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Pentax X70 vs Sony A37

Portability
71
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 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
  • Revealed March 2009
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced May 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A35
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Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Pentax X70 vs Sony A37, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the X70 (12MP) and A37 (16MP) and the X70 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The X70 was introduced 4 years prior to the A37 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the X70 scores vs the A37 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Sony A37

 X70 A37 
Screen dimension2.7"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.1")

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Pentax X70

 A37 X70 
IntroducedMay 2012March 2009More modern by 39 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Sony A37

 X70 A37 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax X70 provides outer measurements of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") having a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Sony A37 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the X70 versus the A37.

Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the X70 and A37 is 71 and 67 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by researching technical specs. The picture here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the X70 and A37.

As you have seen, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The X70 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A37 will result in greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged X70 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X70 Portrait photography info
Sony A37 Portrait photography info
29
has manual focus
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax X70 Street photography features
Sony A37 Street photography features
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
77
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X70 Sports photography info
Sony A37 Sports photography info
50
great zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
low battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A37 as a Travel photography camera
52
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
great reach (624mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (500 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X70 Landscape photography info
Sony A37 Landscape photography info
36
has manual focus
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
64
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.6 inch)
low battery life (500 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X70 Vlogging features
Sony A37 Vlogging features
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Pentax X70 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Sony A37
 Pentax X70Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X70 Sony SLT-A37
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-03-02 2012-05-16
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 50 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-624mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing range 10cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 2.6 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate - 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 12.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 410 grams (0.90 lbs) 506 grams (1.12 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 799
Other
Battery life - 500 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $200 $522