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Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690 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
  • Launched August 2012
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Revealed February 2012
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Pentax X-5 and Sony W690, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the W690 (16MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The X-5 was introduced 6 months after the W690 which means that they are of a similar age. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the X-5 scores versus the W690 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony W690

 X-5 W690 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Pentax X-5

 W690 X-5 

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony W690

 X-5 W690 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2012Same age
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax X-5 enjoys physical 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) and the Sony W690 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax X-5 and Sony W690 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the X-5 against the W690.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and W690 is 65 and 95 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to envision the gap in sensor dimensions simply by checking out specifications. The pic here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the X-5 and W690.

To sum up, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the exact same MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of files but you would want to factor the launch date of the cameras into account.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography advice
Sony W690 Portrait photography advice
43
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography info
Sony W690 Street photography info
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (595 grams)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W690 as a Sports photography camera
52
excellent zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography information
Sony W690 Travel photography information
53
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (22mm)
great zoom (580mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (595 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
68
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W690 Landscape photography highlights
47
focusing manually
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
43
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging info
Sony W690 Vlogging info
26
reasonably wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (595g)
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone port
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony W690
 Pentax X-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-08-22 2012-02-28
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-580mm (26.4x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dot -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 3.30 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 595 gr (1.31 lb) 142 gr (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 photographs 220 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BN
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/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $230 $297