Pentax X-5 vs Sony A6500
65 Imaging
39 Features
50 Overall
43
81 Imaging
66 Features
85 Overall
73
Pentax X-5 vs Sony A6500 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
- Revealed August 2012
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 3840 x 2160 video
- Sony E Mount
- 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
- Launched October 2016
- Old Model is Sony A6300
Photography Glossary Pentax X-5 vs Sony A6500 Overview
Following is a detailed analysis of the Pentax X-5 versus Sony A6500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the X-5 (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe X-5 was revealed 5 years prior to the A6500 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the X-5 grades vs the A6500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes Pentax X-5 vs Sony A6500 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax X-5 & Sony Alpha a6500. The full galleries are viewable at Pentax X-5 Gallery & Sony A6500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A6500
| X-5 | A6500 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Pentax X-5
| A6500 | X-5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | October 2016 | August 2012 | More modern by 50 months | |
| Screen resolution | 922k | 460k | Clearer screen (+462k dot) | |
| Touch screen | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A6500
| X-5 | A6500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | Dial accurate focus | |||
| Screen type | Tilting | Tilting | Tilting screen | |
| Screen dimensions | 3" | 3" | Equal screen size | |
| Selfie screen | No selfie screen |
Pentax X-5 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison
If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax X-5 comes with physical 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) while the Sony A6500 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).
Look at the Pentax X-5 versus Sony A6500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the X-5 against the A6500.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the X-5 and A6500 is 65 and 81 respectively.
Pentax X-5 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison
Often, it is very tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes just by researching technical specs. The picture below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the X-5 and A6500.
As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The X-5 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A6500 will result in more detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged X-5 will be behind in sensor tech.
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A6500 Specifications
| Pentax X-5 | Sony Alpha a6500 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Make | Pentax | Sony |
| Model type | Pentax X-5 | Sony Alpha a6500 |
| Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced Mirrorless |
| Revealed | 2012-08-22 | 2016-10-06 |
| Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor Chip | - | Bionz X |
| Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
| Sensor dimensions | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 366.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 16MP | 24MP |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Highest resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 6000 x 4000 |
| Highest native ISO | 6400 | 25600 |
| Highest boosted ISO | - | 51200 |
| Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW support | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| AF touch | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| Single AF | ||
| AF tracking | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detect focusing | ||
| Contract detect focusing | ||
| Phase detect focusing | ||
| Total focus points | 9 | 425 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | fixed lens | Sony E |
| Lens zoom range | 22-580mm (26.4x) | - |
| Maximal aperture | f/3.1-5.9 | - |
| Macro focusing range | 1cm | - |
| Total lenses | - | 121 |
| Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Display type | Tilting | Tilting |
| Display diagonal | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| Resolution of display | 460k dots | 922k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch operation | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Electronic | Electronic |
| Viewfinder resolution | 230k dots | 2,359k dots |
| Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.7x |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 4 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/1500 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
| Highest quiet shutter speed | - | 1/32000 seconds |
| Continuous shooting rate | 10.0 frames per second | 11.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual mode | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | 9.10 m | 6.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| Flash modes | - | Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Highest flash synchronize | - | 1/160 seconds |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment exposure | ||
| Average exposure | ||
| Spot exposure | ||
| Partial exposure | ||
| AF area exposure | ||
| Center weighted exposure | ||
| Video features | ||
| Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM |
| Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 3840x2160 |
| Video file format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S |
| Mic support | ||
| Headphone support | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | Built-In |
| 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 lb) | 453 gr (1.00 lb) |
| Physical dimensions | 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") | 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | not tested | 85 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 24.5 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 13.7 |
| DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1405 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 330 photos | 350 photos |
| Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | 4 x AA | NP-FW50 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes |
| Time lapse feature | With downloadable app | |
| Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Card slots | 1 | 1 |
| Cost at launch | $230 | $1,298 |