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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II

Portability
65
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Alpha A7S II front
Portability
68
Imaging
61
Features
76
Overall
67

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II 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
  • Announced August 2012
Sony A7S II
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 102400 (Increase to 409600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 627g - 127 x 96 x 60mm
  • Released October 2015
  • Superseded the Sony A7S
  • Newer Model is Sony A7S III
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and A7S II (12MP) and the X-5 (1/2.3") and A7S II (Full frame) posses different sensor size.

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The X-5 was introduced 4 years before the A7S II and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A7S II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the X-5 matches up versus the A7S II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A7S II

 X-5 A7S II 

Reasons to pick Sony A7S II over the Pentax X-5

 A7S II X-5 
ReleasedOctober 2015August 2012More recent by 38 months
Display resolution1229k460kCrisper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A7S II

 X-5 A7S II 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax X-5 has exterior 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) whilst the Sony A7S II has measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") having a weight of 627 grams (1.38 lbs).

Examine the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the X-5 against the A7S II.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X-5 and A7S II is 65 and 68 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by going over specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the X-5 and A7S II.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The X-5 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax X-5 will offer you more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older X-5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7S II as a Portrait photography camera
44
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
68
has manual focus
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography info
Sony A7S II Street photography info
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than average (595g)
78
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
great high ISO (102,400)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A7S II as a Sports photography camera
53
great zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
58
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery life (370 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A7S II as a Travel photography camera
54
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (22mm)
long reach (580mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (595g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
49
environment proofing
low battery life (370 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography information
Sony A7S II Landscape photography information
47
you can focus manually
really wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
71
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
great high ISO (102,400)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery life (370 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A7S II as a Vlogging camera
27
really wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
heavier than average (595 grams)
35
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external microphone support
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A7S II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony A7S II
 Pentax X-5Sony Alpha A7S II
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X-5 Sony Alpha A7S II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2012-08-22 2015-10-12
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4240 x 2832
Max native ISO 6400 102400
Max enhanced ISO - 409600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 169
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash settings - no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4K (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p [60-100Mbps]), Full HD (1920 x 1080 @ 120p/60p/60i/30p/24p [50-100Mbps]), 720p (30p [16Mbps])
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 lb) 627 gr (1.38 lb)
Physical dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 127 x 96 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 2993
Other
Battery life 330 photos 370 photos
Style of battery 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $230 $2,767