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Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Pentax Optio W90 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V Key Specs

Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Announced February 2010
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed April 2015
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Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Pentax W90 and Sony HX90V, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the W90 (12MP) and HX90V (18MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The W90 was brought out 6 years earlier than the HX90V and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the W90 matches up vs the HX90V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Sony HX90V

 W90 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Pentax W90

 HX90V W90 
RevealedApril 2015February 2010More recent by 62 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax W90 and Sony HX90V

 W90 HX90V 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax W90 comes with outer measurements of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs) while the Sony HX90V has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax W90 and Sony HX90V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the W90 versus the HX90V.

Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the W90 and HX90V is 94 and 91 respectively.

Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements just by reviewing technical specs. The photograph below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the W90 and HX90V.

As you can tell, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony HX90V to offer greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The older W90 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax W90 Portrait photography features
Sony HX90V Portrait photography features
27
you can focus manually
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
45
has manual focus
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax W90 Street photography info
Sony HX90V Street photography info
54
environment proof
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
69
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (245 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax W90 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Sports photography camera
24
environment proof
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
great battery life (360 shots)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax W90 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Travel photography camera
64
environment proof
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
76
great battery life (360 shots)
lighter than others in class (245 grams)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax W90 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX90V Landscape photography highlights
37
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
53
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
great battery life (360 CIPA)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax W90 Vlogging advice
Sony HX90V Vlogging advice
25
relatively wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
75
relatively wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (245g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Pentax W90 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax W90 and Sony HX90V
 Pentax Optio W90Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio W90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-02-24 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.90 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 164g (0.36 pounds) 245g (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 360 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI68 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $120 $440