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Pentax X90 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Pentax X90

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    Main Features

    • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
    • ISO 80 - 6400
    • 26-676 mm F2.8-5.0 Zoom Lens
    • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
    • 2.7" Fixed Type Screen
    • Electronic viewfinder
    • continuous shooting
    • HD - 1280 x 720 video
    • 428g. 111 x 85 x 110 mm
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Pentax X90 Overview

    First introduced in July 2010 , Pentax X90 is a 12.0MP Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 26-676 mm F2.8-5.0 lens.

    Pentax X90 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Pentax X90 has an Overall Score of 42/100 and ranked #81 out of 113 in DSLR-Like cameras (Top 10 Bridge), and ranked #684 out of 1223 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Pentax X90 Physical Specs
    Pentax X90 weighs 428 g (0.94 lb / 15.10 oz) and has external dimensions of 111 x 85 x 110 mm (4.37 x 3.35 x 4.33″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR-Like type cameras is 591g, Pentax X90 is a remarkably light camera for its class. With a thickness of 110mm, it has an average thickness for its class.
    Weight Comparison

    DSLR-Like Cameras

    Pentax X90
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    DSLR-Like Cameras

    Pentax X90
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Pentax X90 with the dimensions:

    Pentax X90 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Pentax X90 Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Pentax X90, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Pentax X90 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Pentax X90 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery


    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Pentax X90 with its main competitors:

    Pentax X90 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs X90 Thickness vs X90
    Pentax X90 Camera Pentax X-5
    Compare
    595g 167g heavier 107mm 3mm thinner
    Pentax X90 Camera Nikon P900
    Compare
    899g 471g heavier 137mm 27mm thicker
    Pentax X90 Camera Pentax X70
    Compare
    410g 18g lighter 90mm 20mm thinner
    Pentax X90 Camera Olympus E-M10 III
    Compare
    410g 18g lighter 50mm 60mm thinner
    Pentax X90 Camera Pentax K100D S
    Compare
    646g 218g heavier 71mm 39mm thinner
    Pentax X90 Camera Canon 450D
    Compare
    524g 96g heavier 62mm 48mm thinner
    Pentax X90 Camera Panasonic FZ200
    Compare
    588g 160g heavier 110mm equal thickness
    Pentax X90 Camera Canon SX540 HS
    Compare
    442g 14g heavier 92mm 18mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Pentax X90 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Pentax X90 Sensor and Photography Features

    Pentax X90 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Prime processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. X90 has a native ISO range of 80 - 6400 but unfortunately, Pentax X90 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a DSLR-Like camera with a RAW support, consider FujiFilm FinePix HS10 (FinePix HS11) or Kodak EasyShare Z990 (EasyShare Max) in the same price range.

    Pentax X90 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Pentax X90 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Bridge cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Pentax X90's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Pentax X90 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Pentax X90 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Pentax X90 Lens

    Pentax X90 features a 26-676 mm F2.8-5.0 26× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 26mm and remarkable super telephoto reach at 676mm.

    Wide Coverage

    DSLR-Like Cameras

    X90
    Widest - Samsung WB2200F
    Average
    Telezoom

    DSLR-Like Cameras

    X90
    Longest - Nikon P1000
    Average

    With a max aperture of f2.80, this lens is fast on wide end, but only moderately fast at the tele end with max aperture of f5.00.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    DSLR-Like Cameras

    X90
    Fastest - Sony RX10 III
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    DSLR-Like Cameras

    X90
    Fastest - Olympus 1
    Average

    X90 is also equipped with Sensor-shift image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Pentax X90's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.



    Pentax X90 LCD and Viewfinder

    Pentax X90 has a Fixed Type 2.7" LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.7", the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.



    Pentax X90 back view and LCD

    X90 has a built-in Electronic viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor.

