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Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99

Portability
71
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99 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
  • Revealed March 2009
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released September 2018
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Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Pentax X70 and Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the X70 (12MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the X70 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) provide different sensor sizing.

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The X70 was introduced 10 years prior to the HX99 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX99 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the X70 scores vs the HX99 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Sony HX99

 X70 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Pentax X70

 HX99 X70 
ReleasedSeptember 2018March 2009Newer by 115 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.00"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Sony HX99

 X70 HX99 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax X70 has 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 HX99 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Compare the Pentax X70 and Sony HX99 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the X70 vs the HX99.

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the X70 and HX99 is 71 and 91 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by going over specs. The picture below should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the X70 and HX99.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The X70 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony HX99 will offer extra detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged X70 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X70 Portrait photography info
Sony HX99 Portrait photography info
29
focusing manually
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
53
you can focus manually
MP count good (18MP)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax X70
Street photography with Sony HX99
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
77
tilting screen
has image stabilization
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Sports photography camera
50
amazing zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
58
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization
MP count good (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery life (360 shots)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax X70
Travel photography with Sony HX99
52
flash built-in
fairly wide (26mm)
very long zoom (624mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
good battery life (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X70 Landscape photography information
Sony HX99 Landscape photography information
36
focusing manually
fairly wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
58
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3.00 inches)
has image stabilization
MP count good (18MP)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (360 per charge)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX99 as a Vlogging camera
24
fairly wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
76
fairly wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization
supports face detection focus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (242g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of external microphone socket
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Pentax X70 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Sony HX99
 Pentax X70Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X70 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-03-02 2018-09-01
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 50 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-624mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 10cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3.00 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes - Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410g (0.90 lb) 242g (0.53 lb)
Physical 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 Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 360 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model 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
Card slots One One
Retail cost $200 $469