Pentax X90 vs Sony A850

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Pentax X90 and Sony A850, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the X90 (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the X90 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor size.

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The X90 was announced 3 months later than the A850 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the X90 grades vs the A850 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax X90 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The whole galleries are provided at Pentax X90 Gallery and Sony A850 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax X90 offers exterior measurements of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") along with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax X90 and Sony A850 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the X90 versus the A850.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X90 and A850 is 69 and 54 respectively.

Quite often, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing just by viewing specs. The photograph underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the X90 and A850.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The X90 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A850 will result in more detail with its extra 13 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively.