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Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A7 III

The Pentax MX-1 and the Sony Alpha A7 III are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in January 2013 and February 2018. The MX-1 is a fixed lens compact, while the A7 III is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/1.7-inch (MX-1) and a full frame (A7 III) sensor. The Pentax has a resolution of 12 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Pentax MX-1
versus
Sony A7 III
Pentax MX-1   Sony A7 III
Fixed lens compact camera Mirrorless system camera
28-112mm f/1.8-2.5 Sony E mount lenses
12 MP – 1/1.7" sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
No viewfinder, LCD framing Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
3.0" LCD – 920k dots 3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Tilting touchscreen
1 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
290 shots per battery charge610 shots per battery charge
122 x 61 x 51 mm, 391 g 127 x 96 x 74 mm, 650 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Pentax MX-1 and the Sony Alpha A7 III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Pentax MX-1 and the Sony A7 III is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A7 III
Compare MX-1 versus A7 III top
Comparison MX-1 or A7 III rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A7 III is considerably larger (64 percent) than the Pentax MX-1. It is noteworthy in this context that the A7 III is splash and dust-proof, while the MX-1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the MX-1 has a lens built in, whereas the A7 III is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the A7 III and their specifications in the Sony FE Lens Catalog.

The power pack in the A7 III can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Pentax MX-1 122 mm 61 mm 51 mm 391 g 290 n Jan 2013 499ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 Y Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon G16 109 mm 76 mm 40 mm 356 g 360 n Aug 2013 549ebay.com
4.
 
Canon S120 100 mm 59 mm 29 mm 217 g 230 n Aug 2013 449ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G15 107 mm 76 mm 40 mm 352 g 350 n Sep 2012 499ebay.com
6.
 
Fujifilm X30 119 mm 72 mm 60 mm 423 g 470 n Aug 2014 599ebay.com
7.
 
Fujifilm X20 117 mm 70 mm 57 mm 353 g 270 n Jan 2013 599ebay.com
8.
 
Fujifilm X10 117 mm 70 mm 57 mm 350 g 270 n Sep 2011 599ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon Z6 134 mm 101 mm 67 mm 675 g 310 Y Aug 2018 1,999ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon P7800 119 mm 78 mm 50 mm 399 g 350 n Sep 2013 549ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus Stylus 1 116 mm 87 mm 57 mm 402 g 410 n Oct 2013 699ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus XZ-2 113 mm 65 mm 48 mm 346 g 340 n Sep 2012 599ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic LF1 103 mm 62 mm 28 mm 192 g 250 n Apr 2013 499ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7R IV 129 mm 96 mm 78 mm 665 g 670 Y Jul 2019 3,499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7R III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A9 127 mm 96 mm 63 mm 673 g 650 Y Apr 2017 4,499ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 Y Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The MX-1 was launched at a lower price than the A7 III, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Pentax MX-1 features a 1/1.7-inch sensor and the Sony A7 III a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A7 III is 1870 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 4.5 and 1.0. The sensor in the MX-1 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A7 III offers a 3:2 aspect.

Pentax MX-1 and Sony A7 III sensor measures

With 24MP, the A7 III offers a higher resolution than the MX-1 (12MP), but the A7 III nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 1.89μm for the MX-1) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A7 III is a much more recent model (by 5 years and 1 month) than the MX-1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A7 III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A7 III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Pentax MX-1 are 20 x 15 inches or 50.8 x 38.1 cm for good quality, 16 x 12 inches or 40.6 x 30.5 cm for very good quality, and 13.3 x 10 inches or 33.9 x 25.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A7 III has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Pentax MX-1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7 III are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

In terms of underlying technology, the MX-1 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the A7 III uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

MX-1 versus A7 III MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the A7 III offers substantially better image quality than the MX-1 (overall score 47 points higher). The advantage is based on 4.6 bits higher color depth, 3.4 EV in additional dynamic range, and 4.2 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Pentax MX-1 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/30p20.411.320849
2.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
3.
 
Canon G16 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/60p21.011.723054
4.
 
Canon S120 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/60p21.311.924656
5.
 
Canon G15 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/24p19.911.516546
6.
 
Fujifilm X30 2/3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p20.411.2-31249
7.
 
Fujifilm X20 2/3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p20.110.9-46246
8.
 
Fujifilm X10 2/3 12.0 4000 30001080/30p20.511.324550
9.
 
Nikon Z6 Full Frame 24.3 6048 40244K/30p25.314.3329995
10.
 
Nikon P7800 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/30p21.211.720054
11.
 
Olympus Stylus 1 1/1.7 11.8 3968 29761080/30p20.711.617951
12.
 
Olympus XZ-2 1/1.7 11.8 3968 29761080/30p20.411.321649
13.
 
Panasonic LF1 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.811.621152
14.
 
Sony A7R IV Full Frame 60.2 9504 63364K/30p26.014.8334499
15.
 
Sony A7R III Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
16.
 
