Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A65

On this page, we will be evaluating the Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A65, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the XG-1 (16MP) and A65 (24MP) and the XG-1 (1/2.3") and A65 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The XG-1 was manufactured 2 years after the A65 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A65 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a concise summary of how the XG-1 grades against the A65 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax XG-1 & Sony SLT-A65. The entire galleries are available at Pentax XG-1 Gallery & Sony A65 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax XG-1 provides outside dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) and the Sony A65 has specifications of 132mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 622 grams (1.37 lbs).

Compare the Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A65 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the XG-1 against the A65.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XG-1 and A65 is 66 and 64 respectively.

Typically, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions purely by viewing a spec sheet. The image here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the XG-1 and A65.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The XG-1 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A65 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more recent XG-1 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.