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Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1

Portability
65
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
82
Features
93
Overall
86

Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1 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 a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Push to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Revealed January 2021
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Pentax X-5 and Sony a1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the X-5 (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) provide different sensor size.

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The X-5 was brought out 9 years prior to the a1 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera 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 a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the X-5 matches up against the a1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony a1

 X-5 a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Pentax X-5

 a1 X-5 
RevealedJanuary 2021August 2012Newer by 102 months
Display resolution1440k460kClearer display (+980k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony a1

 X-5 a1 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax X-5 has outer measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") accompanied by a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has proportions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Examine the Pentax X-5 and Sony a1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the X-5 against the a1.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X-5 and a1 is 65 and 61 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions only by looking through specs. The pic underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the X-5 and a1.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The X-5 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony a1 will result in extra detail having its extra 34 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged X-5 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X-5
Portrait photography with Sony a1
44
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides face detect focus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
89
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/400 seconds)
excellent megapixels (50 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony a1 as a Street photography camera
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than others in class (595 grams)
79
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch to focus
environment proofing
very good high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony a1 as a Sports photography camera
53
great zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
91
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (50 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery life (530 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography details
Sony a1 Travel photography details
54
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (22mm)
long reach (580mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (595g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
74
better than average battery life (530 per charge)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
provides touch to focus
excellent megapixels (50MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a1 as a Landscape photography camera
47
has manual focus
rather wide (22mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
88
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
very good high ISO (32,000)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
better than average battery life (530 per charge)
has double storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax X-5
Vlogging with Sony a1
27
rather wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of mic socket
heavier than others in class (595 grams)
37
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (7680 x 4320 resolution)
does have mic port
does not feature selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony a1
 Pentax X-5Sony Alpha a1
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X-5 Sony Alpha a1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-08-22 2021-01-26
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-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 16 megapixel 50 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 8640 x 5760
Max native ISO 6400 32000
Max enhanced ISO - 102400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 759
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 133
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,440 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dot 9,437 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 30.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash settings - Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/400 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) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 7680x4320
Video data format Motion JPEG XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 595 grams (1.31 pounds) 737 grams (1.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 530 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots 1 Dual
Launch cost $230 $6,498