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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90

Portability
84
Imaging
36
Features
60
Overall
45
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90 front
Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
26
Overall
30

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90 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
  • Released July 2013
Sony T90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 148g - 94 x 57 x 15mm
  • Launched February 2009
Photography Glossary

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90 Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Pentax MX-1 and Sony T90, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the T90 (12MP) is pretty similar but the MX-1 (1/1.7") and T90 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The MX-1 was unveiled 4 years after the T90 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony T90 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the MX-1 scores against the T90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony T90

 MX-1 T90 
LaunchedJuly 2013February 2009More modern by 54 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony T90 over the Pentax MX-1

 T90 MX-1 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony T90

 MX-1 T90 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax MX-1 offers outer 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 T90 has measurements of 94mm x 57mm x 15mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.6") and a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs).

See the Pentax MX-1 and Sony T90 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the MX-1 vs the T90.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the MX-1 and T90 is 84 and 96 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the MX-1 and T90.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor sizes. The MX-1 has got the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult. The younger MX-1 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
Portrait photography with Sony T90
41
manual focus
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
27
manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography details
Sony T90 Street photography details
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
sensor is small (1/1.7")
more heavy than others in class (391 grams)
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than others (148g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
Sports photography with Sony T90
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography advice
Sony T90 Travel photography advice
60
better than average battery pack (290 shots)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (391g)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
50
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (148g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography info
Sony T90 Landscape photography info
54
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (290 per charge)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
no Timelapse recording
36
manual focus
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging details
Sony T90 Vlogging details
32
pretty wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
more heavy than others in class (391g)
27
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
heavier than others (148 grams)
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony T90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony T90
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Released 2013-07-01 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Ultracompact
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 surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-10.0
Macro focus range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 1 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 2.90 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 391 grams (0.86 lbs) 148 grams (0.33 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 94 x 57 x 15mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-Li-106 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $400 $259