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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Revealed July 2014
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Replaced the Sony RX100
  • Successor is Sony RX100 III
Photography Glossary

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Pentax XG-1 and Sony RX100 II, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the RX100 II (20MP) is relatively similar but the XG-1 (1/2.3") and RX100 II (1") feature different sensor size.

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The XG-1 was introduced 13 months after the RX100 II which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the XG-1 matches up against the RX100 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony RX100 II

 XG-1 RX100 II 
AnnouncedJuly 2014June 2013Newer by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Pentax XG-1

 RX100 II XG-1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k460kSharper screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony RX100 II

 XG-1 RX100 II 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax XG-1 comes with external 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 RX100 II has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax XG-1 and Sony RX100 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the XG-1 and the RX100 II.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XG-1 and RX100 II is 66 and 89 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by going over technical specs. The pic here should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the XG-1 and RX100 II.

As you can tell, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The XG-1 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony RX100 II will offer extra detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern XG-1 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax XG-1
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 II
40
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
70
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Street photography camera
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competition in class (567 grams)
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax XG-1
Sports photography with Sony RX100 II
45
long zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery (240 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
great battery power (350 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography details
Sony RX100 II Travel photography details
52
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1248mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery (240 shots)
heavier than competition in class (567 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
80
great battery power (350 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography highlights
45
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery (240 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
74
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
great battery power (350 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging features
Sony RX100 II Vlogging features
25
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of external mic port
heavier than competition in class (567g)
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony RX100 II
 Pentax XG-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax XG-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-07-15 2013-06-27
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1248mm (52.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dots -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash settings Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 567 grams (1.25 pounds) 281 grams (0.62 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 483
Other
Battery life 240 photos 350 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LB-060 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $599 $598