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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Released July 2013
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX10V
  • Successor is Sony HX30V
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Pentax MX-1 and Sony HX20V, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Pentax and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the MX-1 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the MX-1 (1/1.7") and HX20V (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The MX-1 was revealed 12 months later than the HX20V which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the MX-1 matches up versus the HX20V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony HX20V

 MX-1 HX20V 
AnnouncedJuly 2013July 2012More recent by 12 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Pentax MX-1

 HX20V MX-1 
Screen resolution922k920kClearer screen (+2k dot)

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony HX20V

 MX-1 HX20V 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax MX-1 has got exterior dimensions 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 HX20V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Examine the Pentax MX-1 and Sony HX20V in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the MX-1 vs the HX20V.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the MX-1 and HX20V is 84 and 90 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through specifications. The photograph below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the MX-1 and HX20V.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The MX-1 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony HX20V will show extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The younger MX-1 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography info
Sony HX20V Portrait photography info
42
you can focus manually
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
45
manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography info
Sony HX20V Street photography info
65
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than average (391g)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography details
Sony HX20V Sports photography details
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (290 shots)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect AF
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Travel photography camera
61
great battery life (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (391 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than others (254g)
megapixel count good (18MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography details
Sony HX20V Landscape photography details
55
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (290 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse recording
50
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging factors
Sony HX20V Vlogging factors
33
pretty wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have mic port
heavier than average (391 grams)
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (254 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic socket
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony HX20V
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-07-01 2012-07-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD with AR coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 391 gr (0.86 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 208 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images 320 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-Li-106 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $400 $397