Pentax X90 vs Sony HX30V

Let's look a little more in depth at the Pentax X90 vs Sony HX30V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the X90 (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The X90 was released 20 months before the HX30V making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the X90 scores against the HX30V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax X90 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V. The complete galleries are provided at Pentax X90 Gallery and Sony HX30V Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax X90 provides outside 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) while the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Pentax X90 vs Sony HX30V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the X90 versus the HX30V.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the X90 and HX30V is 69 and 90 respectively.

Quite often, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by researching technical specs. The graphic here will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the X90 and HX30V.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Sony HX30V to render more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The older X90 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.