Pentax I-10 vs Sony HX5

Let's look a little more in depth at the Pentax I-10 vs Sony HX5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the I-10 (12MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is very comparable but the I-10 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The I-10 was announced 4 months before the HX5 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a short highlight of how the I-10 matches up against the HX5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Optio I-10 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The whole galleries are viewable at Pentax I-10 Gallery and Sony HX5 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax I-10 provides external dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony HX5 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax I-10 vs Sony HX5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the I-10 and the HX5.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the I-10 and HX5 is 93 and 92 respectively.

In many cases, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes only by seeing specs. The picture here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the I-10 and HX5.

All in all, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The I-10 using its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax I-10 will produce more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos much more aggressively.