Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850
65 Imaging
39 Features
50 Overall
43
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54 Imaging
67 Features
60 Overall
64
Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850 Key Specs
(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
- Introduced August 2012
(Full Review)
- 25MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
- Launched April 2010
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850 Overview
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.
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850 Gallery
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.
Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A850
X-5 | A850 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | August 2012 | ![]() | April 2010 | More modern by 29 months |
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Pentax X-5
A850 | X-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen resolution | 922k | ![]() | 460k | Crisper screen (+462k dot) |
Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A850
X-5 | A850 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial exact focusing | ||
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent screen size |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Missing Touch friendly screen |
Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison
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.
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Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and A850 is 65 and 54 respectively.
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison
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.
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A850 Specifications
Pentax X-5 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Pentax | Sony |
Model type | Pentax X-5 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced DSLR |
Introduced | 2012-08-22 | 2010-04-15 |
Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | Full frame |
Sensor dimensions | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 861.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 25MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 6048 x 4032 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Max enhanced ISO | - | 6400 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens zoom range | 22-580mm (26.4x) | - |
Max aperture | f/3.1-5.9 | - |
Macro focusing range | 1cm | - |
Total lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 460k dots | 922k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display technology | - | TFT Xtra Fine color LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder resolution | 230k dots | - |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 98 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.74x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 4 seconds | 30 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/1500 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shutter rate | 10.0 frames per sec | 3.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 9.10 m | no built-in flash |
Flash settings | - | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/250 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
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 format | Motion JPEG | - |
Mic 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 proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 595 gr (1.31 pounds) | 895 gr (1.97 pounds) |
Dimensions | 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") | 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | 79 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.8 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 12.2 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1415 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 330 pictures | 880 pictures |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | 4 x AA | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo |
Card slots | One | Dual |
Price at release | $230 | $0 |