Clicky

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
58
Overall
53

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700 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
  • Introduced August 2012
Sony A700
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 768g - 142 x 105 x 80mm
  • Announced December 2007
  • Old Model is Konica Minolta 7D
  • Renewed by Sony A77
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Pentax X-5 and Sony A700, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and A700 (12MP) and the X-5 (1/2.3") and A700 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The X-5 was brought out 4 years after the A700 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a concise view of how the X-5 grades versus the A700 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A700

 X-5 A700 
AnnouncedAugust 2012December 2007More modern by 57 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony A700 over the Pentax X-5

 A700 X-5 
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A700

 X-5 A700 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax X-5 provides physical measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Sony A700 has measurements of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Examine the Pentax X-5 and Sony A700 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the X-5 and the A700.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the X-5 and A700 is 65 and 58 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking a spec sheet. The image below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the X-5 and A700.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The X-5 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Pentax X-5 will give extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images much more aggressively. The fresher X-5 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A700 Portrait photography highlights
43
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides face detection focus
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
54
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have liveview
low megapixels (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography highlights
Sony A700 Street photography highlights
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than competition (595g)
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is fixed
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography info
Sony A700 Sports photography info
52
long zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
56
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A700 as a Travel photography camera
53
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
very long reach (580mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (595 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
49
weather sealing
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A700 as a Landscape photography camera
47
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
62
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
does not have liveview
low megapixels (12MP)
no Timelapse function
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A700 as a Vlogging camera
26
reasonably wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
heavier than competition (595 grams)
9
no video recording
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A700 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony A700
 Pentax X-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-08-22 2007-12-19
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 230k dot -
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.6x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 12.00 m
Flash options - Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, rear curtain, Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 lb) 768g (1.69 lb)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 142 x 105 x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 581
Other
Battery life 330 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots Single 2
Cost at launch $230 $1,000