Do you want to know what's better Pentax KP or Sony Alpha a9? SpecsPRO has compared Pentax KP vs Sony Alpha a9: weight, battery, sensor, resolution, ISO, dynamic range and other important specifications.

Pentax KP vs Sony Alpha a9

  • Main

  • Model

  • Price

  • Advantages

  • launch

  • Announced

  • Body type

  • Camera subcategory

  • Sensor

  • Effective pixels

  • Max resolution

  • Sensor size

  • Sensor type

  • Processor

  • Image ratio w:h

  • Other resolutions

  • Sensor photo detectors

  • Image

  • ISO

  • White balance presets

  • Custom white balance

  • Image stabilization

  • Image stabilization notes

  • Uncompressed format

  • JPEG quality levels

  • Boosted ISO (minimum)

  • Boosted ISO (maximum)

  • Photography features

  • Minimum shutter speed

  • Maximum shutter speed

  • Maximum shutter speed (electronic)

  • Aperture priority

  • Shutter priority

  • Manual exposure mode

  • Built-in flash

  • Flash range

  • External flash

  • Flash modes

  • Continuous drive

  • Self-timer

  • Metering modes

  • Exposure compensation

  • AE Bracketing

  • WB Bracketing

  • Subject / scene modes

  • Screen / viewfinder

  • Articulated LCD

  • Screen size

  • Screen dots

  • Touch screen

  • Screen type

  • Live view

  • Viewfinder type

  • Viewfinder coverage

  • Viewfinder magnification

  • Viewfinder resolution

  • Videography features

  • File Format

  • Microphone

  • Speaker

  • Optics & Focus

  • Autofocus

  • Manual focus

  • Number of focus points

  • Lens mount

  • Focal length multiplier

  • Physical

  • Weight (inc. batteries)

  • Dimensions

  • Environmentally sealed

  • Battery

  • Battery details

  • Battery Life (CIPA)

  • Storage

  • Storage types

  • Connectivity

  • USB

  • HDMI

  • Microphone port

  • Headphone port

  • Wireless

  • Wireless notes

  • Remote control

  • Other features

  • Orientation sensor

  • Timelapse recording

  • GPS

  • GPS notes

  • Samples

  • Videos

  • Main

  • Model

    Pentax KP

  • Price

  • Advantages

  • SENSOR Max resolution: 6016 x 4000

    IMAGE ISO: Auto, 100-819200

    PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Built-in flash: Yes

    SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Viewfinder type: Optical (pentaprism)

    OTHER FEATURES GPS: Optional

    Go to the Summary

  • Main

  • Model

    Sony Alpha a9

  • Price

  • Advantages

  • SENSOR Sensor size: Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm)

    SENSOR Sensor photo detectors: 28 megapixels

    IMAGE White balance presets: 10

    PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Maximum shutter speed: 1/8000 sec

    PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Continuous drive: 20.0 fps

    SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Screen dots: 1,440,000

    OPTICS & FOCUS Number of focus points: 693

    PHYSICAL Weight (inc. batteries): 673 g (1.48 lb / 23.74 oz)

    PHYSICAL Battery Life (CIPA): 650

    CONNECTIVITY HDMI: Yes (micro-HDMI)

    Go to the Summary

  • launch

  • Announced

    Jan 2017

  • Body type

  • Camera subcategory

    Mid-size SLR

  • Sensor

  • Effective pixels

    24 megapixels

  • Max resolution

    6016 x 4000

  • Sensor size

    APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm)

  • Sensor type

    CMOS

  • Processor

    PRIME IV

  • Image ratio w:h

    3:2

  • Other resolutions

    4608 x 3072, 3072 x 2048, 1920 x 1280

  • Sensor photo detectors

    25 megapixels

  • Image

  • ISO

    Auto, 100-819200

  • White balance presets

    9

  • Custom white balance

    Yes (3 slots)

