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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99

Portability
65
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 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 A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Launched December 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A900
  • Later Model is Sony A99 II
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the X-5 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The X-5 was announced 3 months before the A99 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the X-5 matches up vs the A99 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony A99

 X-5 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Pentax X-5

 A99 X-5 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony A99

 X-5 A99 
LaunchedAugust 2012December 2012Same age
Manual focus More precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax X-5 features outer dimensions 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 A99 has specifications of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check the Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the X-5 compared to the A99.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and A99 is 65 and 57 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions just by researching a spec sheet. The picture here will offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the X-5 and A99.

As you can see, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The X-5 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A99 will render greater detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X-5
Portrait photography with Sony A99
44
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
82
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography features
Sony A99 Street photography features
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than others (595 grams)
75
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax X-5
Sports photography with Sony A99
53
incredible zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography highlights
Sony A99 Travel photography highlights
54
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (22mm)
very long zoom (580mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (595g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
60
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery life (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax X-5
Landscape photography with Sony A99
47
has manual focus
rather wide (22mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
75
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
2 card slots
bad battery life (500 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging info
Sony A99 Vlogging info
27
rather wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone port
more heavy than others (595g)
76
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone support
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony A99
 Pentax X-5Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X-5 Sony SLT-A99
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-08-22 2012-12-12
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595 grams (1.31 lbs) 812 grams (1.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 500 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots One 2
Launch price $230 $1,998