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Pentax X70

 
Pentax X70 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 50 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 410g - 110 x 83 x 90mm
  • Announced March 2009
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
71
Imaging
34
Features
34
Overall
34

Pentax X70 overview

Pentax X70 is Pentax's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera originally introduced on March of 2009. It houses a 12 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 4000 x 3000.

The X70 stands at #222 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & all-around #979 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can look at our Advanced camera filter to see camera ratings based on your customized requirements.

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The following is a chart of specific criteria used in the scoring system.

Pentax X70 history

The Pentax X70 is part of a family of digital cameras. You can view the full range underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Pentax-XG-1 front thumbnailPentax XG-1
X70 vs XG-1
24-1248mm
F2.8-5.6
16MP1/2.3"2014
Pentax-X-5 front thumbnailPentax X-5
X70 vs X-5
22-580mm
F3.1-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
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Pentax-X90 front thumbnailPentax X90
X70 vs X90
26-676mm
F2.8-5.0
12MP1/2.3"2010
Pentax-X70 front thumbnailPentax X7026-624mm
F2.8-5.0
12MP1/2.3"2009

Pentax X70 Pros and Cons

Below is a shortlist of upsides and downsides of the Pentax X70 based on aspects which are normally seen as useful in a digital camera.

flash built-in
focusing manually
great min ISO (50)
great zoom (624mm)
has phase detect auto focus
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
incredible zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
provides tracking autofocus
rather wide (26mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone support
does not have HDMI out
does not have headphone support
does not have Timelapse recording
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lacks RAW support
max zoom aperture not good (f5.0)
no external flash support
pixelated screen (230 thousand dots)
screen does not articulate
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
small sensor (1/2.3")
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
Photography Glossary

Pentax X70 Sensor info

The sensor specification in the Pentax X70 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels at aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). In body stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter can cause cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 12 megapixels and delivers a standard ISO range of 50 - 6400. Sadly, RAW files are not supported so the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The image underneath illustrates the X70's sensor dimensions compared to other popular sizes. The X70 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is displayed in green.

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To get an idea of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Pentax X70 dimensions

Pentax X70 has a weight of 0.90 lbs (410 grams / 14.46 ounces) & has outer size of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5"). The weight of general Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 grams so the Pentax X70 is very similar in comparison with other rivals.

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Down below is a image of the Pentax X70 with a softdrink to help you get a sense of its scale.

Pentax X70 dimensions scale

The top view just below will show you the button design on the X70.

Pentax X70 topview buttons dials

Pentax X70 Lens info

The X70 offers a fixed lens providing a focal range of 26-624mm giving it a 24.0 x zoom which is outstanding and would allow you to zoom all the way in.

At the widest 26mm, the lens has an aperture of f2.8 which will be fairly slow and not very good for low light events and you will likely find it difficult to get good bokeh. You might also have to raise the ISO setting which results in noisy photos. On the tele end, 624mm is amazing zoom and comes with f5.0 which is very slow and you might need to utilize slower shutter speeds.

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Pentax X70 Connectivity

The X70 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Cameras that include NFC or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be used wirelessly by smartphones. You will be able to send images and sometimes alter settings without the hassle of connecting directly to the camera.

A few applications even stream a Liveview and press the shutter in case you aren't near the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI port, it could be attached to an external screen. Almost all cameras enable you to recharge the battery with the USB port.

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Pentax X70 Video info

The highest video resolution in the Pentax X70 is 1280 x 720 and you can capture in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is awful for today's standards. You really should try to get a minimum 1080p resolution for decent video. The camera doesn't include a microphone or headphone jack so you get no control over the audio. It is perhaps a better idea to have a look at a different model if you require decent audio for your videos.

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Pentax X70 Weather Sealing

Pentax X70 doesn't include weather sealing so damp conditions might damage the camera.

Pentax X70 Screen and Viewfinder

The Pentax X70 is equipped with a 2.7 inch fixed screen boasting a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Please note that the screen has no touch support.

Pentax X70 screen and viewfinder Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The View Finder details for Pentax X70 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic

For sunny outdoor situations which make the camera screens washed out and hard to see, viewfinders can be very helpful.

Pentax X70 Shutter info

The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.

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Pentax X70 Flash and Hot shoe info

Pentax X70 has only in-built flash with no external flash ability.

Pentax X70 Autofocusing info

Pentax X70 has both Phase Detect Autofocus as well as Contrast Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier & precise when compared with Contrast Detect focusing.

The AF system supports 9 focus points to select from. It also boasts Tracking Autofocus for moving objects. Pentax X70 boasts manual focus if needed in low light conditions or you want to have more accurate focus control.

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Pentax X70 Battery life

The typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR comes with the highest (600) battery life in this range of cameras.

Underneath is a number of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras having the highest battery life:

Pentax X70 for varying styles of photography

The following graph gives a summation of the Pentax X70 for varying styles of photography. To check out more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Portrait photography with Pentax X70

The Pentax X70 has a rating of 28 which is subpar, and means the camera is just not very good to use for portrait photos. Photographing portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor resolution, support for RAW photos together with the flexibility to utilize external lighting.

Photography Glossary
you can focus manually
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format

Pentax X70 Street photography advice

Having a reasonable rating of 46, the Pentax X70 is somewhat adequate for street photography. A decent street photography camera provides a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.

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image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support

Pentax X70 Sports photography factors

A decent sports photography score of 50 indicates the Pentax X70 is relatively suited for photographing sports. A camera needs to have great autofocus plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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great zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")

Pentax X70 Travel photography info

Weight is very important in selecting a camera for travel. On the whole, the Pentax X70 gets a reasonable 52 for a travel camera which makes it somewhat suitable to purchase for your vacations.

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has built in flash
decently wide (26mm)
very long reach (624mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)

Pentax X70 Landscape photography features

For anybody planning to choose a camera for landscape photos, the most important aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Pentax X70 with it's subpar rating of 35 for a landscape camera is just not very good in the current market.

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you can focus manually
decently wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function

Pentax X70 Vlogging highlights

A vlogging camera should really posses a articulating display, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Pentax X70 is just not very good as a vlog camera as it delivers a subpar score of 24.

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fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic support

Pentax X70 Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the X70, below is a number of the top scored cameras which fall within the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The graph below gives you a bird's eye view of the X70 vs it's top rated competitors suggested previously.

Following are several cameras you might consider as alternative options. To read a thorough comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Pentax
Model
Pentax X70
Class
Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced
2009-03-02
Physical type
SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW data
Max native ISO
6400
Min native ISO
50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
26-624mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance
10cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
2.7 inches
Screen resolution
230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
4 secs
Highest shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
9.10 m
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
410 gr (0.90 pounds)
Physical dimensions
110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5")
Other
Battery model
D-LI92
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type
SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots
One
Cost at launch
$200