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Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100

Portability
65
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Announced August 2012
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 II
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is very similar but the X-5 (1/2.3") and RX100 (1") come with totally different sensor size.

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The X-5 was launched within a month of the RX100 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summary of how the X-5 grades vs the RX100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony RX100

 X-5 RX100 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Pentax X-5

 RX100 X-5 
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony RX100

 X-5 RX100 
ReleasedAugust 2012August 2012Similar age
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax X-5 comes with outer measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) and the Sony RX100 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the X-5 vs the RX100.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and RX100 is 65 and 91 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to see the gap between sensor dimensions just by going over specifications. The pic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the X-5 and RX100.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The X-5 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony RX100 will deliver more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images far more aggressively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 Portrait photography highlights
44
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
includes face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
64
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Street photography camera
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than others in class (595g)
79
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax X-5
Sports photography with Sony RX100
53
long zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
65
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
includes tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Travel photography camera
54
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (22mm)
very long reach (580mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (595g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
79
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography advice
Sony RX100 Landscape photography advice
47
you can focus manually
decently wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
74
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 as a Vlogging camera
27
decently wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support
more heavy than others in class (595g)
38
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony RX100
 Pentax X-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-08-22 2012-08-28
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
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 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-580mm (26.4x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dots -
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.10 m -
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 pounds) 240 gr (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 390
Other
Battery life 330 shots 330 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch price $230 $448