- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How it compares
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Pentax X-5
- 15.9 MP
- 26x f/3.1
- 1/2.5" CMOS
- 3" LCD
Released September, 2012
Rated 100% by by Kalaab-M.-Pickering (Feb, 2013)Still, it's fun to play with, as I've gotten some great videos of my kid jumping on his bed.
Conclusion Check out the Pentax X-5
First reviewed September, 2012
Features Key features of the Pentax X-5
15.9 MP
1/2.5"
Rated 80% by by LA-in-N.C.--LA (Apr, 2013)The EVF is wonderful as I believe I get a better picture when I use it.
megapixels
| 0 MP | 13.8 MP    | 20 MP |
X-5 by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)The X-5 also offers a 16 megapixel sensor, 3-inch tilting LCD screen, 1080p HD movies and 10fps burst shooting.
X-5 by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 16 megapixel JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 4.5Mb.
sensor size
X-5 by James-G.-Towns--tech-corner (Feb, 2013)Plus, I photographed the full moon full frame and could see the craters.
X-5 by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)Thankfully for those looking to eschew use of a tripod a zoom of this size is supported by anti shake or rather Pentax's proprietary Shake Reduction, here of the CCD sensor shift variety, built-in gyro sensors detecting external wobble and vibrating the sensor horizontally and vertically at high speed to compensate.
wide angle lens
X-5 by James-G.-Towns--tech-corner (Feb, 2013)I zoomed in on a steeple with a clock (about 900mm) and could read all the numbers, where in the wide angle shot (22.5mm), you could not even see the steeple.
X-5 by Peti-G.--Peti-G. (Sep, 2012)A great camera that has the best color capturing I've seen in years, takes AA batteries, mega-zoom, wide angle, built-in-flash, easy to use.
aperture size
X-5 by James-G.-Towns--tech-corner (Feb, 2013)This is due, no doubt, to the camera software only providing 2 f-stops for pictures: wide open and about f-8.
X-5 by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)Adjacent settings on the same dial include a separate scene mode option for non-automatic selection, plus Program and Manual shooting modes, though there's no Aperture-priority or Shutter-prioirty options as you'd perhaps expect.
zoom range
| 0x | 26x   | 50x |
X-5 by Kalaab-M.-Pickering (Feb, 2013)You can maintain a high level of detail and control while zoomed in, and the twofold camera stabilizer works well to eliminate jitters at full zoom.
X-5 by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)The Pentax X-5 is a new super-zoom compact camera featuring a 26x image-stabilized zoom lens with a focal range of 22.3-580mm.
body size
119 x 86 x 107 mm
111 x 73 x 44 mm
104 x 70 x 80 mm
X-5 by Kalaab-M.-Pickering (Feb, 2013)In fact, the biggest factor that pushed me towards this camera and away from a DSLR is the portability and ease of carry.
Performance Real world tests of Pentax X-5
max continuous shooting
X-5 by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)Press this button and with a brief audio flourish the back screen bursts into life, lens extending to maximum wideangle setting ready for the first shot in just over a second - an impressive response by any standards.
X-5 by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)Also on offer are a 16 megapixel sensor, 1080p HD movies with an HDMI port, electronic viewfinder and a 3-inch tilting LCD screen, fully Manual shooting mode, 10fps burst shooting and a 1cm macro mode.
Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors
pros
-
22.3 mm -
HD video -
Gives you more flexibility when framing your shot -
Great for recording movies -
10 fps -
HD video -
10 mm
cons
-
No automatic 3D -
No automatic stitching -
No automatic HDR -
Lacks the ability to create slow motion video -
1/1500 s -
4 s -
107 mm -
119 x 86 x 107 mm
Reviews Word on the street
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 |  Rated by 29 users at amazon.com Rated 80% by by T.-Johnston--Terry-Jay (Sep, 2012) Rated 100% by by AZSailor (Dec, 2012) Rated 100% by by AZSailor (Dec, 2012) |
Lens
Pentax X-5 | Rated 80% by by T.-Johnston--Terry-Jay (Sep, 2012)While the size might put off some, remember you are getting a zoom lens that goes from 22.3mm to 580mm (in 35mm equivalent focal lengths).
Pentax X-5 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)So, while having such a broad focal range, equivalent to a wide-angle 22.3-580mm in 35mm terms, never fails to come in useful, do we still want another choice of camera that outwardly resembles an entry-level DSLR - yet isn't, in that among other things said lens cannot be swapped?
Pentax X-5 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)The Pentax X-5's 26x zoom lens provides a focal length of 22.3-580mm in 35mm terms, as demonstrated below.
Zoom
Pentax X-5 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)Wrap a finger around the zoom lever and that's also near instant in its response; in fact the zoom is so responsive and quick to race through the entirety of its range - just under three seconds from maximum wideangle to extreme telephoto, a timing more usually seen from humbler 10x zoom compacts - that precise control is tricky.
Pentax X-5 | Rated 80% by by T.-Johnston--Terry-Jay (Sep, 2012)All in all, if you are interested in a bridge camera with a long zoom range, you really can't beat the Pentax X-5.
Screen
Pentax X-5 | Rated 80% by by huntzip (Dec, 2012)I love the veiwfinder and tilting sreen- makes it so easy to use in bright sunlight.
Pentax X-5 | Rated 80% by by T.-Johnston--Terry-Jay (Sep, 2012)The LCD tilts nicely and solidly holds its place, no matter where it is positioned.
Pentax X-5 | Rated 100% by by Adrian (Apr, 2013)It's only up and down, so not totally as versatile as two axis LCD's but I feel 90% of photos can be taken using single axis only, and it's so much quicker taking photos than fiddling with everything and needing 2 hands to balance the camera and screen.
Sensor
Pentax X-5 | Rated 80% by by T.-Johnston--Terry-Jay (Sep, 2012)Unfortunately, though, the camera provides no RAW saving capability, but the JPG engine is quite good enough for me.
Pentax X-5 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)Light sensitivity is however respectably broad, stretching from ISO100 through ISO6400 and incrementally selectable with it.
Pentax X-5 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (Oct, 2012)Image quality isn't one of the X-5's stand-out highlights, with the typically-sized compact camera sensor inside suffering from obvious noise at relatively low ISO speeds, rather limiting the camera's versatility in low-light situations.
Video
Pentax X-5 | Rated 100% by by Kalaab-M.-Pickering (Feb, 2013)Video on this camera is respectable, but not amazing.
Competition What else you should consider
 | 1 | Fujifilm FinePix HS25 EXR Rated the best by consumers Fujifilm FinePix HS25 EXR vs Pentax X-5 |
 | 3 | Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Good benchmarked shot to shot times Canon PowerShot SX500 IS vs Pentax X-5 |
 | 4 | Nikon Coolpix L810 Highest resolution screen Nikon Coolpix L810 vs Pentax X-5 |
 | 5 | Fujifilm FinePix S4500 5-way tie: Has a viewfinder Fujifilm FinePix S4500 vs Pentax X-5 |
 | 6 | Fujifilm FinePix S4200 5-way tie: Automatic panorama Fujifilm FinePix S4200 vs Pentax X-5 |
New duel?
Let the battle continue or dare to compare.
Unanswered Questions
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December 3, 2012
Image Quality, outdoor shooting and general usage for a family.
I am getting a new camera for xmas, i dont have any previous experience with phrography but would like to start up, i like outdoor activities and would also use the camera with the family. Which...
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