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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77 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
  • Introduced July 2014
Sony A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony A700
  • New Model is Sony A77 II
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Pentax XG-1 and Sony A77, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the XG-1 (16MP) and A77 (24MP) and the XG-1 (1/2.3") and A77 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The XG-1 was manufactured 2 years after the A77 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the XG-1 matches up versus the A77 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony A77

 XG-1 A77 
ReleasedJuly 2014October 2011More modern by 34 months

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Pentax XG-1

 A77 XG-1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony A77

 XG-1 A77 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax XG-1 has got external dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) whilst the Sony A77 has proportions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

See the Pentax XG-1 and Sony A77 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view size comparison of the XG-1 versus the A77.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XG-1 and A77 is 66 and 59 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes only by reading through technical specs. The pic underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the XG-1 and A77.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The XG-1 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A77 will give more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The younger XG-1 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography factors
Sony A77 Portrait photography factors
40
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
77
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax XG-1
Street photography with Sony A77
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than competition (567g)
74
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proof
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Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A77 as a Sports photography camera
45
incredible zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (240 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
74
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather proof
has phase detect AF
low battery pack (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax XG-1
Travel photography with Sony A77
52
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (1248mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (240 shots)
heavier than competition (567 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
62
weather proof
megapixel count decent (24MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery pack (470 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A77 as a Landscape photography camera
45
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery life (240 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proof
low battery pack (470 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging details
Sony A77 Vlogging details
25
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
heavier than competition (567g)
76
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony A77
 Pentax XG-1Sony SLT-A77
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax XG-1 Sony SLT-A77
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2014-07-15 2011-10-25
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 16000
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 50
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-1248mm (52.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.6 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 200k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/250s
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, 24 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
Mic port
Headphone port
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 567g (1.25 lbs) 732g (1.61 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.2
DXO Low light score not tested 801
Other
Battery life 240 images 470 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LB-060 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch price $599 $900