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Pentax X70 vs Sony W550

Portability
71
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Pentax X70 vs Sony W550 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 W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed July 2011
Photography Glossary

Pentax X70 vs Sony W550 Overview

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Pentax X70 and Sony W550, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the X70 (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very comparable and they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The X70 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the W550 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a simple overview of how the X70 grades against the W550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Sony W550

 X70 W550 
Manual focus More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Pentax X70

 W550 X70 
RevealedJuly 2011March 2009More recent by 29 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Sony W550

 X70 W550 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Pentax X70 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and size. 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 W550 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

See the Pentax X70 and Sony W550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the X70 compared to the W550.

Pentax X70 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the X70 and W550 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The photograph below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the X70 and W550.

To sum up, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Sony W550 to provide more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older X70 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax X70 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X70 Portrait photography information
Sony W550 Portrait photography information
29
focusing manually
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
28
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Street photography camera
Sony W550 as a Street photography camera
46
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X70 Sports photography highlights
Sony W550 Sports photography highlights
50
long zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax X70
Travel photography with Sony W550
52
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
long zoom (624mm)
no Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X70 Landscape photography factors
Sony W550 Landscape photography factors
36
focusing manually
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse function
42
quite wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X70 Vlogging highlights
Sony W550 Vlogging highlights
24
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
29
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
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Pentax X70 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Sony W550
 Pentax X70Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X70 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Revealed 2009-03-02 2011-07-24
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 50 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-624mm (24.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m 3.80 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410 grams (0.90 pounds) 110 grams (0.24 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 model D-LI92 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 -
Retail price $200 $119