• 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 112.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Pentax MX-1 advantages over Sony RX100 II

  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony RX100 II advantages over Pentax MX-1

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    1 inch vs 1/1.7 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 2.41 vs 1.90 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Better color depth
    22.5 vs 20.4 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    483 vs 208 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    12.4 vs 11.2 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 350 vs 290 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Thinner
    38 mm vs 51 mm
    Thinner
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Lighter weight
    281g vs 399g
    Lighter weight
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Less shutter lag
    0.15 vs 0.24 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.2 vs 12.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.6 fps vs 4.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Good image quality for a compact camera in its class; Sharp, bright f/1.8-2.5 lens with 4x optical zoom; Cool retro-styled design with brass top and bottom plates; Tilting LCD; Exposure compensation dial; Speedy and accurate autofocus; Full HD video recording.

  • Image detail starts dropping off noticeably above ISO 800, and noise becomes problematic at ISO 3200 and beyond; Sluggish cycle times and burst performance; Issues with purple fringing in some shooting scenarios; Heavier and larger than other cameras in its class.

  • New, 20.2MP, 1-inch type, backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor produces superb image quality, with particular improvements in low light and high ISO; 3-inch tilting rear LCD screen handy for composing shots from difficult angles; Fast all-around performer with quick autofocus and virtually no shutter lag; New, multi-interface hotshoe for adding a strobe or optional electronic viewfinder; Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC.

  • Bigger and heavier than previous model; More expensive than previous model; Reduced burst performance when shooting RAW files; Somewhat confusing menu structure and control layout; Wi-Fi features can be difficult to set up.

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX100

Pentax MX-1
Sony RX100
  • $400
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $1074
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $1074
  • 1 inch
  • Faster RAW shooting

Compared to Sony RX100 III

Pentax MX-1
Sony RX100 III
  • $400
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Faster shutter
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100 III
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Fast startup

Compared to Olympus XZ-2

Pentax MX-1
Olympus XZ-2
  • $400
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Shoots 60p video
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Hot shoe
Sony RX100 II
Olympus XZ-2
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Fast startup

Compared to Canon G15

Pentax MX-1
Canon G15
  • $400
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach
Sony RX100 II
Canon G15
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Canon G16

Pentax MX-1
Canon G16
  • $400
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Slower slow-motion
Sony RX100 II
Canon G16
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
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