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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33 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 A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony A35
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony A33

 XG-1 A33 
RevealedJuly 2014August 2010Fresher by 48 months

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Pentax XG-1

 A33 XG-1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony A33

 XG-1 A33 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33 size comparison

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

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

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.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A33 Portrait photography highlights
40
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
72
focusing manually
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Street photography advice
Sony A33 Street photography advice
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (567g)
76
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Sports photography advice
Sony A33 Sports photography advice
45
incredible zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
bad battery pack (340 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography advice
Sony A33 Travel photography advice
52
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (1248mm)
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
more heavy than competitors in class (567 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
61
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (340 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography information
Sony A33 Landscape photography information
45
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
67
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
bad battery pack (340 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax XG-1
Vlogging with Sony A33
25
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (567g)
77
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic port
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony A33
 Pentax XG-1Sony SLT-A33
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax XG-1 Sony SLT-A33
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-07-15 2010-08-24
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-1248mm (52.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.6 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 200k dot 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 567 gr (1.25 pounds) 500 gr (1.10 pounds)
Physical dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 591
Other
Battery life 240 pictures 340 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LB-060 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $599 $230