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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III 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
  • Released July 2014
Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Released March 2016
  • Replaced the Sony RX10 II
  • Later Model is Sony RX10 IV
Photography Glossary

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the RX10 III (20MP) is pretty similar but the XG-1 (1/2.3") and RX10 III (1") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The XG-1 was released 20 months prior to the RX10 III which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the XG-1 scores versus the RX10 III when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony RX10 III

 XG-1 RX10 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Pentax XG-1

 RX10 III XG-1 
ReleasedMarch 2016July 2014Newer by 20 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k460kCrisper screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony RX10 III

 XG-1 RX10 III 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera often, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax XG-1 has got outside measurements of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") and a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) and the Sony RX10 III has proportions of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") along with a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Check the Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III 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 change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the XG-1 versus the RX10 III.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the XG-1 and RX10 III is 66 and 53 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions simply by going over technical specs. The pic below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the XG-1 and RX10 III.

As you can tell, both cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The XG-1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony RX10 III will offer more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged XG-1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography advice
Sony RX10 III Portrait photography advice
40
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Street photography info
Sony RX10 III Street photography info
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than others in class (567 grams)
64
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
heavier than average in class (1,051 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Sports photography advice
Sony RX10 III Sports photography advice
45
great zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (240 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
70
amazing zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
has tracking focus
environment sealing
great battery (420 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax XG-1
Travel photography with Sony RX10 III
52
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (1248mm)
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (240 per charge)
more heavy than others in class (567g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
great battery (420 shots)
environment sealing
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (1,051 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax XG-1
Landscape photography with Sony RX10 III
45
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery power (240 shots)
no Timelapse mode
63
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
great battery (420 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.4)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax XG-1
Vlogging with Sony RX10 III
25
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no microphone port
more heavy than others in class (567 grams)
28
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic jack
slow max aperture (f2.4)
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than average in class (1,051 grams)
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony RX10 III
 Pentax XG-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax XG-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-07-15 2016-03-29
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1248mm (52.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per sec 14.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 567 grams (1.25 lbs) 1051 grams (2.32 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 472
Other
Battery life 240 photos 420 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LB-060 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $599 $1,398