Clicky

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Announced August 2012
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • Replacement is Sony HX50V
Photography Glossary

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Following is a extended review of the Pentax X-5 versus Sony HX30V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is fairly well matched and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The X-5 was released 6 months after the HX30V which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the X-5 grades versus the HX30V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony HX30V

 X-5 HX30V 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Pentax X-5

 HX30V X-5 
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony HX30V

 X-5 HX30V 
ReleasedAugust 2012February 2012Similar age
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax X-5 features outside measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") and a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Pentax X-5 versus Sony HX30V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the X-5 versus the HX30V.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the X-5 and HX30V is 65 and 90 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The pic here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the X-5 and HX30V.

As you have seen, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony HX30V to give you extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X-5
Portrait photography with Sony HX30V
43
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
has face detection focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
45
manual focus
good MP (18 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competition in class (595g)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography advice
Sony HX30V Sports photography advice
52
great zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
53
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (22mm)
long zoom (580mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (595g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than average in class (254g)
good MP (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
47
you can focus manually
quite wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
50
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax X-5
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
26
quite wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no external mic port
heavier than competition in class (595g)
34
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone jack
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Pentax X-5 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony HX30V
 Pentax X-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-08-22 2012-02-28
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-580mm (26.4x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 230k dot -
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 7.10 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 595g (1.31 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 pictures 320 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $230 $420