Pentax MX-1 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90: A Thorough Compact Camera Showdown

In the realm of compact cameras, balance is everything: size, image quality, zoom capability, and handling must all co-exist smoothly to satisfy the photographer’s intent. Today, I’m putting two intriguing contenders side-by-side: the Pentax MX-1, announced in mid-2013, and the earlier Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90, released in early 2012. Both cameras target the enthusiast who wants more flexibility than a smartphone can offer without the bulk of interchangeable lenses or larger sensors.

I’ve spent hands-on time with both cameras across a range of shooting scenarios, paying special attention to their performance nuances, handling ergonomics, and imaging results. My goal is to deliver actionable insights so you can decide which camera best fits your shooting style and budget. Let’s dive into the details.

Comparing the Physical Presence and Ergonomics

Before we get lost in megapixels or focal lengths, let's talk about how these cameras feel in hand - an often overlooked but critical aspect of shooting satisfaction.

The Pentax MX-1 is noticeably chunkier and heavier, measuring 122 x 61 x 51 mm and weighing roughly 391 g with battery. That weight translates to a sturdy, solid grip - especially appreciated for those long shooting sessions or when stability at slower shutter speeds is needed.

In contrast, the Sony H90 is lighter and more pocket-friendly at 105 x 60 x 34 mm and 222 g. The slim profile and reduced heft make it excellent for grab-and-go street photography or casual travel snaps where minimalism matters.

Ergonomically, the MX-1 offers dedicated manual controls including aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual exposure modes. The control layout feels intuitive and responsive, accommodating quick changes without menu delving. The Sony H90 leans toward simplicity - it lacks shutter and aperture priority modes, relying mainly on automatic and manual exposure modes. That might frustrate photographers seeking granular tweaking on the fly.

The top view reveals the MX-1’s more pronounced dials and buttons, aiding tactile feedback and precision, whereas the H90 opts for more modest controls - adequate for beginners but less thrilling for seasoned shooters.

Summary: The MX-1 wins in handling for photographers who prioritize control and grip. The H90 suits minimalist pocket shooters valuing portability.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: Size Matters

Central to any camera’s potential is its sensor - the heart of image capture. Let's unpack the sensor specs and real-world performance differences.

The Pentax MX-1 sports a 1/1.7" CMOS sensor with 12 megapixels (4000 x 3000 pixels). The sensor measures roughly 7.44 x 5.58 mm, offering a surface area of 41.52 mm². This larger sensor (relative to typical compacts) benefits image quality - enabling better dynamic range, lower noise at higher sensitivities, and superior color depth (20.4 bits in DxOMark testing).

The Sony H90 is built around a smaller 1/2.3" CCD sensor, packing 16 MP (4608 x 3456 pixels) across a 6.17 x 4.55 mm chip area (28.07 mm²). Despite the higher pixel count, the smaller sensor has smaller photosites, often resulting in lower performance in low light and reduced dynamic range. Indeed, DxO has not officially tested the H90 sensor, but general consensus among reviews points to noisier images at ISO 800 and above.

My own comparisons show that the MX-1 produces cleaner files with richer color transitions, smoother gradients in skies and skin tones, and better shadow retention. The H90’s CCD sensor renders slightly sharper detail in daylight at base ISO but rapidly struggles as light dims.

Antialiasing filters are present on both sensors, which help prevent moiré patterns but slightly soften fine details.

ISO Range: Pentax’s native ISO extends to 12800, Sony maxes out at 3200 - a practical limitation for night or indoor use.

RAW Support: The MX-1 offers full RAW shooting for maximum post-processing flexibility - a must-have for enthusiasts and professionals. The H90 only shoots JPEGs, limiting creative latitude.

Summary: For photographers who value image quality and editing versatility, the MX-1’s larger CMOS sensor and RAW support are clear winners. The H90’s smaller CCD sensor and absence of RAW format place it as a basic shooter.

Lens Specs and Optical Performance: Quality vs. Range

Next, let’s examine the lens systems, often the make-or-break factor for many photographer’s satisfaction.

The Pentax MX-1 has a fixed zoom lens with a focal range of 28–112 mm equivalent (4x zoom) and a bright maximum aperture range from F1.8 at the wide end to F2.5 at telephoto. This bright aperture is a significant plus for low-light shooting and depth-of-field control.

The Sony H90 features an impressively long 24–384 mm equivalent focal range - a whopping 16x zoom - but with a much smaller maximum aperture varying between F3.3 and F5.9, depending on zoom position.

Macro Capability: The MX-1 boasts an impressively close 1 cm minimum focus distance compared to Sony’s 5 cm, providing more intimate close-up shots with dramatic subject isolation.

