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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III

Portability
65
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 III front
Portability
63
Imaging
74
Features
92
Overall
81

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III 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 A7 III
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 650g - 127 x 96 x 74mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Sony A7 II
  • Successor is Sony A7 IV
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and A7 III (24MP) and the X-5 (1/2.3") and A7 III (Full frame) use different sensor sizes.

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The X-5 was released 6 years earlier than the A7 III and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A7 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the X-5 scores vs the A7 III in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A7 III

 X-5 A7 III 

Reasons to pick Sony A7 III over the Pentax X-5

 A7 III X-5 
RevealedFebruary 2018August 2012More recent by 67 months
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A7 III

 X-5 A7 III 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax X-5 offers physical dimensions of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) whilst the Sony A7 III has specifications of 127mm x 96mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Compare the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is the front view size comparison of the X-5 and the A7 III.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X-5 and A7 III is 65 and 63 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at technical specs. The visual below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the X-5 and A7 III.

As you have seen, both cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The X-5 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A7 III will give extra detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older X-5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography advice
Sony A7 III Portrait photography advice
44
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
features face detect focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
84
focusing manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography advice
Sony A7 III Street photography advice
50
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (595 grams)
78
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
features touch focus
weather sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography info
Sony A7 III Sports photography info
53
great zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
features tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
87
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery life (610 CIPA)
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography factors
Sony A7 III Travel photography factors
54
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (22mm)
long reach (580mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (595g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
73
good battery life (610 CIPA)
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
features touch focus
MP count good (24 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7 III as a Landscape photography camera
47
has manual focus
decently wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
85
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
good battery life (610 shots)
has double storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging details
Sony A7 III Vlogging details
27
decently wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (595g)
36
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with mic port
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony A7 III
 Pentax X-5Sony Alpha A7 III
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X-5 Sony Alpha A7 III
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2012-08-22 2018-02-27
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 693
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595 grams (1.31 lb) 650 grams (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 127 x 96 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 96
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.7
DXO Low light score not tested 3730
Other
Battery life 330 shots 610 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 Two
Price at release $230 $1,998