Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850

Following is a extended review of the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the X-5 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor size.

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The X-5 was brought out 2 years after the A850 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a simple overview of how the X-5 matches up against the A850 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax X-5 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax X-5 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax X-5 comes with exterior dimensions of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") accompanied by a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Sony A850 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the X-5 against the A850.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and A850 is 65 and 54 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking a spec sheet. The image below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the X-5 and A850.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The X-5 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Sony A850 will resolve more detail having its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more recent X-5 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.