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Pentax X90 vs Sony A37

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X90 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Pentax X90 vs Sony A37 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
  • Released July 2010
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed May 2012
  • Older Model is Sony A35
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Pentax X90 vs Sony A37 Overview

Let's look closer at the Pentax X90 versus Sony A37, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the X90 (12MP) and A37 (16MP) and the X90 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

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The X90 was brought out 22 months earlier than the A37 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the X90 grades vs the A37 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Sony A37

 X90 A37 
Display dimensions2.7"2.6"Larger display (+0.1")

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Pentax X90

 A37 X90 
RevealedMay 2012July 2010Fresher by 22 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax X90 and Sony A37

 X90 A37 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Pentax X90 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax X90 comes with external dimensions of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") and a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony A37 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Check the Pentax X90 versus Sony A37 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the X90 against the A37.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the X90 and A37 is 69 and 67 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the X90 and A37.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The X90 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A37 will give you more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older X90 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X90 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X90 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A37 Portrait photography highlights
29
you can focus manually
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
74
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X90 Street photography features
Sony A37 Street photography features
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
77
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X90 Sports photography information
Sony A37 Sports photography information
42
excellent zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X90 Travel photography features
Sony A37 Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery (500 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X90 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A37 as a Landscape photography camera
35
you can focus manually
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
64
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.6")
bad battery (500 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X90 Vlogging info
Sony A37 Vlogging info
23
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Pentax X90 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X90 and Sony A37
 Pentax X90Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X90 Sony SLT-A37
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-07-06 2012-05-16
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inches 2.6 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m 12.00 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 428g (0.94 lb) 506g (1.12 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 799
Other
Battery life - 500 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model D-L106 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $350 $522