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Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44
Pentax Q10 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Older Model is Pentax Q
  • Replacement is Pentax Q7
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
Photography Glossary

Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Pentax Q10 versus Sony HX5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the Q10 (12MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the Q10 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The Q10 was unveiled 2 years later than the HX5 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a concise overview of how the Q10 grades vs the HX5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Sony HX5

 Q10 HX5 
LaunchedSeptember 2012June 2010More recent by 28 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Pentax Q10

 HX5 Q10 

Common features in the Pentax Q10 and Sony HX5

 Q10 HX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax Q10 has got external dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Compare the Pentax Q10 versus Sony HX5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the Q10 and the HX5.

Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the Q10 and HX5 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the Q10 and HX5.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The Q10 having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Pentax Q10 will produce more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The newer Q10 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q10 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX5 Portrait photography factors
48
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
19
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax Q10 Street photography info
Sony HX5 Street photography info
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others (200 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q10 Sports photography info
Sony HX5 Sports photography info
36
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q10 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX5 Travel photography highlights
60
lighter than others (200 grams)
has built in flash
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
60
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q10 Landscape photography information
Sony HX5 Landscape photography information
54
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
37
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax Q10
Vlogging with Sony HX5
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (200 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone socket
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic socket
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Pentax Q10 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q10 and Sony HX5
 Pentax Q10Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Q10 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-09-10 2010-06-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support Pentax Q fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 8 -
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 200 grams (0.44 pounds) 200 grams (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 183 not tested
Other
Battery life 270 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI68 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $350 $275