• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • APS-C 357.3mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

Buy From

Differences

Pentax K-01 advantages over Sony A3000

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Thinner
    58 mm vs 84 mm
    Thinner
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • More dots on screen
    921k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.9 fps vs 3.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 16000 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A3000 advantages over Pentax K-01

  • Less expensive
    $400 vs $900 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • More telephoto lens reach
    83 mm vs 61 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Less shutter lag
    0.28 vs 0.80 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 16.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    27 mm vs 61 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • 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

  • 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
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • 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
  • 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
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Very good image quality and excellent high ISO performance. Premium build quality. In-body image stabilization. Lots of creative features. Full HD movie capture with manual exposure control.

  • Barely any smaller than a standard SLR, but lacks viewfinder and phase-detect autofocus. Contrast-detect AF is slow and unreliable. Body design is clumsy and uncomfortable. Very slow raw burst shooting.

  • Absolutely incredible value; Includes a stabilized kit lens; More versatile than a fixed-lens bridge camera; Comfortable body with good ergonomics; Great image quality; Good autofocus performance; Decent battery life.

  • Feels a bit plasticky; Slow burst shooting with limited buffer; Sluggish to power on or switch modes; Low-res EVF and LCD monitor; Can't review images using EVF; No video output; Weak flash; Battery charges in-camera.

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX10

Pentax K-01
Samsung NX10
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Sony A3000
Samsung NX10
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • Fast startup

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro1

Pentax K-01
Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-camera panoramas
Sony A3000
Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Thinner

Compared to Samsung NX20

Pentax K-01
Samsung NX20
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
Sony A3000
Samsung NX20
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compared to Sigma sd Quattro

Pentax K-01
Sigma sd Quattro
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • On-sensor phase detect
Sony A3000
Sigma sd Quattro
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • HDMI out

Compared to Canon EOS M5

Pentax K-01
Canon EOS M5
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $679
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Touchscreen
Sony A3000
Canon EOS M5
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $679
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
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