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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony Alpha A7S II front
Portability
68
Imaging
61
Features
76
Overall
67

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II Key Specs

Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Launched July 2014
Sony A7S II
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400 (Boost to 409600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 627g - 127 x 96 x 60mm
  • Announced October 2015
  • Replaced the Sony A7S
  • Renewed by Sony A7S III
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony A7S II, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the XG-1 (16MP) and A7S II (12MP) and the XG-1 (1/2.3") and A7S II (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The XG-1 was announced 15 months before the A7S II which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A7S II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short view of how the XG-1 matches up vs the A7S II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony A7S II

 XG-1 A7S II 

Reasons to pick Sony A7S II over the Pentax XG-1

 A7S II XG-1 
AnnouncedOctober 2015July 2014More recent by 15 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k460kSharper screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony A7S II

 XG-1 A7S II 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax XG-1 has physical measurements of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) whilst the Sony A7S II has proportions of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") and a weight of 627 grams (1.38 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony A7S II in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the XG-1 against the A7S II.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the XG-1 and A7S II is 66 and 68 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the XG-1 and A7S II.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The XG-1 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax XG-1 will give extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older XG-1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography factors
Sony A7S II Portrait photography factors
40
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
68
focusing manually
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Street photography camera
Sony A7S II as a Street photography camera
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition in class (567 grams)
78
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
very good ISO range (102,400)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Sports photography highlights
Sony A7S II Sports photography highlights
45
excellent zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (240 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
58
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery power (370 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography factors
Sony A7S II Travel photography factors
52
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1248mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low battery pack (240 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (567g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
49
environment proofing
terrible battery power (370 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7S II as a Landscape photography camera
45
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery pack (240 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
very good ISO range (102,400)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery power (370 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging information
Sony A7S II Vlogging information
25
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (567 grams)
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A7S II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony A7S II
 Pentax XG-1Sony Alpha A7S II
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax XG-1 Sony Alpha A7S II
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2014-07-15 2015-10-12
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4240 x 2832
Highest native ISO 3200 102400
Highest boosted ISO - 409600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 169
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-1248mm (52.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 200k dot 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps) 4K (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p [60-100Mbps]), Full HD (1920 x 1080 @ 120p/60p/60i/30p/24p [50-100Mbps]), 720p (30p [16Mbps])
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 567 grams (1.25 lbs) 627 grams (1.38 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 127 x 96 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 2993
Other
Battery life 240 photographs 370 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LB-060 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $599 $2,767