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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 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
  • Released August 2012
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released May 2011
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 Overview

The following is a extensive assessment of the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the A580 (16MP) is relatively close but the X-5 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The X-5 was launched 16 months after the A580 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the X-5 grades versus the A580 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A580

 X-5 A580 
ReleasedAugust 2012May 2011Newer by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Pentax X-5

 A580 X-5 
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A580

 X-5 A580 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax X-5 has outer 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) while the Sony A580 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Look at the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the X-5 vs the A580.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and A580 is 65 and 64 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing a spec sheet. The pic below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the X-5 and A580.

Clearly, both of these cameras have got the exact same resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The X-5 uses the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF more difficult. The younger X-5 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography features
Sony A580 Portrait photography features
43
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
73
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A580 as a Street photography camera
50
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than average (595g)
75
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography advice
Sony A580 Sports photography advice
52
incredible zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery (1,050 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography advice
Sony A580 Travel photography advice
53
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (22mm)
very long reach (580mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (595g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
60
great battery (1,050 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography advice
Sony A580 Landscape photography advice
47
has manual focus
fairly wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (1,050 CIPA)
has double storage slots
missing Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A580 as a Vlogging camera
26
fairly wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than average (595g)
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic port
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony A580
 Pentax X-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-08-22 2011-05-26
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m 12.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595 gr (1.31 pounds) 599 gr (1.32 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 All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1121
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 1050 pictures
Battery form 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/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 2
Launch cost $230 $848