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Pentax

K-50

Weather-sealed entry APS-C DSLR with IBIS and AA filter simulator at an accessible price.

$599

Launch price

Released Jun 2013

vs
Alpha 7 IV

Sony

Alpha 7 IV

33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.

$2,499

Launch price

Released Oct 2021

Alpha 7 IV is 8.3 years newer.

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Wins

4categories

K-50

TravelVlogging

Wins

10categories

Alpha 7 IV

PortraitWildlife

4 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

K-50 wins 0 categories·Alpha 7 IV wins 5 categories
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher RAW buffer depth (828 frames vs 60 frames)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 101)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher Resolution (33 MP vs 16.3 MP)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)

Key specs at a glance

K-50Alpha 7 IV
Resolution16.3 MP33 MP
SensorAPS-CFull Frame
ISO max25,60051,200
Burst11 fps10 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBIS3-stop5.5-stop
Weight590 g658 g
Battery640 shots580 shots

Size and weight, to scale

K-50

129 × 97 × 70 mm

590 g (1.30 lb / 20.81 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

Alpha 7 IV front view

Alpha 7 IV

131 × 96 × 80 mm

658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)

K-50 is 2mm narrower and 10mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV.

K-50 is 68 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.

Depth (front-to-back): 70mm K-50 · 80mm Alpha 7 IV

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

K-50

129 × 97 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Alpha 7 IV back view

Alpha 7 IV

131 × 96 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

K-50

129 × 70 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Alpha 7 IV top view

Alpha 7 IV

131 × 80 mm

Sensor size, to scale

K-50

23.7 × 15.7 mm · APS-C

372 mm² area

Alpha 7 IV

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

K-50

Pentax K

70+

native lenses available

30 first-party40 third-party

Alpha 7 IV

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseK-50Alpha 7 IV
Portrait
5.5Fair
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Sports & Action
4.0Fair
6.5Good✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
5.5Fair
7.5Good✓ wins
Landscape
2.5Limited
7.5Good✓ wins
Travel
7.5Good✓ wins
7.0Good
Wildlife
6.5Good
8.0Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
7.0Good
8.0Excellent✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

K-50

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 129, 96.5, 70

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Vehicle

  • Weight

    590 g vs 658 g — lower is better

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    640 shots vs 580 shots — higher is better

  • Burst (electronic)

    11 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better

  • AF frame coverage

    100 % vs 94 % — higher is better

Reasons to choose

Alpha 7 IV

  • AF low-light limit

    -4 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8

  • RAW buffer depth

    828 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better

  • AF points / zones

    759 vs 101 — higher is better

  • Max video bit rate

    600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I

  • Resolution

    33 MP vs 16.3 MP — higher is better

  • ISO max (native)

    51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • 4K max frame rateBoth 60 fps
  • In-body stabilization (IBIS)Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
  • Weather sealingBoth support weather sealing

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

K-50

Pros

  • Weather sealed entry
  • IBIS
  • AA filter simulator
  • Great used value

Cons

  • 16MP sensor
  • DSLR platform
  • Limited video

Alpha 7 IV

Pros

  • 33MP — more detail for cropping and print
  • 10-bit 4K 60p (Super35 crop) / 4K 30p full-frame
  • Full-size HDMI port
  • 759 phase-detect AF points

Cons

  • 4K 60p requires Super35 crop
  • 10fps burst lags behind R6 II at 40fps
  • Complex menu system

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the K-50 and Alpha 7 IV at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

K-50
Alpha 7 IV
Resolution
16.3 MP
33 MP2× more
Sensor type
APS-C CMOS
Full Frame Exmor R CMOS
Sensor size
23.7 × 15.7 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
K-50
Alpha 7 IV
Processor
Image processor
BIONZ XR
K-50
Alpha 7 IV
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
51,200+1 stop
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
204,800
K-50
Alpha 7 IV
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/8000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, K-50 or Alpha 7 IV?

Alpha 7 IV scores 7.5/10 versus 2.5/10 for K-50 — 33MP — ample resolution.

What's the resolution difference between the K-50 and Alpha 7 IV?

K-50 is 16.3 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the K-50 and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?

K-50 has 3-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the K-50 or the Alpha 7 IV?

K-50 reaches 11 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the K-50 and Alpha 7 IV?

K-50 weighs 590 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the K-50 is 68 g lighter.

Do the K-50 and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?

K-50: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.

Are the K-50 and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?

K-50: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the K-50 and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the K-50 the edge.

How much does each cost?

K-50 launched at $599 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The K-50 is $1,900 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way K-50 vs Alpha 7 IV vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.

Product images courtesy of Pentax and Sony press materials.