• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 12,800
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
  • Pentax K-S1
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:    
General
Model Number: DSLR-A500 K-S1
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: SLR SLR
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $849.99 $799.95
Street Price:   $501.65
Date Available: 2009-10-08 2014-09-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 31.7 oz (900 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
27.0 oz (765 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.4 x 4.1 x 3.3 in.
(137 x 104 x 84 mm)
4.8 x 3.7 x 2.8 in.
(121 x 93 x 70 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony  
Effective Megapixels: 12.3 20.1
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 369.72mm2 (23.7mm x 15.6mm) 366.6mm2 (23.50mm x 15.60mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.55 microns 4.29 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2, 16:9 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Optional
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 64 78
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 21.8 23.5
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.6 13.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 772 1,061
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4272 x 2848 (12.2 MP, 3:2),
4272 x 2400 (10.3 MP, 16:9),
3104 x 2072 (6.4 MP, 3:2),
3104 x 1744 (5.4 MP, 16:9),
2128 x 1416 (3.0 MP, 3:2),
2188 x 1192 (2.6 MP, Other)
5472 x 3648 (20.0 MP, 3:2),
4224 x 2816 (11.9 MP, 3:2),
3072 x 2048 (6.3 MP, 3:2),
1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG, RAW JPEG (EXIF 2.30), 12-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG)
Continuous-mode frames/second: 4.9 5.4
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p)
Movie File Format:   MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV)
Composite Video Out: No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A) Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2)
Lens: Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT SAM smc Pentax-DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 83mm 27 - 83mm
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm 18 - 55mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x 3.06x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - ?? (T) f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/40 (tele)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:   25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 55.0mm 52.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a  
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 9-point TTL phase detection (one cross-type sensor) with eye-start AF; Wide, Spot, Local modes SAFOX IX i+, TTL phase-matching -11 point (9 cross type focus points in the center)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.80x mag., 19mm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.0 diopter SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, ~100% coverage, 0.95x mag., 20.5mm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.5 diopter
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.53x 0.63x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.80x 0.95x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,400 dots 921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: Yes No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: No
Max Playback Zoom: 13.4x 16.0x
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 12800 51200
Minimum ISO (native): 200 100
ISO Settings: Auto (200-1600), 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom Auto, Multi Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N: Daylight White, W: Cool White, L: Warm White), Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE, Manual, Color Temperature
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/6000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 40-segment Multi Segment, Center-weighted, Spot; (1200 zone evaluative metering in Live View) TTL open-aperture: 77 segment Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset, Night Portrait/Night View Sensitivity Priority, Shutter & Aperture Priority (Tav); Scene: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Sunset, Blue Sky, Forest, Night Scene, Night Scene HDR (JPEG only), Night Snap, Food, Pet, Kids, Surf & Snow, Backlight Silhouette, Candlelight, Stage Lighting, Museum; Effect: Faded Color, Clear Tone, Brilliant Color, Unicolor Bold, Vintage Color, Cross Processing, Warm Fade, Tone Expansion, Bold Monochrome, Infrared Filter, Vibrant Color Enhance; Digital filters (capture): Extract Color, Replace Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Bold Monochrome; HDR: Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2 or 12 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Wireless, High-Speed sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction (Auto Picture, Scene) Flash On, Flash On+ Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, Manual Flash Discharge (Full-1/128)
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 12.0 m / 39.4 ft. 10.0 m / 32.8 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens dependent Depends on lens
Max Flash Sync: 1/160 1/180
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure  
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:   UHS-I compliant
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW 12-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG)
Movie File Format:   MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV)
Included Memory:   No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
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
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wireless or Wired Optional IR
Connections (extended): DC input, mini-HDMI, Wired Remote Micro (Type D) HMDI
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.48  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.47  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 9  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 4.9 5.4
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 5 20
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): 0.18 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.182 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.21 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.074 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes): Quick AF Live View: Center AF: 0.180s Wide-area AF: 0.181s  
Startup Time: 0.5 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power: 3.4 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 1000 shots 480 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NP-FM500H Proprietary D-LI109
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H 1 x Proprietary D-LI109 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/USB Driver CD-ROM Digital Camera Utility 5 Software CD-ROM
OS Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OS X (v. 10.13+)  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Exmore CMOS Sensor, Variable-angle LCD, SteadyShot In-body Sensor-shift Image Stabilization, Live View, Auto HDR, D-Range Optimizer (Auto, Level 1-5), HDMI Output. The K-S1 comes in 3 standard colors: black, blue, and white. In addition, two separate color collections are available; The Fabric Collection, containing 4 unique colors such as cotton beige and tweed gray – and the Night Sky Collection, with 5 more elegant colors like Sunset Orange, Dawn Purple, and Midnight Black.