Pentax XG-1 vs Sony W230

The following is a extensive review of the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony W230, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the XG-1 (16MP) and W230 (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The XG-1 was unveiled 5 years after the W230 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W230 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the XG-1 matches up versus the W230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax XG-1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230. The full galleries are viewable at Pentax XG-1 Gallery and Sony W230 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax XG-1 has physical measurements of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") and a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) whilst the Sony W230 has dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony W230 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the XG-1 compared to the W230.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the XG-1 and W230 is 66 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions just by looking through a spec sheet. The pic here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the XG-1 and W230.

As you can see, both cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Pentax XG-1 to provide you with more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The newer XG-1 should have an advantage in sensor technology.