Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX30

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony TX30, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by brands Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the TX30 (18MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The XG-1 was announced 12 months later than the TX30 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony TX30 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the XG-1 scores against the TX30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax XG-1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30. The whole galleries are provided at Pentax XG-1 Gallery and Sony TX30 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax XG-1 has outer dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) while the Sony TX30 has specifications of 96mm x 59mm x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony TX30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the XG-1 vs the TX30.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XG-1 and TX30 is 66 and 96 respectively.

More often than not, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing just by going through technical specs. The visual below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the XG-1 and TX30.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony TX30 to provide more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The fresher XG-1 provides an edge in sensor tech.