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Pentax Q vs Sony QX100

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Pentax Q front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 front
Portability
92
Imaging
50
Features
44
Overall
47

Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 Key Specs

Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Introduced June 2011
  • Renewed by Pentax Q10
Sony QX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 179g - 63 x 63 x 56mm
  • Revealed September 2013
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Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Pentax Q vs Sony QX100, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Lens-style by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the Q (12MP) and QX100 (20MP) and the Q (1/2.3") and QX100 (1") feature different sensor sizes.

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The Q was manufactured 3 years prior to the QX100 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX100 being a Lens-style camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the Q scores against the QX100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Sony QX100

 Q QX100 
Display dimension3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution460k0kClearer display (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX100 over the Pentax Q

 QX100 Q 
RevealedSeptember 2013June 2011More modern by 26 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax Q and Sony QX100

 Q QX100 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax Q has external dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") along with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Sony QX100 has specifications of 63mm x 63mm x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2") with a weight of 179 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check the Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the Q versus the QX100.

Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the Q and QX100 is 93 and 92 respectively.

Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The picture underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the Q and QX100.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The Q featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Sony QX100 will result in extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged Q will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX100 as a Portrait photography camera
45
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
52
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
includes face detect focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax Q
Street photography with Sony QX100
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
71
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
offers touch focus
fixed screen
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q Sports photography details
Sony QX100 Sports photography details
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery (230 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
low battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX100 as a Travel photography camera
57
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery (230 shots)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
69
offers touch focus
MP count decent (20MP)
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery life (200 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q Landscape photography features
Sony QX100 Landscape photography features
51
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery (230 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
54
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
screen is somewhat small ( inch)
no manual control
does not have RAW support
low battery life (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q Vlogging factors
Sony QX100 Vlogging factors
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (180g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
38
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic socket
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Pentax Q vs Sony QX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q and Sony QX100
 Pentax QSony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Q Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Introduced 2011-06-23 2013-09-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS 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 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax Q fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 8 -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch -
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 0 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD Depends on connected smartphone
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync None
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/2000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 180 gr (0.40 lbs) 179 gr (0.39 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 63 x 63 x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 47 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 189 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photographs 200 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI68 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots One One
Launch cost $695 $268