Pentax X-5 vs Sony a1

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.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax X-5 and Sony Alpha a1. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax X-5 Gallery and Sony a1 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.