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Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V

Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Pentax Optio H90 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
44
Features
57
Overall
49

Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V Key Specs

Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
Sony HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released April 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX30V
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Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Pentax and Sony. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the H90 (12MP) and HX50V (20MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The H90 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the HX50V and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the H90 grades against the HX50V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Sony HX50V

 H90 HX50V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Pentax H90

 HX50V H90 
ReleasedApril 2013January 2010More recent by 39 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Pentax H90 and Sony HX50V

 H90 HX50V 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Pentax H90 has got external measurements of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony HX50V has specifications of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check out the Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the H90 compared to the HX50V.

Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the H90 and HX50V is 93 and 89 respectively.

Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to picture the gap between sensor measurements just by reading specifications. The photograph underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the H90 and HX50V.

Plainly, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony HX50V to deliver more detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older H90 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax H90 Portrait photography features
Sony HX50V Portrait photography features
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
50
has manual focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax H90 Street photography factors
Sony HX50V Street photography factors
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (272 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax H90
Sports photography with Sony HX50V
31
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery (400 CIPA)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax H90 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX50V Travel photography highlights
57
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
71
good battery (400 shots)
lighter than others (272g)
MP count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5 )
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax H90 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Landscape photography camera
36
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
53
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good battery (400 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5 )
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax H90
Vlogging with Sony HX50V
28
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
34
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (272 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5 )
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
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Pentax H90 vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax H90 and Sony HX50V
 Pentax Optio H90Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio H90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-01-25 2013-04-24
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 2920
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focus distance 10cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 153g (0.34 pounds) 272g (0.60 pounds)
Physical dimensions 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 400 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI68 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $150 $439