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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5 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
  • Revealed July 2013
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5 Overview

The following is a extended comparison of the Pentax MX-1 versus Sony HX5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the MX-1 (1/1.7") and HX5 (1/2.4") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The MX-1 was introduced 3 years after the HX5 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the MX-1 grades vs the HX5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony HX5

 MX-1 HX5 
LaunchedJuly 2013June 2010Newer by 38 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Pentax MX-1

 HX5 MX-1 

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony HX5

 MX-1 HX5 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax MX-1 enjoys outside measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) whilst the Sony HX5 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax MX-1 versus Sony HX5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the MX-1 and the HX5.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the MX-1 and HX5 is 84 and 92 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to see the difference in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specs. The picture underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the MX-1 and HX5.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The MX-1 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax MX-1 will provide more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The younger MX-1 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography information
Sony HX5 Portrait photography information
42
manual focus
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
19
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography factors
Sony HX5 Street photography factors
65
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (391 grams)
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography factors
Sony HX5 Sports photography factors
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery (290 per charge)
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
26
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
Sony HX5 Travel photography info
61
better than average battery (290 CIPA)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (391g)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
60
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
Landscape photography with Sony HX5
55
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (290 shots)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse mode
37
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
Sony HX5 Vlogging advice
33
relatively wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing microphone port
more heavy than competition (391 grams)
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony HX5
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-07-01 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type 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 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in 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, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 391 gr (0.86 pounds) 200 gr (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" 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 images -
Form 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
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $400 $275