Pentax X-5 vs Sony A550

Lets look more closely at the Pentax X-5 and Sony A550, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very well matched but the X-5 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The X-5 was released 2 years later than the A550 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a short view of how the X-5 scores against the A550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax X-5 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax X-5 Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax X-5 provides outside dimensions of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") and a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Sony A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax X-5 and Sony A550 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the X-5 compared to the A550.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and A550 is 65 and 63 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing purely by checking specifications. The visual below will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the X-5 and A550.

To sum up, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The X-5 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax X-5 will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The more recent X-5 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.