Clicky

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55

Portability
71
Imaging
34
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55 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
  • Launched March 2009
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
Photography Glossary

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Pentax X70 and Sony A55, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the X70 (12MP) and A55 (16MP) and the X70 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizing.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The X70 was manufactured 18 months earlier than the A55 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the X70 scores versus the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Sony A55

 X70 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Pentax X70

 A55 X70 
LaunchedAugust 2010March 2009More recent by 18 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Sony A55

 X70 A55 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax X70 features external dimensions of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") and a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Pentax X70 and Sony A55 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the X70 compared to the A55.

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X70 and A55 is 71 and 67 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the X70 and A55.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The X70 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A55 will show extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older X70 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X70 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A55 Portrait photography highlights
28
manual focus
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Pentax X70 Street photography details
Sony A55 Street photography details
46
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
77
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A55 as a Sports photography camera
50
incredible zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
bad battery power (380 shots)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax X70
Travel photography with Sony A55
52
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
long zoom (624mm)
missing Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
62
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery power (380 shots)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
35
manual focus
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse function
67
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
bad battery power (380 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X70 Vlogging info
Sony A55 Vlogging info
24
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
78
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Pentax X70 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Sony A55
 Pentax X70Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X70 Sony SLT-A55
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-03-02 2010-08-24
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 50 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-624mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410 gr (0.90 pounds) 500 gr (1.10 pounds)
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 All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $200 $800