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Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V

Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50
Pentax K-x front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Announced December 2009
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX10V
  • Later Model is Sony HX30V
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Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V Overview

Below is a in-depth comparison of the Pentax K-x versus Sony HX20V, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the K-x (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the K-x (APS-C) and HX20V (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The K-x was revealed 3 years prior to the HX20V and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the K-x scores vs the HX20V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Sony HX20V

 K-x HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Pentax K-x

 HX20V K-x 
RevealedJuly 2012December 2009More recent by 31 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Pentax K-x and Sony HX20V

 K-x HX20V 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-x has outer dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-x versus Sony HX20V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the K-x and the HX20V.

Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the K-x and HX20V is 69 and 90 respectively.

Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements just by researching specifications. The graphic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-x and HX20V.

Plainly, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The K-x with its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony HX20V will render more detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older K-x will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-x Portrait photography factors
Sony HX20V Portrait photography factors
63
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
45
focusing manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
has face detect focus
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-x Street photography highlights
Sony HX20V Street photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-x
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery (1,900 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-x Travel photography advice
Sony HX20V Travel photography advice
54
better than average battery (1,900 shots)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-x Landscape photography advice
Sony HX20V Landscape photography advice
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (1,900 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
50
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-x Vlogging details
Sony HX20V Vlogging details
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
34
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no mic socket
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Pentax K-x vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-x and Sony HX20V
 Pentax K-xSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-x Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-12-23 2012-07-20
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 2848 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD monitor XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 96 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 16.00 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 580 gr (1.28 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 811 not tested
Other
Battery life 1900 photographs 320 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $600 $397