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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690 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
  • Launched July 2013
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690 Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Pentax MX-1 versus Sony W690, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the MX-1 (12MP) and W690 (16MP) and the MX-1 (1/1.7") and W690 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The MX-1 was manufactured 17 months after the W690 making them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the MX-1 matches up against the W690 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony W690

 MX-1 W690 
IntroducedJuly 2013February 2012More modern by 17 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Pentax MX-1

 W690 MX-1 

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony W690

 MX-1 W690 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax MX-1 offers 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) and the Sony W690 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Compare the Pentax MX-1 versus Sony W690 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the MX-1 compared to the W690.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the MX-1 and W690 is 84 and 95 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by going through technical specs. The picture underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the MX-1 and W690.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The MX-1 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony W690 will provide more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos more aggressively. The younger MX-1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W690 as a Portrait photography camera
42
focusing manually
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography info
Sony W690 Street photography info
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
Sports photography with Sony W690
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
great battery pack (290 per charge)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography factors
Sony W690 Travel photography factors
61
great battery pack (290 shots)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (391g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W690 as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (290 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
no Timelapse recording
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W690 as a Vlogging camera
33
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony W690
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-07-01 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT LCD with AR coating ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 391g (0.86 lb) 142g (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 photos 220 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-Li-106 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $400 $297