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Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V

Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Pentax K-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
44
Features
57
Overall
49

Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Replaced the Pentax K-7
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-5 IIs
Sony HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Announced April 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony HX30V
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Pentax K-5 and Sony HX50V, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the K-5 (16MP) and the HX50V (20MP) is pretty similar but the K-5 (APS-C) and HX50V (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The K-5 was launched 3 years prior to the HX50V which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX50V being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a quick summary of how the K-5 scores versus the HX50V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Sony HX50V

 K-5 HX50V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Pentax K-5

 HX50V K-5 
AnnouncedApril 2013December 2010Newer by 28 months

Common features in the Pentax K-5 and Sony HX50V

 K-5 HX50V 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution921k921kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-5 has exterior dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) whilst the Sony HX50V has measurements of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-5 and Sony HX50V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the K-5 compared to the HX50V.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the K-5 and HX50V is 60 and 89 respectively.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing technical specs. The picture below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-5 and HX50V.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The K-5 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Sony HX50V will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged K-5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-5 Portrait photography information
Sony HX50V Portrait photography information
73
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
50
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
features face detect focusing
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-5
Street photography with Sony HX50V
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
screen is fixed
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (272 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 Sports photography advice
Sony HX50V Sports photography advice
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
features tracking focus
better than average battery (400 CIPA)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-5
Travel photography with Sony HX50V
65
environment proof
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery (400 shots)
lighter than competition in class (272g)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX50V Landscape photography factors
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
53
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
better than average battery (400 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-5
Vlogging with Sony HX50V
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic port
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (272g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
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Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Sony HX50V
 Pentax K-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-12-18 2013-04-24
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime II -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4928 x 3264 5184 x 2920
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Highest boosted ISO 51200 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 740 gr (1.63 pounds) 272 gr (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 82 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 1162 not tested
Other
Battery life 980 pictures 400 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $800 $439