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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000

Portability
65
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Pentax X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Launched August 2012
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Replacement is Sony a3500
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the A3000 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the X-5 (1/2.3") and A3000 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The X-5 was manufactured 12 months prior to the A3000 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the X-5 matches up vs the A3000 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A3000

 X-5 A3000 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Pentax X-5

 A3000 X-5 
AnnouncedAugust 2013August 2012More recent by 12 months

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A3000

 X-5 A3000 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax X-5 has exterior dimensions of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Sony A3000 has dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check out the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the X-5 vs the A3000.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the X-5 and A3000 is 65 and 69 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements merely by looking at technical specs. The visual underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the X-5 and A3000.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The X-5 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A3000 will give you extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older X-5 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography information
Sony A3000 Portrait photography information
44
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
77
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Street photography camera
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than average in class (595g)
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography details
Sony A3000 Sports photography details
53
great zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
includes tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
60
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (470 CIPA)
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax X-5
Travel photography with Sony A3000
54
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (22mm)
long reach (580mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (595g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
60
better than average battery pack (470 per charge)
good megapixels (20MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (411g)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography details
Sony A3000 Landscape photography details
47
you can focus manually
decently wide (22mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (470 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging details
Sony A3000 Vlogging details
27
decently wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing mic socket
heavier than average in class (595g)
26
comes with face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competition (411g)
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony A3000
 Pentax X-5Sony Alpha A3000
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X-5 Sony Alpha A3000
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-08-22 2013-08-27
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ image
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash settings - Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595 gr (1.31 pounds) 411 gr (0.91 pounds)
Physical dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.8
DXO Low light score not tested 1068
Other
Battery life 330 photos 470 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $230 $398