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Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Pentax Optio P70 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
76
Overall
61

Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 Key Specs

Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Introduced March 2009
Sony RX10
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Refreshed by Sony RX10 II
Photography Glossary

Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the P70 (12MP) and RX10 (20MP) and the P70 (1/2.3") and RX10 (1") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The P70 was brought out 6 years earlier than the RX10 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony RX10 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summation of how the P70 scores vs the RX10 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Sony RX10

 P70 RX10 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 over the Pentax P70

 RX10 P70 
RevealedMarch 2014March 2009More modern by 61 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1290k230kClearer screen (+1060k dot)

Common features in the Pentax P70 and Sony RX10

 P70 RX10 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax P70 has got physical measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony RX10 has proportions of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") with a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Compare the Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the P70 versus the RX10.

Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the P70 and RX10 is 95 and 58 respectively.

Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 top view buttons comparison

Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specs. The picture here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the P70 and RX10.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The P70 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony RX10 will offer you greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged P70 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 sensor size comparison

Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax P70 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX10 as a Portrait photography camera
27
focusing manually
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
70
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax P70 Street photography details
Sony RX10 Street photography details
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competitors in class (155g)
72
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW files
environment proofing
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Sports Comparison

Pentax P70 Sports photography factors
Sony RX10 Sports photography factors
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
67
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
environment proofing
better than average battery pack (420 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax P70 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX10 as a Travel photography camera
56
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (155g)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
58
better than average battery pack (420 CIPA)
environment proofing
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax P70 Landscape photography details
Sony RX10 Landscape photography details
32
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse function
63
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW files
environment proofing
better than average battery pack (420 per charge)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax P70 Vlogging features
Sony RX10 Vlogging features
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (155 grams)
30
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic jack
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Pentax P70 vs Sony RX10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax P70 and Sony RX10
 Pentax Optio P70Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio P70 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Class Ultracompact Large Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-03-02 2014-03-20
Body design Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 64 125
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-110mm (3.9x) 24-200mm (8.3x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/2.8
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 1,290k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - WhiteMagic
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1000 seconds 1/3200 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.60 m 10.20 m
Flash modes - Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 155g (0.34 pounds) 813g (1.79 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 69
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 474
Other
Battery life - 420 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $200 $698