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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Revealed July 2013
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Superseded the Sony WX350
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Pentax MX-1 and Sony WX500, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the MX-1 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) and the MX-1 (1/1.7") and WX500 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The MX-1 was launched 21 months before the WX500 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the MX-1 grades against the WX500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Sony WX500

 MX-1 WX500 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Pentax MX-1

 WX500 MX-1 
AnnouncedApril 2015July 2013Fresher by 21 months
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Sony WX500

 MX-1 WX500 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax MX-1 offers 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) and the Sony WX500 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Compare the Pentax MX-1 and Sony WX500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the MX-1 compared to the WX500.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the MX-1 and WX500 is 84 and 91 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by seeing specs. The visual underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the MX-1 and WX500.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The MX-1 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony WX500 will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The older MX-1 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography factors
Sony WX500 Portrait photography factors
42
manual focus
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
39
megapixel count good (18MP)
offers face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Street photography camera
65
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than average in class (391g)
70
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (236 grams)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography highlights
Sony WX500 Sports photography highlights
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (290 CIPA)
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
great battery (360 shots)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography factors
Sony WX500 Travel photography factors
61
great battery life (290 per charge)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (391g)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
great battery (360 shots)
lighter than average (236g)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
55
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (290 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
no Timelapse function
49
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
great battery (360 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX500 as a Vlogging camera
33
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone support
more heavy than average in class (391 grams)
35
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (236 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Sony WX500
 Pentax MX-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax MX-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-07-01 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
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 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 391 gr (0.86 lbs) 236 gr (0.52 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 360 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-Li-106 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $400 $348