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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 front
Portability
62
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350 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 A350
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 674g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Successor is Sony A380
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Pentax X-5 and Sony A350, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the A350 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the X-5 (1/2.3") and A350 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The X-5 was manufactured 4 years later than the A350 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the X-5 matches up vs the A350 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A350

 X-5 A350 
IntroducedAugust 2012June 2008Fresher by 52 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A350 over the Pentax X-5

 A350 X-5 

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A350

 X-5 A350 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax X-5 has external dimensions of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") having a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) whilst the Sony A350 has sizing of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax X-5 and Sony A350 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the X-5 compared to the A350.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and A350 is 65 and 62 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the X-5 and A350.

Clearly, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The X-5 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Pentax X-5 will produce extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos much more aggressively. The fresher X-5 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography features
Sony A350 Portrait photography features
43
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
71
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography details
Sony A350 Street photography details
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition in class (595 grams)
66
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
heavier than competitors (674g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A350 as a Sports photography camera
52
great zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography details
Sony A350 Travel photography details
53
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
great zoom (580mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (595g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
51
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (674g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography info
Sony A350 Landscape photography info
47
has manual focus
reasonably wide (22mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
64
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging information
Sony A350 Vlogging information
26
reasonably wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have mic socket
heavier than competition in class (595 grams)
9
lack of video recording
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A350 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony A350
 Pentax X-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-08-22 2008-06-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 230k dot -
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings - Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 595g (1.31 pounds) 674g (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 595
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $230 $600