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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
57
Overall
64

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1 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 RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Announced February 2013
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Pentax MX-1 and Sony RX1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the MX-1 (12MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the MX-1 (1/1.7") and RX1 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The MX-1 was brought out 5 months later than the RX1 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the MX-1 grades versus the RX1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony RX1

 MX-1 RX1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Pentax MX-1

 RX1 MX-1 
Display resolution1229k920kClearer display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony RX1

 MX-1 RX1 
AnnouncedJuly 2013February 2013Same generation
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax MX-1 has got external measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) while the Sony RX1 has dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") and a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Check the Pentax MX-1 and Sony RX1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the MX-1 versus the RX1.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the MX-1 and RX1 is 84 and 79 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing only by going through specs. The visual below might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the MX-1 and RX1.

All in all, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The MX-1 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony RX1 will produce greater detail having its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
Sony RX1 Portrait photography details
42
focusing manually
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
81
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000s)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
Sony RX1 Street photography highlights
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (391 grams)
66
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
very good high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography advice
Sony RX1 Sports photography advice
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (290 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
53
MP count good (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX1 Travel photography highlights
61
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (391g)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
62
MP count good (24MP)
has built in flash
very good max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (270 shots)
heavier than competition (482g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
Landscape photography with Sony RX1
55
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of Timelapse function
64
focusing manually
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3")
MP count good (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging information
Sony RX1 Vlogging information
33
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (391g)
34
very good max aperture (f2.0)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (482g)
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony RX1
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Released 2013-07-01 2013-02-19
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/2.0-22.0
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Crop factor 4.8 1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD with AR coating Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/4000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 391 gr (0.86 lb) 482 gr (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 49 93
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 14.3
DXO Low light score 208 2534
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 270 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-Li-106 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $400 $2,798