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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-3
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1 Overview

Let's look closer at the Pentax K-3 II versus Sony HX1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the K-3 II (24MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the K-3 II (APS-C) and HX1 (1/2.4") provide different sensor measurements.

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The K-3 II was brought out 6 years after the HX1 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the K-3 II scores versus the HX1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Sony HX1

 K-3 II HX1 
LaunchedApril 2015April 2009Newer by 74 months
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Pentax K-3 II

 HX1 K-3 II 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax K-3 II and Sony HX1

 K-3 II HX1 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax K-3 II offers outer dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Sony HX1 has sizing of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-3 II versus Sony HX1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the K-3 II against the HX1.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 II and HX1 is 59 and 67 respectively.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specifications. The picture underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-3 II and HX1.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The K-3 II featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Pentax K-3 II will offer you more detail having its extra 15MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images more aggressively. The younger K-3 II provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
Portrait photography with Sony HX1
79
has manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
27
manual focus
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Street photography information
Sony HX1 Street photography information
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
no moving screen
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competition (544g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 II as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Sports photography camera
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (720 per charge)
36
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution not great (9 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 II as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Travel photography camera
56
weather proofing
good MP (24 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (720 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
48
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (544 grams)
resolution not great (9 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 II
Landscape photography with Sony HX1
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
not so great battery pack (720 CIPA)
39
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Vlogging information
Sony HX1 Vlogging information
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic jack
does not feature selfie friendly display
22
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1440 x 1080 pixels)
does not have microphone port
more heavy than competition (544 grams)
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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 II and Sony HX1
 Pentax K-3 IISony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-3 II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2015-04-23 2009-04-22
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 9MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6016 x 4000 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 51200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 27 9
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.3fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 9.20 m
Flash settings Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1440x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 lbs) 544 grams (1.20 lbs)
Physical dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1106 not tested
Other
Battery life 720 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Dual Single
Price at release $829 $47,999