• APS-C 372.1mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • APS-C 357.3mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000
  • Detailed specifications
  • Pentax K-50
  • Sony Alpha ILCE-QX1
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Pentax K-30
K-30 vs K-50
 
Successor: Pentax K-70
K-50 vs K-70
 
General
Model Number: K-50 QX1
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: SLR Lens-Style Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $779.95 $399.99
Street Price: $149.00 $498.00
Date Available: 2013-07-15 2014-11-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 31.9 oz (904 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
7.6 oz (216 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8 in.
(130 x 97 x 71 mm)
2.9 x 2.7 x 2.1 in.
(74 x 70 x 53 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony Sony
Effective Megapixels: 16.3 20.1
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 372.09mm2 (23.70mm x 15.70mm) 357.28mm2 (23.20mm x 15.40mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 4.81 microns 4.25 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed None
Self-Cleaning: Yes No
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 79 78
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.7 23.8
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 13.0 12.8
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,120 1,063
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4928 x 3264 (16.1 MP, Other),
4224 x 2816 (11.9 MP, 3:2),
3456 x 2304 (8.0 MP, 3:2),
2688 x 1792 (4.8 MP, 3:2)
5456 x 3632 (19.8 MP, 3:2),
5456 x 3064 (16.7 MP, 16:9),
3872 x 2576 (10.0 MP, 3:2),
3872 x 2176 (8.4 MP, 16:9),
2736 x 1824 (5.0 MP, 3:2),
2736 x 1536 (4.2 MP, 16:9)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.3), 12-bit RAW (.DNG), RAW+JPEG JPEG, RAW (12-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 6.0 3.5
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
640x480 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (30p/​16Mbps)
Movie File Format: MOV MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with monaural audio MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with AAC-LC stereo audio)
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No n/a
HD Video Out: No No
HD Video Connection:
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2/3) Sony E
Lens: smc PENTAX-DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR; 11 elements in 8 groups, 6 bladed diaphragm n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 83mm  
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm  
Zoom Ratio: 3.06x  
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/38 (tele)  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
 
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 52.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Phase Detect:: SAFOX IXi+, 11 point (9 cross type focus point in the center), with light wavelength sensor and diffraction lens; Live View: Contrast detection AF (face detection, tracking, select, spot) Contrast-detect AF: Multi Point (25 points)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes No
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD No / No LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.92x mag., -2.5 to +1.5 diopter, Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen (interchangeable)  
Focus Peaking: Yes Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.61x  
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.92x  
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes No
Rear Display: Yes No
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 0.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots (307,200 px)  
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: No
Max Playback Zoom: 16.0x  
Top Deck Display: No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 51200 16000
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps) Auto (100-16000), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 16000
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent (D, N, W, L), Tungsten, Flash, CTE, 3 Manual and 3 Kelvin temperature presets Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Underwater, Color Temp./ Filter (2500-9900K with 15-step Magenta/Green compensation)
Shutter Speed Range: 1/6000 - 30 sec 1/4000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: TTL open-aperture: 77-segment, Center-weighted, Spot 1200-zone Evaluative Multi-segment
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes No
Creative Exposure Modes: Sensitivity Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority, Scene (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Sunset, Blue Sky, Forest, Night Scene, Night Scene HDR (JPG), Night Snap, Food, Pet, Kids, Surf & Snow, Backlight Silhouette, Candlelight, Stage Lighting, Museum); Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color; Dynamic range adjustment (Highlight, Shadow); HDR: Auto, HDR 1, HDR 2, HDR 3  
Self Timer: 2 or 12 seconds 2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer): Yes  
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: P-TTL: On, Redeye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync + Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync. Red-eye reduction: On/Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 12.0 m / 39.4 ft. 4.0 m / 13.1 ft.
Flash Range Description: Depends on lens Lens dependent; GN = 6m (ISO 200) / 4m (ISO100)
Max Flash Sync: 1/180 1/160
Flash Exposure Compensation: -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure  
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC MS Micro M2 / microSD / microSDHC / microSDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 12-bit RAW (.DNG), RAW+JPEG RAW (12-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: MOV MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with monaural audio MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with AAC-LC stereo audio)
Included Memory: No memory included  
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: No No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wired or IR Via Wi-Fi
Connections (extended): Wired remote port Multi Terminal/Micro USB, Wi-Fi with NFC
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution):    
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press?
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 6.0 3.5
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 30 15
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid):    
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):    
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused):    
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time:    
Play -> Record Time:    
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   440 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 480 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary; optional D-BH109 AA Battery Holder Proprietary
Usable Battery Types: D-LI109 Lithium-ion rechargeable NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary D-LI109 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Software CDROM (SILKYPIX Developer Studio for PENTAX included)  
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Replaces K-30: tweaked 16MP sensor, tweaked PRIME M processor, maximum ISO now 51,200, controllable Eye-Fi connection, new WR L kit lenses. Available in 120 colors (20 base colors, 6 grip colors). World's first lens-style camera with interchangeable lens mount.