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Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1

Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Pentax Optio H90 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26

Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1 Key Specs

Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
Sony WX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Launched August 2009
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Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Pentax H90 versus Sony WX1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the H90 (12MP) and the WX1 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the H90 (1/2.3") and WX1 (1/2.4") boast totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The H90 was revealed 6 months after the WX1 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax H90 being a Compact camera and the Sony WX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the H90 scores versus the WX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Sony WX1

 H90 WX1 
Manual focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX1 over the Pentax H90

 WX1 H90 

Common features in the Pentax H90 and Sony WX1

 H90 WX1 
LaunchedJanuary 2010August 2009Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax H90 enjoys physical dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony WX1 has dimensions of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") having a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check out the Pentax H90 versus Sony WX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the H90 and the WX1.

Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the H90 and WX1 is 93 and 96 respectively.

Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor sizes purely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the H90 and WX1.

Clearly, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The H90 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Pentax H90 will show more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively.

Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1 sensor size comparison

Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax H90 Portrait photography advice
Sony WX1 Portrait photography advice
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
19
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax H90 Street photography highlights
Sony WX1 Street photography highlights
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (149 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax H90 Sports photography features
Sony WX1 Sports photography features
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax H90 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX1 as a Travel photography camera
57
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
56
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (149 grams)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax H90 Landscape photography details
Sony WX1 Landscape photography details
36
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
31
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax H90 Vlogging details
Sony WX1 Vlogging details
28
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic port
28
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (149g)
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Pentax H90 vs Sony WX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax H90 and Sony WX1
 Pentax Optio H90Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio H90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Announced 2010-01-25 2009-08-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing range 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 153 gr (0.34 lbs) 149 gr (0.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID D-LI68 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $150 $149