Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33

Let's look much closer at the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony A33, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the A33 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the XG-1 (1/2.3") and A33 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The XG-1 was launched 3 years later than the A33 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the XG-1 scores versus the A33 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax XG-1 and Sony SLT-A33. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax XG-1 Gallery and Sony A33 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax XG-1 features outer measurements of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") along with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) and the Sony A33 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony A33 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the XG-1 vs the A33.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XG-1 and A33 is 66 and 67 respectively.

Quite often, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing merely by looking at technical specs. The photograph here should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the XG-1 and A33.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The XG-1 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Pentax XG-1 will resolve more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The fresher XG-1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.