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Pentax X90 vs Sony A58

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X90 front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
63
Features
72
Overall
66

Pentax X90 vs Sony A58 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
  • Introduced July 2010
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Superseded the Sony A57
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Pentax X90 vs Sony A58 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Pentax X90 versus Sony A58, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the X90 (12MP) and A58 (20MP) and the X90 (1/2.3") and A58 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The X90 was brought out 4 years prior to the A58 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a quick summation of how the X90 matches up versus the A58 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Sony A58

 X90 A58 

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Pentax X90

 A58 X90 
IntroducedNovember 2013July 2010More recent by 41 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X90 and Sony A58

 X90 A58 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Pentax X90 vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll need to take into account 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) and the Sony A58 has proportions of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check the Pentax X90 versus Sony A58 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the X90 against the A58.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A58 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the X90 and A58 is 69 and 68 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by checking out specs. The photograph below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the X90 and A58.

All in all, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The X90 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A58 will provide greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older X90 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax X90 vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X90 vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X90 Portrait photography features
Sony A58 Portrait photography features
29
you can focus manually
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
77
you can focus manually
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax X90 Street photography information
Sony A58 Street photography information
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax X90
Sports photography with Sony A58
42
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
81
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery pack (690 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X90 Travel photography info
Sony A58 Travel photography info
51
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
63
great battery pack (690 CIPA)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax X90
Landscape photography with Sony A58
35
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (690 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax X90
Vlogging with Sony A58
23
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic jack
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Pentax X90 vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X90 and Sony A58
 Pentax X90Sony SLT-A58
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax X90 Sony SLT-A58
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-07-06 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.6
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.65x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 428 grams (0.94 lbs) 492 grams (1.08 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 753
Other
Battery life - 690 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-L106 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $350 $645