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Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X90 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 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
  • Introduced July 2010
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • Older Model is Sony a5000
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Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the X90 (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the X90 (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) use different sensor sizes.

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The X90 was brought out 5 years earlier than the a5100 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the X90 scores against the a5100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Sony a5100

 X90 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Pentax X90

 a5100 X90 
AnnouncedAugust 2014July 2010Fresher by 50 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax X90 and Sony a5100

 X90 a5100 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax X90 has external dimensions of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") along with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

See the Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the X90 vs the a5100.

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the X90 and a5100 is 69 and 89 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing merely by looking through specifications. The photograph below might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the X90 and a5100.

Plainly, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The X90 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony a5100 will result in more detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images a little more aggressively. The older X90 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X90 Portrait photography factors
Sony a5100 Portrait photography factors
29
manual focus
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax X90 Street photography factors
Sony a5100 Street photography factors
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
82
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X90 Sports photography info
Sony a5100 Sports photography info
42
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
68
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery power (400 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax X90
Travel photography with Sony a5100
51
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
great zoom (676mm)
no Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
80
better than average battery power (400 CIPA)
features touch focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax X90
Landscape photography with Sony a5100
35
manual focus
really wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7")
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse function
79
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (400 CIPA)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X90 Vlogging information
Sony a5100 Vlogging information
23
really wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone jack
34
touchscreen functionality
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
missing mic support
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Pentax X90 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X90 and Sony a5100
 Pentax X90Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X90 Sony Alpha a5100
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-07-06 2014-08-17
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 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 179
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Max 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 diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings - Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
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 428 grams (0.94 lb) 283 grams (0.62 lb)
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 All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1347
Other
Battery life - 400 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model D-L106 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $350 $448