Pentax X70 vs Sony W650

Lets look a bit more closely at the Pentax X70 and Sony W650, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the X70 (12MP) and W650 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The X70 was launched 3 years prior to the W650 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W650 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short overview of how the X70 matches up vs the W650 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax X70 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650. The complete galleries are provided at Pentax X70 Gallery and Sony W650 Gallery.

If you're planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax X70 provides outer dimensions 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 W650 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 124 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Pentax X70 and Sony W650 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the X70 against the W650.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the X70 and W650 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the X70 and W650.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony W650 to resolve more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older X70 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.