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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony Alpha a6100 front
Portability
81
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100 Key Specs

Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Introduced July 2014
Sony A6100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Boost to 51200)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 67 x 59mm
  • Released August 2019
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony A6100, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the XG-1 (16MP) and A6100 (24MP) and the XG-1 (1/2.3") and A6100 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The XG-1 was announced 6 years earlier than the A6100 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A6100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the XG-1 grades vs the A6100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony A6100

 XG-1 A6100 

Reasons to pick Sony A6100 over the Pentax XG-1

 A6100 XG-1 
ReleasedAugust 2019July 2014Fresher by 62 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony A6100

 XG-1 A6100 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera often, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Pentax XG-1 has exterior measurements 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 A6100 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

Compare the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony A6100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the XG-1 compared to the A6100.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XG-1 and A6100 is 66 and 81 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing merely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the XG-1 and A6100.

As you can see, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The XG-1 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony A6100 will offer more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older XG-1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100 sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography details
Sony A6100 Portrait photography details
40
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
82
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Street photography factors
Sony A6100 Street photography factors
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than average (567 grams)
79
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
very good ISO range (32,000)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax XG-1
Sports photography with Sony A6100
45
long zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (240 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
75
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography features
Sony A6100 Travel photography features
52
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (1248mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (240 shots)
heavier than average (567 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
86
connects via bluetooth
has touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography advice
Sony A6100 Landscape photography advice
45
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery life (240 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (32,000)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging information
Sony A6100 Vlogging information
25
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
heavier than average (567 grams)
79
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
offers face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has microphone port
does not have image stabilization
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A6100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony A6100
 Pentax XG-1Sony Alpha a6100
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax XG-1 Sony Alpha a6100
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-07-15 2019-08-28
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 32000
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 425
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-1248mm (52.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.6 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 200k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Flash off, auto, fill flash, slow sync, rear sync, wireless, hi-speed
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 567 gr (1.25 lb) 396 gr (0.87 lb)
Dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 120 x 67 x 59mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 240 photographs 420 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LB-060 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $599 $748