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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Announced October 2019
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Nikon Z50 and Pentax MX-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Nikon and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide different sensor sizing.

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The Z50 was revealed 6 years after the MX-1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a short view of how the Z50 scores versus the MX-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Pentax MX-1

 Z50 MX-1 
AnnouncedOctober 2019July 2013More modern by 77 months
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1040k920kCrisper screen (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Nikon Z50

 MX-1 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Pentax MX-1

 Z50 MX-1 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Nikon Z50 comes with exterior dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Examine the Nikon Z50 and Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the Z50 against the MX-1.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Z50 and MX-1 is 74 and 84 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by seeing specifications. The pic underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the Z50 and MX-1.

To sum up, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The Z50 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Nikon Z50 will show more detail because of its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The younger Z50 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
80
you can focus manually
MP count good (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
42
has manual focus
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography features
Pentax MX-1 Street photography features
73
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
offers touch to focus
weather proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (397 grams)
65
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 Sports photography information
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography information
75
MP count good (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery power (290 per charge)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 Travel photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
77
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
offers touch to focus
MP count good (21MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
heavier than competition (397g)
61
good battery power (290 CIPA)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (391 grams)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography information
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography information
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inch)
MP count good (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
lack of image stabilization
55
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
good battery power (290 shots)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
71
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic jack
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (397 grams)
33
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (391g)
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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Pentax MX-1
 Nikon Z50Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Z50 Pentax MX-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2019-10-10 2013-07-01
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5568 x 3712 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 51200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 209 25
Lens
Lens mount Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 15 -
Crop factor 1.5 4.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 11.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 397 grams (0.88 pounds) 391 grams (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 290 pictures
Style of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL25 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price $857 $400