Sony A77 II vs Pentax K-1

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A77 II vs Pentax K-1

Leave Feedback

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A77 II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A77 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A77 II.
Compare Sony A77 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A77 II conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
36.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 204,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-1 Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-1 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-1.
Compare Pentax K-1 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-1 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-1 II
Compare K-1 vs K-1 II
Compare Sony A77 II vs Pentax K-1 II

Buy From

Differences

Sony A77 II advantages over Pentax K-1

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 1.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
More AF points
79 vs 33
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
11.5 fps vs 4.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
12.0 fps vs 4.6 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
28 vs 17 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Pentax K-1 advantages over Sony A77 II

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.88 vs 3.92 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
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

760 vs 480 shots
Capture more photos
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 15
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
More pixels
36.4 vs 24.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Bigger JPEG buffer
74 vs 26 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
204800 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
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
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
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A77 II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-1 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A77 II

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 16-50mm Lens

All A77 II Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-1

Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality, especially lower ISOs; Improved high ISO performance when using RAW; Very good dynamic range; High-resolution images; Very fast single-shot autofocus; 12fps burst mode with C-AF; Good value for its class.
Lackluster continuous AF performance; Strong NR processing in high ISO JPEGs; Sluggish buffer clearing; Short battery life compared to most DSLRs; Joystick control easy to press accidentally.
Read our Sony A77 II Review

Unlocks the full potential of full-frame Pentax lenses; Excellent image quality; Great ergonomics and build; Very compact for full-frame; Decent performance; Fast autofocus with great low-light capabilities; Very wide sensitivity range; Bright, accurate viewfinder; Articulated LCD; Stabilization, Wi-Fi and GPS in-camera
No built-in flash strobe; Quite heavy compared to APS-C flagships; Somewhat soft images and blown highlights by default in JPEG mode; Warm Auto white balance indoors; Slow startup and buffer clearing; Small top-deck status display; Weak viewfinder illumination; Below-average battery life for DSLR
Read our Pentax K-1 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 70D

Sony A77 II

Canon 70D

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1149
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 70D

Pentax K-1

Canon 70D

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1149
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Canon 70D

Compared to Canon 7D Mark II

Sony A77 II

Canon 7D Mark II

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$1597
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 7D Mark II

Pentax K-1

Canon 7D Mark II

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1597
APS-C

Fast startup
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Canon 7D Mark II

Compared to Canon 5DS R

Sony A77 II

Canon 5DS R

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$1729
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 5DS R

Pentax K-1

Canon 5DS R

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1729
35mm

Fast startup
More cross-type AF points

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Canon 5DS R

Compared to Nikon D7200

Sony A77 II

Nikon D7200

$1198
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$1097
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D7200

Pentax K-1

Nikon D7200

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1097
APS-C

Fast startup
NFC

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Sony A77 II

Pentax K-1 II

$1198
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
In-camera panoramas

$1747
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony A77 II vs Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-1

Pentax K-1 II

$1800
35mm

$1747
35mm

Higher extended ISO

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-1 II

Compare Other Cameras?