The MX-1’s aperture of F1.8–2.5 allows for better background blur (“bokeh”) in portraits and macro. The Sony’s slower aperture constrains low-light and creative blurring capability, but the longer reach suits wildlife or distant subjects better.

From optical testing, the MX-1's lens delivers superior sharpness and contrast across the zoom range, especially when stopped down a bit from maximum aperture. The Sony’s lens, while versatile in reach, exhibits softness and chromatic aberration at the telephoto end.

Image stabilization differs too: the MX-1 uses sensor-shift stabilization, effective across all lenses and focal lengths. The H90 uses optical stabilization tailored for its superzoom lens but is less effective at the extreme telephoto reach.

Summary: Lens quality favors the MX-1 for portraits, macro, and low light due to fast aperture and sharp optics. The H90 excels in sheer zoom versatility, ideal for travel and wildlife attempts.

User Interface and Display: How We See and Interact

A camera’s screen and interface define much of the shooting experience, especially in the absence of electronic viewfinders.

Both cameras have 3-inch LCD screens, but the Pentax MX-1 offers a higher resolution 920k-dot vari-angle (tilting) display with anti-reflective coating. This tilting feature enhances framing flexibility for overhead or low-angle shots, plus better visibility in bright daylight.

Conversely, the Sony H90’s fixed ClearPhoto TFT LCD is 461k dots - about half the resolution of the MX-1 - resulting in a less crisp live view. The fixed nature limits creative framing options.

Neither camera offers touchscreens or electronic viewfinders, which can be a dealbreaker for some. Both rely on LCD live view only. The lack of viewfinders affects usability in bright outdoor environments but is mitigated somewhat by the MX-1’s brighter screen.

Menus on the MX-1 are organized logically with quick access to commonly used settings. The Sony interface is simpler but less customizable.

Summary: The MX-1’s superior tilting high-res screen improves usability notably. Sony’s screen is serviceable but less flexible.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

Now onto the autofocus systems and shooting agility - crucial for wildlife, sports, and street photography.

The Pentax MX-1 uses a 25-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection. It can shoot continuous AF and supports focus tracking with moderate responsiveness. Manual focus with a zoom ring or focus ring is available, aiding precision. However, the continuous shooting speed is limited to 1 fps, which restricts burst shooting for action.

The Sony H90 also employs contrast-detection AF but its system is more basic, with unknown number of focus points and lacks continuous AF in burst mode. Face detection works reasonably well in good light. Burst rate also maxes out at about 1 fps.

In practice, the MX-1’s AF offers improved accuracy and tracking in moderate lighting. The Sony struggles in low contrast or dim scenes and is noticeably slower to acquire focus, particularly at long focal lengths.

Neither camera is designed for high-speed sports or fast wildlife photography due to slow burst rates and AF limitations. But for casual shooting including landscapes, portraits, and travel, the MX-1 provides more consistent focusing.

Summary: Pentax MX-1 autofocus is more capable, especially for critical focus demands. Sony H90 AF is adequate for casual point-and-shoot use but less reliable.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Performance: Steady Shots After Dark

Both cameras promise stabilization, but implementation differs.

The MX-1 employs sensor-shift (in-body) stabilization, which theoretically works with any lens element. This form of stabilization is highly effective in counteracting camera shake especially at slower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths.

The Sony uses optical image stabilization built into the lens rather than the sensor. This system works well at wide and mid-range zoom but efficacy diminishes near maximum telephoto.

Regarding ISO sensitivity, Pentax’s CMOS sensor outperforms Sony’s CCD in noise control and dynamic range above ISO 400. This allows the MX-1 to deliver cleaner images in dim lighting and enables handheld shots at night. Sony’s H90 begins to show noise and detail loss starting at ISO 400.

The MX-1 also offers shutter speeds up to 1/8000s, beneficial for freezing motion or shooting in bright light wide open. The H90 caps at 1/1600s.

Summary: If you habitually shoot in low light or need sharp handheld images with minimal blur, the MX-1’s sensor and stabilization hold the advantage. The H90’s stabilization and ISO range suit well-lit daylight scenarios.

Video Features: Moving Pictures with Modest Ambitions

For vloggers or video enthusiasts, neither camera is a powerhouse but both deliver basic HD footage.

The MX-1 records 1080p at 30 fps and supports 720p at up to 60 fps using modern MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs. Video quality benefits from sensor-shift stabilization and relatively bright lens, enabling smoother handheld footage.

The Sony H90 records up to 720p at 30 fps in MPEG-4 format. Its smaller sensor and slower lens apertures limit video quality and low-light usability.

