Pentax X90 vs Sony HX5
69 Imaging
35 Features
34 Overall
34


92 Imaging
33 Features
30 Overall
31
Pentax X90 vs Sony HX5 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)
- 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 125 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
- 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
- Released June 2010

Pentax X90 vs Sony HX5 Overview
Below, we will be matching up the Pentax X90 vs Sony HX5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the X90 (12MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the X90 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") come with totally different sensor measurements.

The X90 was unveiled at a similar time to the HX5 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.
Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick summation of how the X90 scores versus the HX5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Pentax X90 vs Sony HX5 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax X90 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The full galleries are provided at Pentax X90 Gallery & Sony HX5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Sony HX5
X90 | HX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial exact focus |
Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Pentax X90
HX5 | X90 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Common features in the Pentax X90 and Sony HX5
X90 | HX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | July 2010 | ![]() | June 2010 | Same age |
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Identical screen resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Missing Touch friendly screen |
Pentax X90 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax X90 enjoys physical 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) whilst the Sony HX5 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).
Examine the Pentax X90 vs Sony HX5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the X90 compared to the HX5.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X90 and HX5 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison
Normally, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by seeing specs. The graphic here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the X90 and HX5.
As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The X90 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Pentax X90 will provide extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony HX5 Specifications
Pentax X90 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Pentax | Sony |
Model | Pentax X90 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Announced | 2010-07-06 | 2010-06-16 |
Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Prime | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.4" |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 6.104 x 4.578mm |
Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 27.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 3456 x 2592 |
Maximum native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 125 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 26-676mm (26.0x) | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/2.8-5.0 | f/3.5-5.5 |
Macro focus distance | 1cm | 5cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 2.7 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 230k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 4 seconds | 30 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shutter rate | - | 10.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 9.10 m | 3.80 m |
Flash options | - | Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure 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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | AVCHD |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 428g (0.94 pounds) | 200g (0.44 pounds) |
Dimensions | 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") | 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light score | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery model | D-L106 | NP-BG1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC, Internal | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Retail cost | $350 | $275 |