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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
38
Overall
44

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100 Key Specs

Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Launched July 2013
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Launched July 2006
  • Older Model is Konica Minolta 5D
  • Refreshed by Sony A550
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100 Overview

Here is a thorough assessment of the Pentax MX-1 and Sony A100, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the A100 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the MX-1 (1/1.7") and A100 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The MX-1 was released 7 years later than the A100 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the MX-1 matches up against the A100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony A100

 MX-1 A100 
LaunchedJuly 2013July 2006Fresher by 85 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Pentax MX-1

 A100 MX-1 

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony A100

 MX-1 A100 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax MX-1 comes with outer dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") and a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) and the Sony A100 has dimensions of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Check the Pentax MX-1 and Sony A100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the MX-1 compared to the A100.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the MX-1 and A100 is 84 and 64 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor sizing merely by checking out specs. The photograph below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the MX-1 and A100.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The MX-1 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax MX-1 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The fresher MX-1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
Sony A100 Portrait photography details
42
focusing manually
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
53
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography info
Sony A100 Street photography info
65
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
very small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (391g)
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A100 as a Sports photography camera
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery (290 shots)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
Sony A100 Travel photography info
61
great battery (290 shots)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (391 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
45
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A100 as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
great battery (290 shots)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
53
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (10MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
Sony A100 Vlogging advice
33
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than competition (391g)
9
no video shooting
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony A100
 Pentax MX-1Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax MX-1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-07-01 2006-07-31
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 391g (0.86 lbs) 638g (1.41 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 49 61
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 22.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 11.2
DXO Low light score 208 476
Other
Battery life 290 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-Li-106 NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Storage slots One One
Retail price $400 $1,000