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Pentax KP vs Sony A1

The Pentax KP and the Sony A1 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2017 and January 2021. The KP is a DSLR, while the A1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (KP) and a full frame (A1) sensor. The Pentax has a resolution of 24.1 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 49.8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Pentax KP
versus
Sony A1
Pentax KP   Sony A1
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Pentax K mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
24.1 MP – APS-C sensor 49.8 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/60i Video 8k/30p Video
ISO 100-819,200 ISO 100-32,000 (50 - 102,400)
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (9437k dots)
3.0" LCD – 921k dots 3.0" LCD – 1440k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Tilting touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
390 shots per battery charge530 shots per battery charge
132 x 101 x 76 mm, 703 g 129 x 97 x 81 mm, 737 g
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Check KP offers at
ebay.com
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Check A1 price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Pentax KP and the Sony A1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Pentax KP and the Sony A1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The KP can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the A1 is only available in black.

Size Pentax KP vs Sony A1
Compare KP versus A1 top
Comparison KP or A1 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A1 is notably smaller (6 percent) than the Pentax KP. However, the A1 is markedly heavier (5 percent) than the KP. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the KP gets 390 shots out of its Pentax D-LI109 battery, while the A1 can take 530 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FZ100 power pack. The power pack in the A1 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Pentax KP 132 mm 101 mm 76 mm 703 g 390 Y Jan 2017 1,099ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A1 129 mm 97 mm 81 mm 737 g 530 Y Jan 2021 6,499 amazon.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-H1 140 mm 97 mm 86 mm 673 g 310 Y Feb 2018 1,899ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D7500 136 mm 104 mm 73 mm 720 g 950 Y Apr 2017 1,299 amazon.com
5.
 
Pentax K-3 III 135 mm 104 mm 74 mm 820 g 800 Y Mar 2021 1,999 amazon.com
6.
 
Pentax K-70 126 mm 93 mm 74 mm 688 g 410 Y Jun 2016 649ebay.com
7.
 
Pentax K-S2 123 mm 91 mm 73 mm 678 g 410 Y Feb 2015 749ebay.com
8.
 
Pentax K-3 II 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 720 Y Apr 2015 1,099ebay.com
9.
 
Pentax K-3 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 560 Y Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com
10.
 
Pentax K-5 II 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 Y Sep 2012 1,099ebay.com
11.
 
Pentax K-5 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 Y Sep 2010 1,099ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A7R V 131 mm 97 mm 82 mm 723 g 530 Y Oct 2022 3,899 amazon.com
13.
 
Sony A7 IV 131 mm 96 mm 80 mm 659 g 580 Y Oct 2021 2,499 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A7R IIIA 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7R IVA 129 mm 96 mm 78 mm 665 g 670 Y Apr 2021 3,499 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A7S III 127 mm 97 mm 81 mm 699 g 600 Y Jul 2020 3,499 amazon.com
17.
 
Sony A77 II 143 mm 104 mm 81 mm 647 g 480 Y May 2014 1,199ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The KP was launched at a markedly lower price (by 83 percent) than the A1, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Pentax KP features an APS-C sensor and the Sony A1 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A1 is 135 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Pentax KP and Sony A1 sensor measures

With 49.8MP, the A1 offers a higher resolution than the KP (24.1MP), but the A1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.16μm versus 3.90μm for the KP) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A1 is a much more recent model (by 4 years) than the KP, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 43.2 x 28.8 inches or 109.7 x 73.2 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 34.6 x 23 inches or 87.8 x 58.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 28.8 x 19.2 inches or 73.2 x 48.8 cm. The corresponding values for the Pentax KP are 30.1 x 20 inches or 76.4 x 50.8 cm for good quality, 24.1 x 16 inches or 61.1 x 40.6 cm for very good quality, and 20.1 x 13.3 inches or 50.9 x 33.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A1 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

Both cameras have the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting the sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Pentax KP has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 819200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony A1 are ISO 100 to ISO 32000, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400.

In terms of underlying technology, the KP is build around a CMOS sensor, while the A1 uses a Stacked BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

KP versus A1 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Pentax KP APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.913.2169981
2.
 
Sony A1 Full Frame 49.8 8640 57608k/30p25.914.5316398
3.
 
Fujifilm X-H1 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.013.3180682
4.
 
Nikon D7500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.314.0148386
5.
 
Pentax K-3 III APS-C 25.6 6192 41284K/30p24.213.7208385
6.
 
Pentax K-70 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i23.813.1163980
7.
 
Pentax K-S2 APS-C 20.0 5472 36481080/30p23.612.9151479
8.
 
Pentax K-3 II APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.613.6110680
9.
 
Pentax K-3 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.713.4121680
10.
 
Pentax K-5 II APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.814.1123582
11.
 
Pentax K-5 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.714.1116282
12.
 
Sony A7R V Full Frame 60.2 9504 63368k/24p26.514.83187100
13.
 
Sony A7 IV Full Frame 32.7 7008 46724K/60p25.414.7337997
14.
 
Sony A7R IIIA Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
15.
 
Sony A7R IVA Full Frame 60.2 9504 63364K/30p26.014.8334499
16.
 
Sony A7S III Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/120p23.713.9252086
17.
 
Sony A77 II APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.413.4101382
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the A1 provides a better video resolution than the KP. It can shoot movie footage at 8k/30p, while the Pentax is limited to 1080/60i.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A1 has an electronic viewfinder (9437k dots), while the KP has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the A1 has a higher magnification than the one of the KP (0.9x vs 0.63x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Pentax KP, the Sony A1, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Pentax KPoptical n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/6000s 7.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Sony A19437 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
3.
 
