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Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X90 front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
62
Features
62
Overall
62

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000 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
  • Revealed July 2010
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-3N
  • Successor is Sony a5100
Photography Glossary

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Pentax X90 versus Sony a5000, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the X90 (12MP) and a5000 (20MP) and the X90 (1/2.3") and a5000 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The X90 was revealed 4 years before the a5000 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony a5000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the X90 scores vs the a5000 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Sony a5000

 X90 a5000 

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Pentax X90

 a5000 X90 
IntroducedJanuary 2014July 2010Fresher by 42 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X90 and Sony a5000

 X90 a5000 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and volume. The Pentax X90 offers physical measurements of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") having a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony a5000 has sizing of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax X90 versus Sony a5000 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the X90 vs the a5000.

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the X90 and a5000 is 69 and 89 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by checking out specs. The visual here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the X90 and a5000.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The X90 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony a5000 will show extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older X90 will be behind in sensor technology.

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X90
Portrait photography with Sony a5000
29
manual focus
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
70
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Pentax X90 Street photography info
Sony a5000 Street photography info
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
78
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X90 Sports photography details
Sony a5000 Sports photography details
42
excellent zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
59
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
great battery pack (420 per charge)
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X90 Travel photography advice
Sony a5000 Travel photography advice
51
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
great zoom (676mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
78
great battery pack (420 CIPA)
MP count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X90 Landscape photography features
Sony a5000 Landscape photography features
35
manual focus
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
77
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (420 shots)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X90 as a Vlogging camera
Sony a5000 as a Vlogging camera
23
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
32
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
does not have mic socket
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Pentax X90 vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X90 and Sony a5000
 Pentax X90Sony Alpha a5000
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X90 Sony Alpha a5000
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2010-07-06 2014-01-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Prime Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options - Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 428g (0.94 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1089
Other
Battery life - 420 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model D-L106 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $350 $448