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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 front
Portability
78
Imaging
70
Features
80
Overall
74

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 Key Specs

Pentax X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Introduced August 2012
Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Updated by Sony A7 II
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Pentax X-5 versus Sony A7, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and A7 (24MP) and the X-5 (1/2.3") and A7 (Full frame) feature different sensor sizes.

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The X-5 was manufactured 17 months before the A7 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the X-5 grades against the A7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A7

 X-5 A7 

Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Pentax X-5

 A7 X-5 
LaunchedJanuary 2014August 2012More recent by 17 months
Screen resolution1230k460kCrisper screen (+770k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A7

 X-5 A7 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax X-5 comes with outside measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") along with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) and the Sony A7 has sizing of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax X-5 versus Sony A7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the X-5 against the A7.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the X-5 and A7 is 65 and 78 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by checking technical specs. The graphic below may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the X-5 and A7.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The X-5 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A7 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The older X-5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7 as a Portrait photography camera
43
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
82
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A7 as a Street photography camera
50
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competition (595g)
79
screen tilts up and down
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
lighter than competitors in class (474g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax X-5
Sports photography with Sony A7
52
incredible zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
has tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
66
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (340 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography information
Sony A7 Travel photography information
53
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (22mm)
long zoom (580mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (595g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competitors in class (474 grams)
environment proofing
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
bad battery (340 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography details
Sony A7 Landscape photography details
47
has manual focus
pretty wide (22mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
75
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (340 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging factors
Sony A7 Vlogging factors
26
pretty wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than competition (595g)
35
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone socket
lighter than competitors in class (474g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony A7
 Pentax X-5Sony Alpha A7
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X-5 Sony Alpha A7
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-08-22 2014-01-22
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 50
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 117
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash modes - no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250s
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 595 gr (1.31 pounds) 474 gr (1.04 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 90
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.2
DXO Low light score not tested 2248
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 340 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $230 $798