Pentax X-5

Pentax X-5 is Pentax's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera first introduced on August of 2012. The camera includes a 16MP, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The X-5 is positioned #87 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and over-all #587 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should test our Advanced camera finder to get camera results based on your customized criteria.

Below is a chart of different factors used in the rating system.

The Pentax X-5 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Down below, you can view all older and the latest models as well as key features.

You can view the X-5 from different angles in the gallery here.

Here is a checklist of pluses and minuses of the Pentax X-5 based on aspects that are oftentimes considered important in a digital camera.

The sensor spec in the Pentax X-5 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9. The camera has got Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). In body stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization as the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 16 megapixels and features a standard ISO range of 100 - 6400. Sadly, RAW photos are not saved so the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The picture below displays the X-5's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The X-5 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is outlined in green.

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To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Pentax X-5 has a weight of 1.31 pounds (595 grams or 20.99 ounces) and features outside dimensions of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 grams so the Pentax X-5 is heavier than other rivals.

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Below is a visual of the Pentax X-5 next to a soft drink so you're able to have a sense of its size.

The top view here will show you the button design on the X-5.

The X-5 has got a built in lens with a focal range of 22-580mm giving it a 26.4 x zoom which is ideal and could allow you to zoom right in.

At it's widest 22mm, the lens provides an aperture of f3.1 which is pretty sluggish and not good in low light situations and you will find it hard to capture a shallow depth of field. You will also need to boost your ISO which results in noisy shots. With the long end, 580mm is phenomenal zoom and comes at f5.9 which is fairly slow and you may have to apply slower shutter speeds.

The X-5 has the following connectivity:

• USB Yes
• Wireless Yes
• HDMI Yes

Digital cameras which include NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You will be able to transfer images and oftentimes alter settings with no need to connect directly with the camera.

Many apps also provide a Liveview and hit the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it could be attached to an external monitor. A good number of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack through the USB port.

The max video quality in the Pentax X-5 is 1920 x 1080 and it can save in Motion JPEG file format. 1080p quality gives you an excellent balance between video quality and file size but 1080p isn't going to give you much room to crop. The body does not have a mic and / or headphone socket so you have got zero control over your sound. It is perhaps a better idea to get another camera in case you need better sound in your videos.

There is no environment sealing on the Pentax X-5 so you have to be careful in rainy or dusty conditions.

The Pentax X-5 includes a 3" tilting display with a resolution of 460k dots.

Sadly the display isn't a touch screen.

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The ViewFinder details regarding Pentax X-5 are the following:

• ViewFinder Electronic
• ViewFinder Resolution 230k dots

In those bright outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and tricky to view, viewfinders are particularly useful.

Pentax X-5 has the capability to shoot continuously at 10.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/1500 seconds.

Pentax X-5 has got just in-built flash without external flash support.

Pentax X-5 has got only Contrast Based AF and lacks Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is a lot snappier and precise than Contrast Based focusing. The camera includes Face detection which is valuable for portraits.

The Sensor includes 9 focus points to select from. It also includes Tracking AF for things on the move. Pentax X-5 includes manual focusing when needed during low light situations or you need more accurate focusing control.

The battery pack (4 x AA) on the Pentax X-5 is made to last for 330 clicks with respect to the CIPA specifications which is about the same as its rivals. The usual Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the maximum (600) battery life within this category of cameras.

Following is a collection of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras with the highest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth

Fujifilm HS35EXR
X-5 vs Fujifilm HS35EXR600 yesnono

Nikon B500
X-5 vs B500600 nonoyes

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Nikon L840
X-5 vs L840590 noyesno

Panasonic FZ200
X-5 vs FZ200540 yesnono

Leica V-Lux 4
X-5 vs V-Lux 4540 yesnono

The following bar chart provides a rundown of the Pentax X-5 for different styles of photography. To see more, browse to the specific section below.

The Pentax X-5 has a rating of 43 which is subpar, meaning that it is not really suitable for portraits. Photographing portraits leans heavily to sensor specs, RAW support together with the option to use off-camera lighting.

With a average rating of 50, the Pentax X-5 is reasonably suitable to use in street photography. A good street photography camera gives a good balance of picture quality plus portability.

A decent sports photography points total of 52 suggests the Pentax X-5 is somewhat suitable for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs excellent autofocus plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

Size is really important when selecting a travel camera. All things considered, the Pentax X-5 gets a reasonable 53 as a travel camera which is relatively suitable to take with you on your travels.

In case you're planning to purchase a camera for landscape pictures, the most vital aspect will be image quality. The Pentax X-5 with it's decent rating of 47 as a landscape camera is relatively acceptable compared to it's competitors.

A camera for vlogging should really have a articulating display screen, mic port and ideally image stabilization. Taking everything into account, the Pentax X-5 is not really suitable for vlogging as it receives a subpar score of 26.

If you are searching for alternatives to the X-5, here is a number of the highest scored cameras which fall into the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line graph here gives you a bird's eye view of the X-5 vs it's highest rated competitors suggested previously.

There are more cameras you might regard as alternatives. To go through a detailed comparison, go to the "compare" link.