huge bang for the buck; Great image quality; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast autofocus; Good burst frame rate with deep buffer; Pentaprism viewfinder; Twin control dials; Articulated LCD; Comprehensive weather-sealing and freeze-proofing; Unbelievable wealth of rare to unique (yet very useful) features
Wi-Fi wireless communication is slow, clumsy and unintuitive; Video autofocus is prone to hunting or racking focus; Slow buffer clearing; Rather heavy for an entry-level DSLR; Autofocus and metering systems are a bit dated; Below average battery life
Read our Pentax K-70 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7R

Sony A7

Sony A7R

$748
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$1399
35mm

Higher effective ISO
More pixels

Compare Sony A7 vs Sony A7R

Pentax K-70

Sony A7R

$597
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$1399
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-70 vs Sony A7R

Compared to Sony A7 II

Sony A7

Sony A7 II

$748
35mm

Less expensive

$1148
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A7 vs Sony A7 II

Pentax K-70

Sony A7 II

$597
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$1148
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-70 vs Sony A7 II

Compared to Canon T6s

Sony A7

Canon T6s

$748
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$619
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A7 vs Canon T6s

Pentax K-70

Canon T6s

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$619
APS-C

Touchscreen
NFC

Compare Pentax K-70 vs Canon T6s

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A7

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$748
35mm

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$3999
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Pentax K-70

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$597
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$3999
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-70 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Compared to Canon 77D

Sony A7

Canon 77D

$748
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$550
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

Compare Sony A7 vs Canon 77D

Pentax K-70

Canon 77D

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$550
APS-C

Touchscreen
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-70 vs Canon 77D

Compare Other Cameras?