Pentax X90 vs Samsung NX500

Its time to look a little more closely at the Pentax X90 vs Samsung NX500, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Pentax and Samsung. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the X90 (12MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the X90 (1/2.3") and NX500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The X90 was unveiled 5 years prior to the NX500 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the X90 matches up versus the NX500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax X90 and Samsung NX500. The full galleries are viewable at Pentax X90 Gallery and Samsung NX500 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Pentax X90 provides physical dimensions of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX500 has specifications of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Examine the Pentax X90 vs Samsung NX500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the X90 versus the NX500.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X90 and NX500 is 69 and 87 respectively.

Typically, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions just by reading through specs. The image here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the X90 and NX500.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The X90 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Samsung NX500 will resolve extra detail having an extra 16MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged X90 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.