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Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3 Key Specs

Pentax X-5
(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
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3 Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Pentax X-5 and Sony G3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and G3 (10MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The X-5 was manufactured 3 years after the G3 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony G3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the X-5 matches up versus the G3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony G3

 X-5 G3 
RevealedAugust 2012January 2009Newer by 45 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Pentax X-5

 G3 X-5 
Screen dimension3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony G3

 X-5 G3 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax X-5 has outside 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 G3 has sizing of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Look at the Pentax X-5 and Sony G3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the X-5 compared to the G3.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the X-5 and G3 is 65 and 94 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions purely by going over technical specs. The pic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the X-5 and G3.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should expect the Pentax X-5 to offer more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The younger X-5 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography advice
Sony G3 Portrait photography advice
43
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
26
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography highlights
Sony G3 Street photography highlights
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than competition in class (595 grams)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography advice
Sony G3 Sports photography advice
52
great zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
slow fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography factors
Sony G3 Travel photography factors
53
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (22mm)
great reach (580mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (595g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
50
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax X-5
Landscape photography with Sony G3
47
has manual focus
quite wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse function
36
has manual focus
lovely big screen (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging highlights
Sony G3 Vlogging highlights
26
quite wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (595 grams)
27
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of mic support
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony G3
 Pentax X-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-08-22 2009-01-08
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-580mm (26.4x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-10.0
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3.5 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 230k dots -
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 1 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 595 grams (1.31 lbs) 185 grams (0.41 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $230 $200