Pentax X-5 vs Sony A3000

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax X-5 & Sony Alpha A3000. The entire galleries are available at Pentax X-5 Gallery & Sony A3000 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.