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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3 Key Specs

Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Introduced July 2013
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Photography Glossary

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Pentax MX-1 and Sony G3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the G3 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the MX-1 (1/1.7") and G3 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The MX-1 was unveiled 4 years after the G3 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the MX-1 matches up versus the G3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony G3

 MX-1 G3 
IntroducedJuly 2013January 2009Newer by 55 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Pentax MX-1

 G3 MX-1 
Screen size3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony G3

 MX-1 G3 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax MX-1 comes with exterior 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) and the Sony G3 has specifications of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Examine the Pentax MX-1 and Sony G3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the MX-1 vs the G3.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the MX-1 and G3 is 84 and 94 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specifications. The picture below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the MX-1 and G3.

To sum up, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The MX-1 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Pentax MX-1 will give you greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more recent MX-1 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony G3 as a Portrait photography camera
42
focusing manually
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
26
has manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax MX-1
Street photography with Sony G3
65
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography highlights
Sony G3 Sports photography highlights
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery pack (290 shots)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect AF
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
Travel photography with Sony G3
61
good battery pack (290 per charge)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
50
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography info
Sony G3 Landscape photography info
55
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (290 CIPA)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse function
36
has manual focus
screen larger than average (3.5")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
Vlogging with Sony G3
33
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
27
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
no external mic jack
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony G3
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-07-01 2009-01-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-10.0
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.5 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 391 gr (0.86 pounds) 185 gr (0.41 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 208 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-Li-106 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $400 $200