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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500

Portability
65
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500 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
  • Revealed August 2012
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Updated by Sony A560
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500 Overview

Following is a extended comparison of the Pentax X-5 and Sony A500, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the X-5 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The X-5 was released 3 years after the A500 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the X-5 matches up versus the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A500

 X-5 A500 
LaunchedAugust 2012August 2009More modern by 37 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Pentax X-5

 A500 X-5 

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A500

 X-5 A500 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and size. 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 A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax X-5 and Sony A500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the X-5 compared to the A500.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X-5 and A500 is 65 and 63 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes merely by viewing specs. The picture below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the X-5 and A500.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The X-5 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax X-5 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more modern X-5 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X-5
Portrait photography with Sony A500
44
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
63
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than competitors (595g)
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax X-5
Sports photography with Sony A500
53
excellent zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery life (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
54
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (22mm)
very long zoom (580mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (595g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
43
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery life (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography factors
Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
47
has manual focus
rather wide (22mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery life (520 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax X-5
Vlogging with Sony A500
27
rather wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
more heavy than competitors (595 grams)
9
can't shoot video
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony A500
 Pentax X-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-08-22 2009-08-27
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
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 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m 12.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595g (1.31 pounds) 630g (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 520 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $230 $638