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Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X90 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Released July 2010
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony WX350
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Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Pentax X90 versus Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the X90 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The X90 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the WX500 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the X90 matches up versus the WX500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Sony WX500

 X90 WX500 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Pentax X90

 WX500 X90 
IntroducedApril 2015July 2010Fresher by 58 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X90 and Sony WX500

 X90 WX500 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Pentax X90 has got exterior 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) while the Sony WX500 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Pentax X90 versus Sony WX500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the X90 compared to the WX500.

Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X90 and WX500 is 69 and 91 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing only by going through technical specs. The visual underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the X90 and WX500.

As you can tell, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Sony WX500 to show greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots much more aggressively. The older X90 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X90
Portrait photography with Sony WX500
29
has manual focus
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
39
MP count good (18MP)
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X90 Street photography details
Sony WX500 Street photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax X90
Sports photography with Sony WX500
42
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
offers tracking focus
good battery life (360 per charge)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax X90
Travel photography with Sony WX500
51
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
very long zoom (676mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
good battery life (360 per charge)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax X90
Landscape photography with Sony WX500
35
has manual focus
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
49
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
good battery life (360 shots)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X90 Vlogging information
Sony WX500 Vlogging information
23
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
35
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (236g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
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Pentax X90 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X90 and Sony WX500
 Pentax X90Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-06 2015-04-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
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 focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes - Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 428 grams (0.94 pounds) 236 grams (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 life - 360 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model D-L106 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $350 $348