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Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
71
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
63
Overall
51

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V 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 HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
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Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V Overview

The following is a in-depth review of the Pentax X70 and Sony HX90V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the X70 (12MP) and HX90V (18MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The X70 was brought out 7 years prior to the HX90V which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX90V being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the X70 scores vs the HX90V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Sony HX90V

 X70 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Pentax X70

 HX90V X70 
IntroducedApril 2015March 2009Newer by 74 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Sony HX90V

 X70 HX90V 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax X70 provides outer 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 HX90V has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

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Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the X70 compared to the HX90V.

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X70 and HX90V is 71 and 91 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by looking at a spec sheet. The picture underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the X70 and HX90V.

Clearly, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony HX90V to give extra detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged X70 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X70 Portrait photography information
Sony HX90V Portrait photography information
29
manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
46
you can focus manually
MP count good (18MP)
comes with face detect focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax X70
Street photography with Sony HX90V
46
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
70
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245g)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X70 Sports photography information
Sony HX90V Sports photography information
50
excellent zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
sensor has phase detect AF
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
good battery power (360 CIPA)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X70 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX90V Travel photography highlights
52
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
great reach (624mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
76
good battery power (360 shots)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax X70
Landscape photography with Sony HX90V
36
manual focus
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
53
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
good battery power (360 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX90V as a Vlogging camera
24
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone support
75
fairly wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of mic jack
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Pentax X70 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Sony HX90V
 Pentax X70Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X70 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-03-02 2015-04-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 50 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-624mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 10cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings - Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 410 gr (0.90 pounds) 245 gr (0.54 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 - 360 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $200 $440