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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66 front
Portability
97
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66 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
  • Launched July 2014
Sony TX66
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
  • 109g - 93 x 54 x 13mm
  • Revealed February 2012
Photography Glossary

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Pentax XG-1 and Sony TX66, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the TX66 (18MP) is pretty similar and both cameras have the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The XG-1 was revealed 2 years after the TX66 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony TX66 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the XG-1 matches up versus the TX66 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony TX66

 XG-1 TX66 
RevealedJuly 2014February 2012Newer by 29 months

Reasons to pick Sony TX66 over the Pentax XG-1

 TX66 XG-1 
Screen size3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1230k460kSharper screen (+770k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony TX66

 XG-1 TX66 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax XG-1 comes with physical measurements 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 TX66 has measurements of 93mm x 54mm x 13mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.5") along with a weight of 109 grams (0.24 lbs).

Look at the Pentax XG-1 and Sony TX66 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the XG-1 vs the TX66.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XG-1 and TX66 is 66 and 97 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66 top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading a spec sheet. The image here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the XG-1 and TX66.

Clearly, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can expect the Sony TX66 to offer extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger XG-1 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66 sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography details
Sony TX66 Portrait photography details
40
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
42
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (18MP)
supports face detect focusing
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Street photography advice
Sony TX66 Street photography advice
43
has 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
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Sports photography details
Sony TX66 Sports photography details
45
great zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (240 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
49
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
good battery (250 per charge)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography advice
Sony TX66 Travel photography advice
52
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (1248mm)
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery (240 CIPA)
more heavy than others in class (567g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
72
good battery (250 shots)
offers focus by touch
decent megapixels (18MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography highlights
Sony TX66 Landscape photography highlights
45
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery (240 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
51
you can focus manually
rather wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3.3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
good battery (250 shots)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging factors
Sony TX66 Vlogging factors
25
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (567g)
36
rather wide (26mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony TX66 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony TX66
 Pentax XG-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax XG-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2014-07-15 2012-02-28
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1248mm (52.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/3.5-4.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3.3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack OLED display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200k dots -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 3.10 m
Flash modes Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 567g (1.25 lb) 109g (0.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 93 x 54 x 13mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.5")
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 images 250 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LB-060 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo, microSD/microSDHC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $599 $350