  • Image stabilization

    Sensor-shift

  • Image stabilization notes

    5-axis, up to 5 stops

  • Uncompressed format

    RAW

  • JPEG quality levels

    Best, better, good

  • Boosted ISO (minimum)

  • Boosted ISO (maximum)

  • Photography features

  • Minimum shutter speed

    30 sec

  • Maximum shutter speed

    1/6000 sec

  • Maximum shutter speed (electronic)

    1/24000 sec

  • Aperture priority

    Yes

  • Shutter priority

    Yes

  • Manual exposure mode

    Yes

  • Built-in flash

    Yes

  • Flash range

    6.00 m (at ISO 100)

  • External flash

    Yes (via hot shoe)

  • Flash modes

    Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless

  • Continuous drive

    7.0 fps

  • Self-timer

    Yes (2 or 12 secs)

  • Metering modes

    • Multi
    • Center-weighted
    • Spot

  • Exposure compensation

    ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)

  • AE Bracketing

    ±5 (2, 3, 5 frames )

  • WB Bracketing

    Yes

  • Subject / scene modes

  • Screen / viewfinder

  • Articulated LCD

    Tilting

  • Screen size

    3

  • Screen dots

    921,000

  • Touch screen

    Yes

  • Screen type

    TFT LCD

  • Live view

    Yes

  • Viewfinder type

    Optical (pentaprism)

  • Viewfinder coverage

    100%

  • Viewfinder magnification

    0.95×

  • Viewfinder resolution

  • Videography features

  • File Format

    MPEG-4, H.264

  • Microphone

    Stereo

  • Speaker

    Mono

  • Optics & Focus

  • Autofocus

    • Contrast Detect (sensor)
    • Multi-area
    • Center
    • Selective single-point
    • Tracking
    • Single
    • Continuous
    • Touch
    • Face Detection
    • Live View

  • Manual focus

    Yes

  • Number of focus points

    27

  • Lens mount

    Pentax KAF2

  • Focal length multiplier

    1.5×

  • Physical

  • Weight (inc. batteries)

    703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)

  • Dimensions

    132 x 101 x 76 mm (5.2 x 3.98 x 2.99)

  • Environmentally sealed

    Yes

  • Battery

    Battery Pack

  • Battery details

    D-LI109 lithium-ion battery & charger

  • Battery Life (CIPA)

    390

  • Storage

  • Storage types

    SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)

  • Connectivity

  • USB

    USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)

  • HDMI

    No (requires SlimPort adapter)

  • Microphone port

    Yes

  • Headphone port

    No

  • Wireless

    Built-In

  • Wireless notes

    802.11 b/g/n

  • Remote control

    Yes (via remote cable or smartphone)

  • Other features

  • Orientation sensor

    Yes

  • Timelapse recording

    Yes

  • GPS

    Optional

  • GPS notes

    O-GPS1

  • ————

  • Watch video reviews

  • launch

  • Announced

    2017

  • Body type

  • Camera subcategory

    SLR-style mirrorless

  • Sensor

  • Effective pixels

    24 megapixels

  • Max resolution

    6000 x 4000

  • Sensor size

    Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm)

  • Sensor type

    BSI-CMOS

  • Processor

    BIONZ X

  • Image ratio w:h

    3:2, 16:9

  • Other resolutions

  • Sensor photo detectors

    28 megapixels

  • Image

  • ISO

    Auto, ISO 100-51200 (expands to 50-204800)

  • White balance presets

    10

  • Custom white balance

    Yes

  • Image stabilization

    Sensor-shift

  • Image stabilization notes

    5-axis

  • Uncompressed format

    RAW

  • JPEG quality levels

    Extra fine, fine, standard

  • Boosted ISO (minimum)

    50

  • Boosted ISO (maximum)

    204800

  • Photography features

  • Minimum shutter speed

    30 sec

  • Maximum shutter speed

    1/8000 sec

  • Maximum shutter speed (electronic)

