Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A330

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Pentax MX-1 and Sony A330, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the A330 (10MP) is relatively close but the MX-1 (1/1.7") and A330 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The MX-1 was unveiled 4 years later than the A330 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A330 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the MX-1 scores vs the A330 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax MX-1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A330. The full galleries are viewable at Pentax MX-1 Gallery & Sony A330 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax MX-1 comes with external measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) whilst the Sony A330 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax MX-1 and Sony A330 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the MX-1 compared to the A330.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the MX-1 and A330 is 84 and 67 respectively.

Quite often, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing merely by looking through specifications. The visual below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the MX-1 and A330.

To sum up, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The MX-1 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax MX-1 will result in more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer MX-1 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.