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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 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 S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Released February 2009
Photography Glossary

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the S950 (10MP) is fairly similar but the MX-1 (1/1.7") and S950 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The MX-1 was launched 4 years after the S950 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the MX-1 scores versus the S950 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony S950

 MX-1 S950 
ReleasedJuly 2013February 2009Newer by 54 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Pentax MX-1

 S950 MX-1 

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony S950

 MX-1 S950 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax MX-1 has got outside measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) and the Sony S950 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the MX-1 vs the S950.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the MX-1 and S950 is 84 and 94 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by going over specs. The picture below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the MX-1 and S950.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The MX-1 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax MX-1 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The younger MX-1 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
Sony S950 Portrait photography details
42
manual focus
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
26
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
low resolution (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
Sony S950 as a Street photography camera
65
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than average in class (391g)
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
Sports photography with Sony S950
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (290 CIPA)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect AF
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
Travel photography with Sony S950
61
better than average battery power (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (391 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
50
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S950 as a Landscape photography camera
55
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (290 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse recording
31
has manual focus
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
low resolution (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging info
Sony S950 Vlogging info
33
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
heavier than average in class (391g)
9
can't shoot video
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony S950
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-07-01 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 391 grams (0.86 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-Li-106 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $400 $130