Pentax P70 vs Sony HX20V

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Pentax P70 versus Sony HX20V, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Pentax and Sony. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the P70 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The P70 was unveiled 4 years prior to the HX20V which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the P70 grades against the HX20V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Optio P70 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V. The full galleries are provided at Pentax P70 Gallery and Sony HX20V Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax P70 enjoys outside measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Examine the Pentax P70 versus Sony HX20V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the P70 against the HX20V.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the P70 and HX20V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Generally, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor sizes just by looking through specs. The image here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the P70 and HX20V.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Sony HX20V to provide you with more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged P70 will be behind in sensor tech.