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Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
71
Imaging
34
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA Key Specs

Pentax X70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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 RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched July 2018
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Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Pentax X70 and Sony RX100 VA, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the X70 (12MP) and RX100 VA (20MP) and the X70 (1/2.3") and RX100 VA (1") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The X70 was manufactured 10 years prior to the RX100 VA and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short view of how the X70 scores against the RX100 VA when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Sony RX100 VA

 X70 RX100 VA 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Pentax X70

 RX100 VA X70 
LaunchedJuly 2018March 2009More recent by 114 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Sony RX100 VA

 X70 RX100 VA 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax X70 features physical measurements of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) while the Sony RX100 VA has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

See the Pentax X70 and Sony RX100 VA in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the X70 vs the RX100 VA.

Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the X70 and RX100 VA is 71 and 89 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the X70 and RX100 VA.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The X70 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Sony RX100 VA will give extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older X70 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X70
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 VA
28
has manual focus
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
66
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Street photography camera
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
86
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax X70
Sports photography with Sony RX100 VA
50
incredible zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
supports phase detect auto focus
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
70
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (24.0 fps)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
provides tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (220 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax X70
Travel photography with Sony RX100 VA
52
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
long reach (624mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
76
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
rather wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax X70
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 VA
35
has manual focus
rather wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
66
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
terrible battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Vlogging camera
24
rather wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
81
rather wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (299g)
doesn't have mic support
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Pentax X70 vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Sony RX100 VA
 Pentax X70Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X70 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Released 2009-03-02 2018-07-13
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 50 125
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-624mm (24.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range 10cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 24.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options - Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
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 / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410 grams (0.90 pounds) 299 grams (0.66 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
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 - 220 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $200 $998