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Pentax X90 vs Sony A580

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X90 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Pentax X90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 428g - 111 x 85 x 110mm
  • Launched July 2010
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched May 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 Overview

Below is a comprehensive analysis of the Pentax X90 vs Sony A580, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the X90 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the X90 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The X90 was unveiled 10 months earlier than the A580 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the X90 scores versus the A580 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Sony A580

 X90 A580 

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Pentax X90

 A580 X90 
LaunchedMay 2011July 2010More recent by 10 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X90 and Sony A580

 X90 A580 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax X90 has got physical measurements of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony A580 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the X90 versus the A580.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the X90 and A580 is 69 and 64 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by checking specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the X90 and A580.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The X90 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A580 will give greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older X90 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X90 Portrait photography information
Sony A580 Portrait photography information
29
manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
73
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X90 Street photography advice
Sony A580 Street photography advice
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
75
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X90 Sports photography highlights
Sony A580 Sports photography highlights
42
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
good battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X90 Travel photography highlights
Sony A580 Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
good battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X90 Landscape photography details
Sony A580 Landscape photography details
35
manual focus
relatively wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (1,050 shots)
has double storage slots
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax X90
Vlogging with Sony A580
23
relatively wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic jack
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic port
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Pentax X90 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X90 and Sony A580
 Pentax X90Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-07-06 2011-05-26
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Prime Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing 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 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m 12.00 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 428 grams (0.94 pounds) 599 grams (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1121
Other
Battery life - 1050 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model D-L106 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single 2
Price at release $350 $848