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Pentax X90 vs Sony A900

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X90 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64

Pentax X90 vs Sony A900 Key Specs

Pentax X90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 428g - 111 x 85 x 110mm
  • Released July 2010
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Successor is Sony A99
Photography Glossary

Pentax X90 vs Sony A900 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Pentax X90 versus Sony A900, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the X90 (12MP) and A900 (25MP) and the X90 (1/2.3") and A900 (Full frame) possess different sensor sizing.

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The X90 was released 21 months after the A900 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the X90 scores versus the A900 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Sony A900

 X90 A900 
LaunchedJuly 2010October 2008More modern by 21 months

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Pentax X90

 A900 X90 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X90 and Sony A900

 X90 A900 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Pentax X90 vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax X90 offers external 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) while the Sony A900 has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax X90 versus Sony A900 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the X90 and the A900.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A900 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the X90 and A900 is 69 and 54 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by reading specs. The image below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the X90 and A900.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The X90 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A900 will offer more detail as a result of its extra 13 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The fresher X90 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X90 vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X90
Portrait photography with Sony A900
29
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
71
manual focus
fantastic resolution (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Pentax X90 Street photography highlights
Sony A900 Street photography highlights
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X90 Sports photography features
Sony A900 Sports photography features
42
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
fantastic resolution (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax X90
Travel photography with Sony A900
51
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
missing Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
54
environment sealing
fantastic resolution (25 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X90 Landscape photography advice
Sony A900 Landscape photography advice
35
you can focus manually
really wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse function
72
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
fantastic resolution (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
no liveview feature
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax X90
Vlogging with Sony A900
23
really wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone support
9
can't record video
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Pentax X90 vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X90 and Sony A900
 Pentax X90Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-07-06 2008-10-22
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 6048 x 4032
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/250s
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 428 grams (0.94 pounds) 895 grams (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1431
Other
Battery life - 880 images
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 Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots 1 Two
Retail cost $350 $2,736