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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
62
Features
62
Overall
62

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000 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
  • Announced July 2014
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-3N
  • New Model is Sony a5100
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony a5000, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the a5000 (20MP) is relatively close but the XG-1 (1/2.3") and a5000 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The XG-1 was manufactured 7 months after the a5000 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony a5000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the XG-1 scores vs the a5000 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony a5000

 XG-1 a5000 
LaunchedJuly 2014January 2014Newer by 7 months

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Pentax XG-1

 a5000 XG-1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony a5000

 XG-1 a5000 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax XG-1 has external measurements of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") along with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) and the Sony a5000 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony a5000 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the XG-1 vs the a5000.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XG-1 and a5000 is 66 and 89 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching technical specs. The picture here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the XG-1 and a5000.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The XG-1 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony a5000 will result in greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The fresher XG-1 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography information
Sony a5000 Portrait photography information
40
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
70
focusing manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Street photography info
Sony a5000 Street photography info
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than competition in class (567g)
78
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Sports photography factors
Sony a5000 Sports photography factors
45
long zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery (240 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
59
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
great battery life (420 CIPA)
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax XG-1
Travel photography with Sony a5000
52
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (1248mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (240 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (567 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
78
great battery life (420 CIPA)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography highlights
Sony a5000 Landscape photography highlights
45
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery (240 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (420 per charge)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony a5000 as a Vlogging camera
25
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic support
heavier than competition in class (567 grams)
32
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing mic support
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony a5000
 Pentax XG-1Sony Alpha a5000
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax XG-1 Sony Alpha a5000
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2014-07-15 2014-01-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 3200 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-1248mm (52.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.6 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.6
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200k dots -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 567 grams (1.25 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1089
Other
Battery life 240 shots 420 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LB-060 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $599 $448