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Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100 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 S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Pentax X-5 and Sony S2100, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and S2100 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The X-5 was announced 2 years later than the S2100 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the X-5 scores versus the S2100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony S2100

 X-5 S2100 
AnnouncedAugust 2012January 2010Fresher by 32 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Pentax X-5

 S2100 X-5 

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony S2100

 X-5 S2100 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax X-5 comes with external measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") having a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) whilst the Sony S2100 has proportions of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Pentax X-5 and Sony S2100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the X-5 compared to the S2100.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and S2100 is 65 and 93 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing purely by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the X-5 and S2100.

As you can tell, both cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Pentax X-5 to give you more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images way more aggressively. The fresher X-5 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography features
Sony S2100 Portrait photography features
43
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax X-5
Street photography with Sony S2100
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than others (595 grams)
46
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax X-5
Sports photography with Sony S2100
52
amazing zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200s)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography details
Sony S2100 Travel photography details
53
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (22mm)
great reach (580mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than others (595 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
50
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Landscape photography camera
47
has manual focus
rather wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
27
screen is a decent size (3")
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S2100 as a Vlogging camera
26
rather wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
more heavy than others (595g)
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
missing microphone socket
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony S2100
 Pentax X-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-08-22 2010-01-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-580mm (26.4x) 33-105mm (3.2x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dots -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 1s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/1200s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 3.30 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 595 gr (1.31 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID 4 x AA 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $230 $0