Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A900

On this page, we will be evaluating the Pentax XG-1 and Sony A900, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the XG-1 (16MP) and A900 (25MP) and the XG-1 (1/2.3") and A900 (Full frame) posses different sensor size.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The XG-1 was launched 5 years later than the A900 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the XG-1 matches up vs the A900 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax XG-1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A900. The complete galleries are provided at Pentax XG-1 Gallery & Sony A900 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax XG-1 has exterior dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") having a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) and the Sony A900 has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Look at the Pentax XG-1 and Sony A900 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the XG-1 versus the A900.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the XG-1 and A900 is 66 and 54 respectively.

Usually, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing simply by going over specifications. The photograph below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the XG-1 and A900.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The XG-1 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A900 will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The newer XG-1 provides an edge in sensor technology.