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Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100

Portability
71
Imaging
34
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
65
Features
74
Overall
68

Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100 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
  • Released March 2009
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony a5000
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Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Pentax X70 versus Sony a5100, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Pentax and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the X70 (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the X70 (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The X70 was announced 6 years prior to the a5100 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a brief view of how the X70 scores versus the a5100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Sony a5100

 X70 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Pentax X70

 a5100 X70 
LaunchedAugust 2014March 2009More recent by 66 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Sony a5100

 X70 a5100 
Focus manually More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax X70 has got exterior dimensions of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") along with a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Compare the Pentax X70 versus Sony a5100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the X70 against the a5100.

Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the X70 and a5100 is 71 and 89 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by viewing specifications. The graphic below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the X70 and a5100.

Plainly, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The X70 having a smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Sony a5100 will render greater detail with its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The older X70 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X70 Portrait photography factors
Sony a5100 Portrait photography factors
28
manual focus
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Street photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Street photography camera
46
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
82
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
provides touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax X70
Sports photography with Sony a5100
50
long zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
sensor has phase detect AF
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
68
good resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery (400 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Travel photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Travel photography camera
52
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
very long reach (624mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
80
better than average battery (400 CIPA)
provides touch focus
good resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X70 Landscape photography info
Sony a5100 Landscape photography info
35
manual focus
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
79
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (400 CIPA)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Vlogging camera
Sony a5100 as a Vlogging camera
24
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
34
built-in touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have mic port
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Pentax X70 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Sony a5100
 Pentax X70Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X70 Sony Alpha a5100
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-03-02 2014-08-17
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 50 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 179
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 26-624mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing distance 10cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options - Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 410 gr (0.90 lb) 283 gr (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1347
Other
Battery life - 400 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $200 $448