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Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
79
Overall
62

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV 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
  • Launched August 2012
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Introduced June 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony RX100 III
  • Updated by Sony RX100 V
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Below is a extended review of the Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is very comparable but the X-5 (1/2.3") and RX100 IV (1") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The X-5 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the RX100 IV and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the X-5 grades vs the RX100 IV when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony RX100 IV

 X-5 RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Pentax X-5

 RX100 IV X-5 
IntroducedJune 2015August 2012More recent by 34 months
Display resolution1229k460kClearer display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony RX100 IV

 X-5 RX100 IV 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax X-5 features exterior measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 IV has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

See the Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view size comparison of the X-5 versus the RX100 IV.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and RX100 IV is 65 and 89 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements simply by going through specifications. The visual below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the X-5 and RX100 IV.

To sum up, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The X-5 using its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony RX100 IV will produce extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older X-5 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography details
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography details
43
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
64
manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography highlights
Sony RX100 IV Street photography highlights
50
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than average in class (595g)
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography information
Sony RX100 IV Sports photography information
52
great zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
68
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (16.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
has tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography highlights
53
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (22mm)
long zoom (580mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (595 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
85
lighter than competition (298 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography features
Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography features
47
has manual focus
quite wide (22mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
73
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging features
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging features
26
quite wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
more heavy than average in class (595 grams)
80
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (298g)
does not have mic socket
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony RX100 IV
 Pentax X-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-08-22 2015-06-10
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 230k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 16.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595 gr (1.31 pounds) 298 gr (0.66 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 562
Other
Battery life 330 shots 280 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $230 $898