CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
  • LENSES
  • TOOLS
    • Smart Find
    • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Size Comparison
  • BRANDS
    • Sony Cameras
    • Canon Cameras
    • Nikon Cameras
    • Pentax Cameras
    • Fujifilm Cameras
    • Olympus Cameras
    • Panasonic Cameras
    • Leica Cameras
    • Samsung Cameras
  • BODY TYPE
    • Mirrorless Cameras
    • DSLR Cameras
    • Compact Cameras
    • Bridge Cameras
    • Waterproof Cameras

Sony A100 vs Pentax X-5 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Sony A100

10 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) CCD Sensor

Sony A100
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Pentax X-5

16 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Pentax X-5
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Sony A100 vs Pentax X-5 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Sony A100, which was introduced in July 2006 is a Entry-Level DSLR camera with a 10.0MP APS-C sensor whereas Pentax X-5, which was introduced in August 2012 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, A100 is 6 years older than X-5. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing a DSLR camera to a Fixed Lens camera is not an easy task but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony A100 and Pentax X-5 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2006-07-31
  • 10MP - APS-C CCD Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 2.5" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder
  • 3 fps continuous shooting
  • No Video Mode
  • 638g. 133 x 95 x 71 mm
  • Replaced Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D Compare

Pentax X-5 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-08-22
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 22-580 mm F3.1-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 230k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 595g. 119 x 86 x 107 mm

Sony A100 was replaced by Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 vs Pentax X-5

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony A100 and Pentax X-5 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 over Pentax X-5
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Sensor Pixel Area
37.14µm2 vs 1.74µm2 2034% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Pentax X-5 over Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 10 MP 60% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 1.600 300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.5" 0.5 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
460k dots vs 230k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 3.0fps 7 fps faster
Weight
595 g vs 638 g 43 g lighter
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs None Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 and Pentax X-5
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Viewfinder
Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 and Pentax X-5
LCD Screen Resolution
230k dots vs 460k dots Low resolution screens
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing
No vs No Not good for multi-exposure HDR
Sony A100 vs Pentax X-5: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sony A100 and Pentax X-5 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A100 has external dimensions of 133 x 95 x 71 mm (5.24 x 3.74 x 2.8″) and weighs 638 g (1.41 lb / 22.50 oz) (including batteries). Pentax X-5 has external dimensions of 119 x 86 x 107 mm (4.69 x 3.39 x 4.21″) and weighs 595 g (1.31 lb / 20.99 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony A100 and Pentax X-5. Pentax X-5 is 14mm narrower and 9mm shorter than Sony A100 but it is also 36mm thicker. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Pentax X-5 has a built-in lens but Sony A100 doesn't. Once you put a lens on A100, its thickness will increase significantly.

Sony A100 vs Pentax X-5 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony A100 and Pentax X-5 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Pentax X-5 is 43g lighter than the Sony A100 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on A100, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 nor Pentax X-5 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Pentax X-5's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony A100's 2.5" screen.

In addition to the size advantage, Pentax X-5 LCD screen also has a Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Sony A100 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to X-5.
Sony A100 vs Pentax X-5: Sensor Comparison

Sony A100 has a 10.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Pentax X-5 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Pentax X-5's sensor provides 6MP more than Sony A100's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the A100 and X-5 sensor size comparison.

Sony A100 vs Pentax X-5 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A100 and Pentax X-5 Cameras


As seen above, Sony A100 has a 13.5x Larger sensor area than Pentax X-5. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Sony A100 and Pentax X-5 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A100 and Pentax X-5 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony A100 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax X-5 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Read the details

Sony A100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Pentax X-5 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Live-view
Large Body
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
22 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Sony A100 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Pentax X-5 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
580 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1500s
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Sony A100 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Pentax X-5 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Large Body
638g
Body Thickness 71mm
Read the details
26.4X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
595g
Body Thickness 107mm
Read the details

Sony A100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Pentax X-5 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
No Live-view
Read the details
22 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony A100 vs Pentax X-5: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sony A100 and Pentax X-5, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony A100 and Pentax X-5 scores compare:

Sony A100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #61 out of 79 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #495 out of 1226 in all Cameras
Pentax X-5
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #45 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #529 out of 1226 in all Cameras

Sony A100 scores higher than the Pentax X-5 thanks to its better general imaging quality, compact size and higher value for the money. On the other hand, Pentax X-5 has some extra features which may become a game changer if you have some specific requirements.
We recommend you to read our detailed Pro's and Con's section and see if any Pro of Pentax X-5 is a must-have for you. If not, choose the Sony A100.

Sony A100
Sony A100
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Pentax X-5
Pentax X-5
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Pentax X-5 vs Sony A100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 Pentax X-5
Brand Sony Pentax
Announced 2006-07-31 2012-08-22
Body Type Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type CCD BSI-CMOS
Size APS-C 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 23.6 x 15.8 mm 6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area 372.88mm2 27.72mm2
Megapixels 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 3872 x 2592 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 9 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens Focal Range no lens 22-580 mm (26×)
Max Aperture no lens F3.1-5.9
Macro Focus Range no lens 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 2.5" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 230k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 95% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.55x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/1500s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range n/a 9.10 m
Max Flash Sync 1/160s n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 3.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution None 1920 x 1080
Video Formats n/a Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 638g 595g
Dimensions 133 x 95 x 71mm 119 x 86 x 107mm
Battery Life n/a 330 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 61 not tested
DxO Color Depth 22.0 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 11.2 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 476 not tested
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Nikon Z7
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Sony A6000
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7 III
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Fujifilm X-T3
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R
30 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A6400
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Nikon D5600
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Nikon D850
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Top Rated DSLR Cameras
Top DSLR Cameras Under $500
Top DSLR Cameras Under $750
Top DSLR Cameras Under $1000
Top DSLR Cameras Under $1500
Top Rated Bridge Cameras
Top Bridge Cameras Under $200
Top Bridge Cameras Under $500
Top Bridge Cameras Under $750
Top Bridge Cameras Under $1000
Latest Cameras
Pentax K-m
10 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Pentax K-3 III
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Sigma fp L
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Fujifilm GFX 100S
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Fujifilm X-E4
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Sony a1
50 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Leica SL2-S
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Leica Q2 Monochrom
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Copyright © 2021 by CameraDecision
About Feedback Privacy Cameras

Report a Correction