Sony DSLR-A200 vs Pentax K20D

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Sony DSLR-A200 vs Pentax K20D

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APS-C 369.7mm²
10.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Sony DSLR-A200 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the DSLR-A200.

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.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-7
Compare K20D vs K-7
Compare Sony DSLR-A200 vs Pentax K-7

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Differences

Sony DSLR-A200 advantages over Pentax K20D

Less expensive
$600 vs $800 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 6.12 vs 5.05 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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

750 vs 530 shots
Capture more photos

Pentax K20D advantages over Sony DSLR-A200

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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.
K20D test data on DxO Mark DSLR-A200 test data on DxO Mark

639 vs 521 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
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 0.55x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
14.6 vs 10.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
38 vs 8 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
6400 vs 3200 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
Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
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
HDMI out
Neither provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review 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-A200

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Buy the Pentax K20D

Review Excerpt

Read our Sony DSLR-A200 Full Review

Read our Pentax K20D Full Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K200D

Sony DSLR-A200

Pentax K200D

$470
APS-C

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony DSLR-A200 vs Pentax K200D

Pentax K20D

Pentax K200D

$800
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$800
APS-C

Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K20D vs Pentax K200D

Compared to Samsung GX-20

Sony DSLR-A200

Samsung GX-20

$470
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$1400
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony DSLR-A200 vs 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

Compared to Nikon D60

Sony DSLR-A200

Nikon D60

$470
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$700
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony DSLR-A200 vs Nikon D60

Pentax K20D

Nikon D60

$800
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Higher effective ISO

$700
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Lighter weight

Compare Pentax K20D vs Nikon D60

Compared to Sony DSLR-A300

Sony DSLR-A200

Sony DSLR-A300

$470
APS-C

Less expensive
More viewfinder magnification

$563
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Sony DSLR-A200 vs Sony DSLR-A300

Pentax K20D

Sony DSLR-A300

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$563
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K20D vs Sony DSLR-A300

Compared to Sony DSLR-A380

Sony DSLR-A200

Sony DSLR-A380

$470
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$849
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Fast startup

Compare Sony DSLR-A200 vs 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

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