Sony A9 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.913.3351792
17.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the A7 III provides a better video resolution than the MX-1. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Pentax is limited to 1080/30p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A7 III has an electronic viewfinder (2359k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the MX-1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Pentax MX-1 and Sony A7 III in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Pentax MX-1none n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/8000s 1.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Sony A7 III2359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
3.
 
Canon G16optical n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 2.2/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon S120none n3.0 / 922 fixed Y 1/2000s 12.1/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon G15optical n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 2.1/s Y Y
6.
 
Fujifilm X302360 n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Fujifilm X20optical n2.8 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Fujifilm X10optical n2.8 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Nikon Z63690 Y3.2 / 2100 tilting Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
10.
 
Nikon P7800921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 8.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Olympus Stylus 11440 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 7.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Olympus XZ-2optional n3.0 / 920 tilting Y 1/2000s 5.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Panasonic LF1200 n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Sony A7R IV5760 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
15.
 
Sony A7R III3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
16.
 
Sony A93686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
17.
 
Sony A7 II2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The MX-1 has one, while the A7 III does not. While the built-in flash of the MX-1 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A7 III is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Sony A7 III has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The MX-1 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A7 III uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A7 III features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the MX-1 only has one slot. The A7 III supports UHS-II cards on its first slot and UHS-I on its second one, while the MX-1 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Pentax MX-1 and Sony Alpha A7 III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Pentax MX-1-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Sony A7 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
3.
 
Canon G16Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
4.
 
Canon S120-stereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
5.
 
Canon G15Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
6.
 
Fujifilm X30Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
7.
 
Fujifilm X20Ystereo / mono--micro2.0---
8.
 
Fujifilm X10Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Nikon Z6Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.1Y-Y
10.
 
Nikon P7800Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
11.
 
Olympus Stylus 1Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
12.
 
Olympus XZ-2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic LF1-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony A7R IVYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
16.
 
Sony A9Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
17.
 
Sony A7 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the A7 III offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the MX-1 does not provide wifi capability.

The A7 III is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the MX-1 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the MX-1 from Pentax. Further information on the features and operation of the MX-1 and A7 III can be found, respectively, in the Pentax MX-1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A7 III Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Pentax MX-1 better than the Sony A7 III or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Advantages of the Pentax MX-1:

  • Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the A7 III requires a separate lens.
  • More compact: Is smaller (122x61mm vs 127x96mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the A7 III).
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2013).

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Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A7 III:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 12MP), which boosts linear resolution by 44%.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (47 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (4.6 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (3.4 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (4.2 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 1 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (610 versus 290) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II and UHS-I) SDXC cards.
  • More modern: Reflects 5 years and 1 month of technical progress since the MX-1 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A7 III is the clear winner of the contest (26 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

MX-1 06:26 A7 III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Pentax MX-1 and the Sony A7 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the MX-1 or the A7 III. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Pentax MX-13/5....74/1004/54/5 Jan 2013 499ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon G164/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2013 549ebay.com
4.
 
Canon S120..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2013 449ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G154/5+..76/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 499ebay.com
6.
 
Fujifilm X304/5....76/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2014 599ebay.com
7.
 
Fujifilm X204/5+ +..77/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2013 599ebay.com
8.
 
Fujifilm X10......76/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2011 599ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon Z65/5..5/589/1004.5/55/5 Aug 2018 1,999ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon P78003/5......4/54.5/5 Sep 2013 549ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus Stylus 1..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 699ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus XZ-24/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 599ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic LF13/5+....4/54.5/5 Apr 2013 499ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7R IV5/5+4.5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2019 3,499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7R III..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A95/5+ +4.8/589/1005/55/5 Apr 2017 4,499ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A7 III

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Pentax MX-1 Sony A7 III
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens 28-112mm f/1.8-2.5 Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date January 2013 February 2018
    Launch Price USD 499 USD 1,999
    Sensor Specs Pentax MX-1 Sony A7 III
    Sensor Technology CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/1.7" Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 7.6 x 5.7 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
    Sensor Area 43.32 mm2 847.28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 9.5 mm 42.8 mm
    Crop Factor 4.5x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4000 x 3000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.89 μm 5.94 μm
    Pixel Density 27.70 MP/cm2 2.83 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12,800 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 50 - 204,800 ISO
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 49 96
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 20.4 25.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.3 14.7
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 208 3730
    Screen Specs Pentax MX-1 Sony A7 III
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2359k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 920k dots 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Pentax MX-1 Sony A7 III
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 1 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-ShutterYES
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support no Single UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Pentax MX-1 Sony A7 III
    External Flash no Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.1
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Pentax MX-1 Sony A7 III
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Pentax D-LI106 Sony NP-FZ100
    Battery Life (CIPA)290 shots per charge610 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 122 x 61 x 51 mm
    (4.8 x 2.4 x 2.0 in)
    127 x 96 x 74 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9 in)
    Camera Weight 391 g (13.8 oz) 650 g (22.9 oz)
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    Check MX-1 offers at
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    Check A7 III price at
    amazon.com

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