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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 Key Specs

Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 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
  • Launched July 2013
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the MX-1 (12MP) and WX30 (16MP) and the MX-1 (1/1.7") and WX30 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The MX-1 was introduced 24 months after the WX30 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the MX-1 matches up against the WX30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony WX30

 MX-1 WX30 
LaunchedJuly 2013July 2011Newer by 24 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Pentax MX-1

 WX30 MX-1 
Display resolution922k920kClearer display (+2k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony WX30

 MX-1 WX30 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax MX-1 has outside dimensions 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 WX30 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the MX-1 and the WX30.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the MX-1 and WX30 is 84 and 96 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions only by looking at specs. The image here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the MX-1 and WX30.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The MX-1 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony WX30 will give you greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more recent MX-1 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
Sony WX30 Portrait photography details
42
manual focus
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax MX-1
Street photography with Sony WX30
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
very small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors in class (391g)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography features
Sony WX30 Sports photography features
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery (290 shots)
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect AF
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Travel photography camera
61
better than average battery (290 CIPA)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (391 grams)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Landscape photography camera
55
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (290 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
43
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging highlights
Sony WX30 Vlogging highlights
33
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (391 grams)
35
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony WX30
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-07-01 2011-07-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD with AR coating XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
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) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 391g (0.86 lb) 117g (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots 250 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-Li-106 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $400 $259