Pentax X-5 vs Sony A380

Let's look closer at the Pentax X-5 and Sony A380, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the A380 (14MP) is pretty similar but the X-5 (1/2.3") and A380 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The X-5 was brought out 3 years after the A380 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summary of how the X-5 matches up against the A380 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax X-5 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A380. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax X-5 Gallery and Sony A380 Gallery.

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax X-5 has physical dimensions 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 A380 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Compare the Pentax X-5 and Sony A380 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the X-5 vs the A380.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the X-5 and A380 is 65 and 68 respectively.

Quite often, its tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specifications. The pic below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the X-5 and A380.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The X-5 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax X-5 will offer you extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The newer X-5 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.