Pentax X90 vs Sony NEX-5
69 Imaging
35 Features
34 Overall
34


89 Imaging
54 Features
58 Overall
55
Pentax X90 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs
(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
- Announced July 2010
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
- Announced June 2010
- Newer Model is Sony NEX-5N

Pentax X90 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview
The following is a extended assessment of the Pentax X90 and Sony NEX-5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the X90 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very well matched but the X90 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

The X90 was manufactured at a similar time to the NEX-5 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the X90 grades vs the NEX-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Pentax X90 vs Sony NEX-5 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax X90 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The entire galleries are viewable at Pentax X90 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Sony NEX-5
X90 | NEX-5 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Pentax X90
NEX-5 | X90 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+690k dot) |
Common features in the Pentax X90 and Sony NEX-5
X90 | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | July 2010 | ![]() | June 2010 | Similar generation |
Manual focus | ![]() | Very exact focusing | ||
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither offers selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither offers Touch friendly display |
Pentax X90 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison
If you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax X90 offers outside dimensions of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).
Check the Pentax X90 and Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the X90 and the NEX-5.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the X90 and NEX-5 is 69 and 89 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it is very hard to envision the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The image here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the X90 and NEX-5.
As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The X90 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-5 will resolve greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications
Pentax X90 | Sony Alpha NEX-5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Pentax | Sony |
Model | Pentax X90 | Sony Alpha NEX-5 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Announced | 2010-07-06 | 2010-06-07 |
Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | Prime | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 14 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4592 x 3056 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 12800 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 200 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | Sony E |
Lens focal range | 26-676mm (26.0x) | - |
Largest aperture | f/2.8-5.0 | - |
Macro focus distance | 1cm | - |
Available lenses | - | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display size | 2.7" | 3" |
Display resolution | 230 thousand dots | 920 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 4s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter rate | - | 7.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 9.10 m | 12.00 m |
Flash modes | - | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/160s |
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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | AVCHD |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
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 sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 428 gr (0.94 lbs) | 287 gr (0.63 lbs) |
Dimensions | 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") | 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | 69 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 22.2 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 12.2 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 796 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 330 images |
Battery type | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | D-L106 | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC, Internal | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Retail price | $350 | $599 |