Fujifilm X-H13690 Y3.0 / 1040 full-flex Y 1/8000s 14.0/s n Y
4.
 
Nikon D7500optical Y3.2 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
5.
 
Pentax K-3 IIIoptical Y3.2 / 1620 fixed Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
6.
 
Pentax K-70optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/6000s 6.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Pentax K-S2optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/6000s 5.4/s Y Y
8.
 
Pentax K-3 IIoptical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s n Y
9.
 
Pentax K-3optical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s Y Y
10.
 
Pentax K-5 IIoptical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Pentax K-5optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Sony A7R V9440 n3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
13.
 
Sony A7 IV3686 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
14.
 
Sony A7R IIIA3686 n3.0 / 2340 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
15.
 
Sony A7R IVA5760 n3.0 / 2340 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
16.
 
Sony A7S III9440 n3.0 / 1440 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
17.
 
Sony A77 II2359 Y3.0 / 1229 full-flex n 1/8000s 12.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The KP has one, while the A1 does not. While the built-in flash of the KP is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Pentax KP and the Sony A1 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The KP writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A1 uses CFexpress (type A) or SDXC cards. The A1 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the KP only has one slot. The A1 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the KP can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Pentax KP and Sony A1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Pentax KPYstereo / monoY--2.0Y--
2.
 
Sony A1Ystereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Fujifilm X-H1Ystereo / monoY-micro3.0Y--
4.
 
Nikon D7500Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Pentax K-3 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y
6.
 
Pentax K-70Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
7.
 
Pentax K-S2Ymono / monoY-micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Pentax K-3 IIYmono / monoYYmini3.0---
9.
 
Pentax K-3Ymono / monoYYmini3.0---
10.
 
Pentax K-5 IIYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
11.
 
Pentax K-5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
12.
 
Sony A7R VYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
13.
 
Sony A7 IVYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
14.
 
Sony A7R IIIAYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
15.
 
Sony A7R IVAYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
16.
 
Sony A7S IIIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
17.
 
Sony A77 IIYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
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It is notable that the A1 has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The KP lacks such a headphone port.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A1 (unlike the KP) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The A1 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the KP has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the KP from Pentax. Further information on the features and operation of the KP and A1 can be found, respectively, in the Pentax KP Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A1 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Pentax KP or the Sony A1 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Arguments in favor of the Pentax KP:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (83 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2017).

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Reasons to prefer the Sony A1:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (49.8 vs 24.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 44%.
  • Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (8k/30p vs 1080/60i).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.9x vs 0.63x).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1440k vs 921k dots).
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/6000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (530 versus 390) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
  • More solid recording: Has a full-sized HDMI port for a sturdy connection to an external recorder.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
  • More modern: Reflects 4 years of technical progress since the KP launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A1 is the clear winner of the contest (24 : 4 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

KP 04:24 A1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Pentax KP and the Sony A1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the KP or the A1. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Pentax KP4/5..3/582/1005/54.5/5 Jan 2017 1,099ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A15/5o4.5/593/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2021 6,499 amazon.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-H1..+5/586/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2018 1,899ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D75004.5/5+ +4.5/586/1005/54.5/5 Apr 2017 1,299 amazon.com
5.
 
Pentax K-3 III4/5..3/5..4.5/5.. Mar 2021 1,999 amazon.com
6.
 
Pentax K-704.5/5..4/579/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2016 649ebay.com
7.
 
Pentax K-S24.5/5......5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
8.
 
Pentax K-3 II4.5/5......5/55/5 Apr 2015 1,099ebay.com
9.
 
Pentax K-34/5....83/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com
10.
 
Pentax K-5 II5/5....80/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 1,099ebay.com
11.
 
Pentax K-54/5....83/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2010 1,099ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A7R V5/5+ +4.5/592/100.... Oct 2022 3,899 amazon.com
13.
 
Sony A7 IV5/5+ +4.5/589/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2021 2,499 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A7R IIIA..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7R IVA5/5+4.5/591/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 3,499 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A7S III4.5/5+ +5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2020 3,499 amazon.com
17.
 
Sony A77 II4/5....80/1004.5/55/5 May 2014 1,199ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Check KP offers at
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Check A1 price at
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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Pentax KP vs Sony A1

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Pentax KP Sony A1
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Pentax K mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date January 2017 January 2021
    Launch Price USD 1,099 USD 6,499
    Sensor Specs Pentax KP Sony A1
    Sensor Technology CMOS Stacked BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.6 mm 35.9 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 366.6 mm2 861.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.2 mm 43.2 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 24.1 Megapixels 49.8 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6016 x 4000 pixels 8640 x 5760 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.90 μm 4.16 μm
    Pixel Density 6.56 MP/cm2 5.78 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video 8k/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 819,200 ISO 100 - 32,000 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 50 - 102,400 ISO
    Image Processor PRIME IV Dual BIONZ XR
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 98
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 25.9
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 14.5
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 3163
    Screen Specs Pentax KP Sony A1
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.63x 0.9x
    Viewfinder Resolution 9437k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 921k dots 1440k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Pentax KP Sony A1
    Focus System Phase-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/6000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 7 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations500 000 actuations
    Electronic Shutterup to 1/24000sup to 1/32000s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards CFexA or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Pentax KP Sony A1
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.2
    HDMI Port no HDMI full HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Pentax KP Sony A1
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Pentax D-LI109 Sony NP-FZ100
    Battery Life (CIPA)390 shots per charge530 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 132 x 101 x 76 mm
    (5.2 x 4.0 x 3.0 in)
    129 x 97 x 81 mm
    (5.1 x 3.8 x 3.2 in)
    Camera Weight 703 g (24.8 oz) 737 g (26.0 oz)
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