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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
33
Overall
37

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730 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
  • Announced July 2013
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2013
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Pentax MX-1 versus Sony W730, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the MX-1 (12MP) and W730 (16MP) and the MX-1 (1/1.7") and W730 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The MX-1 was released 6 months after the W730 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the MX-1 matches up versus the W730 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony W730

 MX-1 W730 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Pentax MX-1

 W730 MX-1 
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony W730

 MX-1 W730 
AnnouncedJuly 2013January 2013Same generation
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax MX-1 enjoys outside dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") and a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) while the Sony W730 has proportions of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Pentax MX-1 versus Sony W730 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the MX-1 vs the W730.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the MX-1 and W730 is 84 and 96 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by going through specifications. The image below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the MX-1 and W730.

To sum up, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The MX-1 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony W730 will show extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography info
Sony W730 Portrait photography info
42
has manual focus
features face detect focusing
supports RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
35
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography information
Sony W730 Street photography information
65
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
small sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (391g)
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch focus
lighter than competition (122 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography factors
Sony W730 Sports photography factors
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
great battery pack (290 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography information
Sony W730 Travel photography information
61
great battery pack (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (391g)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competition (122g)
offers touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography features
Sony W730 Landscape photography features
55
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (290 shots)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse recording
39
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging details
Sony W730 Vlogging details
33
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
more heavy than competition (391g)
34
decently wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competition (122g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone socket
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony W730
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-07-01 2013-01-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-224mm (9.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.3-6.3
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD with AR coating TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 391g (0.86 pounds) 122g (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" 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 images 240 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-Li-106 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $400 $138