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Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510

Portability
65
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510 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
  • Revealed August 2012
Sony W510
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 119g - 96 x 54 x 20mm
  • Released January 2011
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Pentax X-5 versus Sony W510, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Pentax and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and W510 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The X-5 was brought out 20 months after the W510 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W510 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the X-5 matches up vs the W510 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony W510

 X-5 W510 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2011More modern by 20 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W510 over the Pentax X-5

 W510 X-5 

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony W510

 X-5 W510 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. 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 W510 has measurements of 96mm x 54mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.8") with a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax X-5 versus Sony W510 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the X-5 compared to the W510.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the X-5 and W510 is 65 and 96 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading through specs. The image below should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the X-5 and W510.

All in all, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Pentax X-5 to give you more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots more aggressively. The fresher X-5 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography features
Sony W510 Portrait photography features
44
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
21
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony W510 as a Street photography camera
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than average (595g)
57
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography details
Sony W510 Sports photography details
53
incredible zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
25
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography details
Sony W510 Travel photography details
54
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
great zoom (580mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (595 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
58
built-in flash
really wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography factors
Sony W510 Landscape photography factors
47
manual focus
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
32
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging details
Sony W510 Vlogging details
27
reasonably wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than average (595g)
29
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic jack
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony W510 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony W510
 Pentax X-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Revealed 2012-08-22 2011-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 230k dot -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m 2.30 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595 gr (1.31 lbs) 119 gr (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 96 x 54 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model 4 x AA NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $230 $99