Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H20
66 Imaging
40 Features
37 Overall
38


87 Imaging
33 Features
29 Overall
31
Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H20 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed July 2014
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
- 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
- Released May 2009

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H20 Overview
Let's take a more detailed look at the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony H20, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the XG-1 (16MP) and H20 (10MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

The XG-1 was announced 5 years after the H20 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.
Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick view of how the XG-1 grades vs the H20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H20 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax XG-1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20. The whole galleries are provided at Pentax XG-1 Gallery and Sony H20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony H20
XG-1 | H20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | July 2014 | ![]() | May 2009 | More modern by 63 months |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Pentax XG-1
H20 | XG-1 |
---|
Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony H20
XG-1 | H20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More precise focus | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent display measurements |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither contains Touch friendly display |
Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison
When you are planning to carry around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax XG-1 has got outside measurements of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") having a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) while the Sony H20 has dimensions of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).
Check out the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony H20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the XG-1 vs the H20.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XG-1 and H20 is 66 and 87 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison
Typically, its hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes simply by viewing specs. The pic below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the XG-1 and H20.
All in all, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Pentax XG-1 to render extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger XG-1 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H20 Specifications
Pentax XG-1 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Pentax | Sony |
Model type | Pentax XG-1 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Revealed | 2014-07-15 | 2009-05-14 |
Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 3648 x 2736 |
Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch to focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Total focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 24-1248mm (52.0x) | 38-380mm (10.0x) |
Max aperture | f/2.8-5.6 | f/3.5-4.4 |
Macro focusing distance | 1cm | 2cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of screen | 460 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
Viewfinder resolution | 200 thousand dots | - |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 4s | 30s |
Max shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/2000s |
Continuous shutter rate | 9.0fps | 2.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.00 m | 7.10 m |
Flash settings | Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
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) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | - |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 567 gr (1.25 lbs) | 250 gr (0.55 lbs) |
Dimensions | 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") | 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall 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 | - |
Form of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Battery ID | LB-060 | NP-BG1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Cost at release | $599 | $249 |