    Pentax X90 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    You can connect X90 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Pentax X90 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Pentax X90 Camera Pentax X-5
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots No No No
    Pentax X90 Camera Nikon P900
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 360shots Yes Yes Yes
    Pentax X90 Camera Pentax X70
    Compare
    1280 x 720 shots No No No
    Pentax X90 Camera Olympus E-M10 III
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 330shots Yes No No
    Pentax X90 Camera Pentax K100D S
    Compare
    None shots No No No
    Pentax X90 Camera Canon 450D
    Compare
    None shots No No No
    Pentax X90 Camera Panasonic FZ200
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 540shots No No No
    Pentax X90 Camera Canon SX540 HS
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 205shots Yes No Yes

    Pentax X90 Video Features

    With Pentax X90, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30,15 fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

    X90 has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker.
    Pentax X90 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a DSLR-Like camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

    Pentax X90 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Pentax X90 can shoot continuously at max speed of and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately X90 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Pentax X90 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

    Pentax X90 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Pentax X90 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Image Stabilization
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    1/4000s High Shutter Speed
    Manual Focusing
    Manual Exposure
    26mm Wide Angle Lens
    676mm Good Tele Lens
    26.0X Optical Zoom
    Fast 2.80 Lens at Wide
    Report a correction

    Buy Pentax X90 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    No RAW Shooting
    No Face Detection Focusing
    Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    Only 9 Focus Points
    Small LCD Screen ( 2.7")
    Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )
    Heavy Body: 428
    No Environmental Sealing
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.00
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Pentax X90 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Pentax X90 in 5 different photography areas.

    Pentax X90 for Portrait Photography

    Pentax X90 has a score of 41 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Image Stabilization
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    Manual Focus Mode
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    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 of how we scored Pentax X90 for Portrait Photography

    Pentax X90 for Street Photography

    Pentax X90 has a score of 69 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Bridge Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    Manual Focus Mode
    Live-view
    Image Stabilization
    Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
    26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Medium sized Body
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax X90 for Street Photography

    Pentax X90 for Sports Photography

    Pentax X90 has a score of 48 for Sports Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Sports is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Sports Photography list.
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    Image Stabilization
    676 mm Tele Lens
    Average Ergonomics&Handling
    Environmental Sealings
    9 Focus Points
    No External Flash Shoe
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax X90 for Sports Photography

    Pentax X90 for Daily Photography

    Pentax X90 has a score of 53 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    26.0X Optical Zoom
    Medium size Body
    428g
    Body Thickness 110mm
    Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax X90 for Daily Photography

    Pentax X90 for Landscape Photography

    Pentax X90 has a score of 27 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theX90.
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax X90 for Landscape Photography
    Pentax X90 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Pentax X90 compares with other DSLR-Like cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Pentax X90 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Pentax X90

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Pentax X90 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Pentax X-5
    Pentax X-5
    Compare
    Nikon P900
    Nikon P900
    Compare
    Pentax X70
    Pentax X70
    Compare
    Olympus E-M10 III
    Olympus E-M10 III
    Compare
    Pentax K100D S
    Pentax K100D S
    Compare
    Canon 450D
    Canon 450D
    Compare
    Panasonic FZ200
    Panasonic FZ200
    Compare
    Canon SX540 HS
    Canon SX540 HS
    Compare

    Pentax X90 Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Pentax X90 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Pentax X90's price range.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Pentax X90
    Does the Pentax X90 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Pentax X90 have RAW support?
    Does the Pentax X90 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Pentax X90 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Pentax X90?
    What is the Sensor Size of Pentax X90?
    is the Pentax X90 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Pentax X90 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Pentax X90 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Pentax X90?
    What is the Weight of Pentax X90?
    What are the Dimensions of Pentax X90?
    Pentax X90 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Pentax
    Model Pentax X90
    Announced 2010-07-06
    Body Type SLR-like (bridge)
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Number of Lenses
    Lens Focal Range 26-676 mm (26×)
    Max Aperture F2.8-5.0
    Macro Focus Range 1cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Size 2.7"
    Screen Resolution 230k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Electronic
    Viewfinder Resolution n/a
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 4s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting n/a
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 9.10 m
    Flash Modes n/a
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CCD
    Sensor Size 1/2.3-inch
    Sensor Dimensions 6.08 x 4.56 mm
    Sensor Area 27.72mm2
    Sensor Resolution 12 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4000 x 3000
    Max Native ISO 6,400
    Min Native ISO 80
    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
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720
    Video Formats Motion JPEG
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 428g
    Physical Dimensions 111 x 85 x 110mm
    Battery Model D-L106
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC, Internal
    Storage Slots 1


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