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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55 Key Specs

Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Released July 2013
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Revealed June 2010
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Pentax MX-1 versus Sony H55, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the H55 (14MP) is pretty close but the MX-1 (1/1.7") and H55 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The MX-1 was revealed 3 years later than the H55 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the MX-1 scores vs the H55 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony H55

 MX-1 H55 
RevealedJuly 2013June 2010Fresher by 38 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Pentax MX-1

 H55 MX-1 

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony H55

 MX-1 H55 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax MX-1 has got external 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 H55 has proportions of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Pentax MX-1 versus Sony H55 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the MX-1 against the H55.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the MX-1 and H55 is 84 and 92 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by looking through technical specs. The photograph here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the MX-1 and H55.

As you have seen, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The MX-1 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Sony H55 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The newer MX-1 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography information
Sony H55 Portrait photography information
42
you can focus manually
features face detection focus
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
28
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax MX-1
Street photography with Sony H55
65
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (391 grams)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography information
Sony H55 Sports photography information
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
great battery life (290 per charge)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
38
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (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 H55
61
great battery life (290 per charge)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (391 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
67
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
Landscape photography with Sony H55
55
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (290 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse recording
42
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging information
Sony H55 Vlogging information
33
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
more heavy than competition (391g)
28
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony H55
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-07-01 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
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 area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 391g (0.86 lb) 200g (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-Li-106 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $400 $235