Pentax K-7 vs Sony DSLR-A290

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Pentax K-7 vs Sony DSLR-A290

APS-C 369.7mm²
14.6 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-7 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-7.

APS-C 369.7mm²
14.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Sony DSLR-A290 Review.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-5
Compare K-7 vs K-5
Compare Pentax K-5 vs Sony DSLR-A290

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Differences

Pentax K-7 advantages over Sony DSLR-A290

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
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

740 vs 500 shots
Capture more photos
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 dots on screen
921k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More viewfinder magnification
0.61x vs 0.55x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Faster JPEG shooting
5.2 fps vs 2.4 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
6400 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony DSLR-A290 advantages over Pentax K-7

Less expensive
$500 vs $1300 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
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.
DSLR-A290 test data on DxO Mark K-7 test data on DxO Mark

615 vs 536 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Lighter weight
508g vs 758g
Lighter weight

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
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
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
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 Pentax K-7

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony DSLR-A290

Review Excerpt

Read our Pentax K-7 Full Review

We haven’t reviewed the Sony DSLR-A290.
Read our Sony DSLR-A290 Initial Test

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D5000

Pentax K-7

Nikon D5000

$1300
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer stills battery life

$850
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-7 vs Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A290

Nikon D5000

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Nikon D5000

Compared to Sony DSLR-A380

Pentax K-7

Sony DSLR-A380

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Longer stills battery life

$849
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-7 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Sony DSLR-A290

Sony DSLR-A380

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
Lighter weight

$849
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Compared to Canon T2i

Pentax K-7

Canon T2i

$1300
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$692
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-7 vs Canon T2i

Sony DSLR-A290

Canon T2i

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$692
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Canon T2i

Compared to Sony DSLR-A390

Pentax K-7

Sony DSLR-A390

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Longer stills battery life

$507
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-7 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Sony DSLR-A290

Sony DSLR-A390

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
More viewfinder magnification

$507
APS-C

Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Compared to Sony A55

Pentax K-7

Sony A55

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$734
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-7 vs Sony A55

Sony DSLR-A290

Sony A55

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$734
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Sony A55

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