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Pentax X70 vs Sony A500

Portability
71
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Pentax X70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 50 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 410g - 110 x 83 x 90mm
  • Announced March 2009
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
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Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Pentax X70 vs Sony A500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the X70 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very close but the X70 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The X70 was introduced 5 months before the A500 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the X70 matches up vs the A500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Sony A500

 X70 A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Pentax X70

 A500 X70 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Sony A500

 X70 A500 
RevealedMarch 2009August 2009Same age
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax X70 comes with physical measurements of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") along with a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the X70 against the A500.

Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the X70 and A500 is 71 and 63 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The pic underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the X70 and A500.

As you can tell, the two cameras have got the exact same MP but not the same sensor sizes. The X70 contains the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field trickier.

Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X70 Portrait photography information
Sony A500 Portrait photography information
29
focusing manually
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax X70 Street photography details
Sony A500 Street photography details
46
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X70 Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
50
excellent zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect AF
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery pack (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X70 Travel photography info
Sony A500 Travel photography info
52
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
long zoom (624mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
43
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery pack (520 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X70 Landscape photography information
Sony A500 Landscape photography information
36
focusing manually
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery pack (520 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X70 Vlogging details
Sony A500 Vlogging details
24
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
9
no video recording
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Pentax X70 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Sony A500
 Pentax X70Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X70 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-03-02 2009-08-27
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 50 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-624mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m 12.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410g (0.90 lbs) 630g (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life - 520 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $200 $638