    1/32000 sec

  • Aperture priority

    Yes

  • Shutter priority

    Yes

  • Manual exposure mode

    Yes

  • Built-in flash

    No

  • Flash range

  • External flash

    Yes (via hot shoe or flash sync port)

  • Flash modes

    Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync

  • Continuous drive

    20.0 fps

  • Self-timer

    Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)

  • Metering modes

    • Multi
    • Center-weighted
    • Highlight-weighted
    • Average
    • Spot

  • Exposure compensation

    ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)

  • AE Bracketing

    ±5 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps)

  • WB Bracketing

    Yes (3 frames, H/L selectable)

  • Subject / scene modes

    No

  • Screen / viewfinder

  • Articulated LCD

    Tilting

  • Screen size

    3

  • Screen dots

    1,440,000

  • Touch screen

    Yes

  • Screen type

    TFT LCD

  • Live view

    Yes

  • Viewfinder type

    Electronic

  • Viewfinder coverage

    100%

  • Viewfinder magnification

    0.78×

  • Viewfinder resolution

    3,686,400

  • Videography features

  • File Format

    MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264

  • Microphone

    Stereo

  • Speaker

    Mono

  • Optics & Focus

  • Autofocus

    • Contrast Detect (sensor)
    • Phase Detect
    • Multi-area
    • Center
    • Selective single-point
    • Tracking
    • Single
    • Continuous
    • Touch
    • Face Detection
    • Live View

  • Manual focus

  • Number of focus points

    693

  • Lens mount

    Sony E

  • Focal length multiplier

    1×

  • Physical

  • Weight (inc. batteries)

    673 g (1.48 lb / 23.74 oz)

  • Dimensions

    127 x 96 x 63 mm (5 x 3.78 x 2.48)

  • Environmentally sealed

    Yes

  • Battery

    Battery Pack

  • Battery details

    NP-FZ100

  • Battery Life (CIPA)

    650

  • Storage

  • Storage types

    Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)

  • Connectivity

  • USB

    USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)

  • HDMI

    Yes (micro-HDMI)

  • Microphone port

    Yes

  • Headphone port

    Yes

  • Wireless

    Built-In

  • Wireless notes

    802.11b/g/n + NFC + Bluetooth

  • Remote control

    Yes (Wired or wireless)

  • Other features

  • Orientation sensor

    Yes

  • Timelapse recording

  • GPS

    None

  • GPS notes

  • ————

  • Watch video reviews

  • Summary

    The KP highest resolution of 6016 x 4000 pixels (24 megapixels) is better in comparison with the Alpha a9 maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000 pixels (24 megapixels). The Alpha a9 is produced with bigger sensor than the KP: Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) versus APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm). It is very significant advantage of this model because large sensor allows you to make photos of the more professional quality. The KP offers a wider ISO range of 100-819200 than 100-51200 ISO range of the Alpha a9. Such ISO numbers allow you to make good quality photos in dim light situations. The Alpha a9 has more number of white balance presets - 10. This option gives you more control over colour. The Alpha a9 offers more number of focus points than the KP: 693 vs 27. More focus points means less risk of losing focus lock during tracking a moving subject.

    The Alpha a9 screen is better as it has more number of screen dots 1,440,000 in compare to 921,000 dots of the KP display. The higher dot count screen is better for reviewing pictures on your camera.

    The KP is produced with built-in flash. The Alpha a9 battery life is better in compare to the KP battery life. According to CIPA standards the camera owner will be able to produce 650 photos with the Alpha a9 and only 390 with the KP. The Sony Alpha a9 weighs 673g that is 30g lighter in comparison with the weight of the KP. The KP can utilize optional accessory GPS devices. This feature can be useful if the camera owner is a traveller, to be able to check the photo metadata and find out exactly where a picture was captured.

    Considering the above differences the Sony Alpha a9 becomes the best choice. Check the list of the best offers on Amazon.