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Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
20
Overall
27
Pentax Optio WS80 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50 Key Specs

Pentax WS80
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-175mm (F3.8-4.7) lens
  • 125g - 92 x 60 x 22mm
  • Released August 2009
Sony WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Pentax WS80 and Sony WX50, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the WS80 (10MP) and WX50 (16MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The WS80 was revealed 3 years before the WX50 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a short view of how the WS80 grades vs the WX50 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WS80 over the Sony WX50

 WS80 WX50 
Manually focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Pentax WS80

 WX50 WS80 
LaunchedJanuary 2012August 2009More recent by 30 months
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WS80 and Sony WX50

 WS80 WX50 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax WS80 has physical measurements of 92mm x 60mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony WX50 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Pentax WS80 and Sony WX50 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the WS80 vs the WX50.

Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the WS80 and WX50 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the WS80 and WX50.

All in all, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should expect the Sony WX50 to result in extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older WS80 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WS80 Portrait photography details
Sony WX50 Portrait photography details
26
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
34
good megapixels (16MP)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WS80 Street photography information
Sony WX50 Street photography information
59
environment proofing
lighter than others (125g)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WS80 Sports photography advice
Sony WX50 Sports photography advice
23
environment proofing
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
44
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WS80 Travel photography details
Sony WX50 Travel photography details
61
lighter than others (125 grams)
environment proofing
built-in flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.8)
69
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WS80 Landscape photography advice
Sony WX50 Landscape photography advice
31
has manual focus
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
38
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WS80 Vlogging advice
Sony WX50 Vlogging advice
25
lighter than others (125g)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
35
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
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Pentax WS80 vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WS80 and Sony WX50
 Pentax Optio WS80Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio WS80 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-08-05 2012-01-30
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime BIONZ
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 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35-175mm (5.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.8-4.7 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/1500s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 grams (0.28 lbs) 117 grams (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 92 x 60 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 - 240 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI68 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $220 $250