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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony SLT-A35 front
Portability
69
Imaging
56
Features
70
Overall
61

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35 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
  • Announced July 2014
Sony A35
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 415g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony A33
  • Renewed by Sony A37
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony A35, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the A35 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the XG-1 (1/2.3") and A35 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor size.

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The XG-1 was manufactured 2 years later than the A35 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A35 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the XG-1 matches up vs the A35 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony A35

 XG-1 A35 
RevealedJuly 2014September 2011More recent by 35 months

Reasons to pick Sony A35 over the Pentax XG-1

 A35 XG-1 
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony A35

 XG-1 A35 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax XG-1 provides external dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") accompanied by a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) whilst the Sony A35 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 415 grams (0.91 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax XG-1 versus Sony A35 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the XG-1 vs the A35.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XG-1 and A35 is 66 and 69 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35 top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualize the difference between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The graphic below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the XG-1 and A35.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The XG-1 features the tinier sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field tougher. The more recent XG-1 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35 sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax XG-1
Portrait photography with Sony A35
40
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax XG-1
Street photography with Sony A35
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than competition (567g)
71
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (415g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Sports photography information
Sony A35 Sports photography information
45
excellent zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (240 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
not so great battery life (440 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography info
Sony A35 Travel photography info
52
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (1248mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (240 shots)
heavier than competition (567g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
58
lighter than competition in class (415g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery life (440 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography details
Sony A35 Landscape photography details
45
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery power (240 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
69
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
not so great battery life (440 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging info
Sony A35 Vlogging info
25
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing external mic support
heavier than competition (567g)
36
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone port
lighter than competition in class (415 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A35 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony A35
 Pentax XG-1Sony SLT-A35
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax XG-1 Sony SLT-A35
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-07-15 2011-09-20
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 measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-1248mm (52.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.6 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 200k dot 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 9.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings 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
Fastest 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 567g (1.25 pounds) 415g (0.91 pounds)
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 score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 763
Other
Battery life 240 images 440 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LB-060 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $599 $598