Neither camera features microphone or headphone jacks, touch screen controls, or advanced video codecs. These are snapshot-friendly video options rather than professional tools.

Summary: Pentax MX-1 offers better video resolution and stabilization - a better choice for casual high-definition video. Sony H90 video is serviceable but limited.

Storage, Battery Life, and Connectivity – Practical Aspects

Both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards; however, the Sony also supports Memory Stick Duo variants, a benefit if you have legacy Sony storage media.

Battery life is rated equally at roughly 290 shots per charge for both cameras - modest but typical for this class. Neither camera excels at endurance shooting, but the MX-1’s heavier body can support extended grip attachments if needed.

The MX-1 provides Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility allowing image transfer over Wi-Fi when using compatible cards. The H90 lacks any built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC.

Only the MX-1 offers an HDMI port for high-res output to monitors or TVs.

Summary: Pentax MX-1 edges out in connectivity and expandability. Sony H90 sticks to basics here.

Durability and Weather Sealing

Neither camera offers weather sealing, waterproofing, shockproofing, or freezeproofing capabilities. Both require cautious handling indoors or in mild outdoor conditions. The bulkier MX-1 feels more robustly built but remains a compact.

Pricing and Value Assessment

At launch, the MX-1 retailed around $399.95, whereas the Sony H90 came in at roughly $230. These price points reflect their differing ambitions.

If your budget is tight and you prefer lightweight, long zoom travel photography, the Sony H90 presents a compelling value. For those who need higher image quality, greater manual control, and richer video capability, the Pentax MX-1 is worth the investment.

A Gallery of Comparisons in Real-World Images

Images tell the full story better than specs alone. Below is a hand-picked selection of photos from both cameras under varied conditions to illustrate the differences in color rendering, sharpness, dynamic range, and bokeh quality.

Pentax MX 1 front Pentax MX 1 screen back Sony H90 front Sony H90 screen back

Note the richer tones and smoother gradients in the MX-1 portraits, and the wider framing and reach achievable on the H90’s distant subjects.

How They Score Overall

Based on a combination of sensor performance, features, and handling, here’s an overall performance rating I compiled using standardized benchmarks and in-field results:

Strengths and Weaknesses by Photography Genre

Finally, a look at how each camera fits specific photographic disciplines, scoring their adequacy on key attributes:

• Portraits: MX-1 shines due to bright lens and RAW support; H90 lacks depth-of-field control.
• Landscape: MX-1 better dynamic range; H90’s longer zoom helps distant terrain capture.
• Wildlife: H90’s 16x zoom is advantageous, but MX-1 autofocus is more dependable.
• Sports: Neither is ideal; MX-1’s manual controls offer slight edge.
• Street: H90 is stealthier and lighter; MX-1 slightly bulky.
• Macro: MX-1’s 1 cm focusing beats H90’s 5 cm.
• Night/Astro: MX-1’s high ISO and stabilization prevail.
• Video: MX-1 supports full HD; H90 limited to HD.
• Travel: H90’s long zoom and lightweight feel better for packable travel.
• Professional: MX-1’s RAW files and manual modes better suited.

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Pentax MX-1 if:

• You seek superb image quality from a compact.
• You want manual exposure controls, RAW shooting, and superior low-light performance.
• You value build quality and a tilting high-res screen.
• You occasionally shoot video and desire Full HD stabilization.
• Budget allows for a solid all-around pocket-friendly camera that performs well across genres.

Choose the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90 if:

• You prioritize an ultra-long zoom (16x) in a light, affordable package.
• Your photography is casual, mostly daylight, or travel-oriented.
• Ease of use and compact size outweigh the need for manual control.
• You have a tight budget and want better-than-smartphone zoom reach.
• Video is a secondary concern with simple HD needs.

In Conclusion

Both the Pentax MX-1 and Sony H90 bring specific strengths to the compact enthusiast scene. The MX-1 is a joy for photographers craving control, quality, and versatility in a compact frame. The H90 is a competent travel companion offering reach and simplicity on a wallet-friendly budget.

For me, the MX-1’s larger sensor, bright lens, and manual capabilities make it the more capable camera for serious photography, while the H90 remains a respectable option for those prioritizing optical zoom range and portability.

Thanks for joining me in this detailed comparison. As always, your particular shooting style and requirements should be the compass guiding your choice.

If you have any questions or want me to test specific scenarios, just shout - happy shooting!

Appendix: Key Spec Contrast Recap

This comprehensive hands-on review is rooted in extensive sensory tests, side-by-side shooting, and practical evaluations. I hope it helps you identify the compact camera that aligns best with your photographic ambitions.