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Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio S1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
63
Overall
51

Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V Key Specs

Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
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Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Here is a in depth comparison of the Pentax S1 versus Sony HX90V, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the S1 (14MP) and HX90V (18MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The S1 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the HX90V and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the S1 grades against the HX90V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Sony HX90V

 S1 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Pentax S1

 HX90V S1 
IntroducedApril 2015March 2011Fresher by 50 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax S1 and Sony HX90V

 S1 HX90V 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax S1 has external dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony HX90V has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check out the Pentax S1 versus Sony HX90V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the S1 compared to the HX90V.

Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S1 and HX90V is 93 and 91 respectively.

Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph below might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S1 and HX90V.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony HX90V to show greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older S1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax S1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Portrait photography camera
35
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
46
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (18MP)
provides face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax S1 Street photography info
Sony HX90V Street photography info
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
70
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (245g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax S1 Sports photography features
Sony HX90V Sports photography features
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery pack (360 shots)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax S1 Travel photography factors
Sony HX90V Travel photography factors
64
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
76
good battery pack (360 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (245g)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax S1 Landscape photography information
Sony HX90V Landscape photography information
42
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
53
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
good battery pack (360 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax S1 Vlogging information
Sony HX90V Vlogging information
28
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
75
rather wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (245g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
missing external microphone support
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Pentax S1 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax S1 and Sony HX90V
 Pentax Optio S1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio S1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-03-02 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
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 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157 gr (0.35 pounds) 245 gr (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 life 260 photos 360 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $174 $440