Pentax X-5 review

Set to impress the bridge market with a gigantic zoom range

Pentax X-5
As a bridge camera, the 16 megapixel Pentax X-5 looks like a small DSR

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.

A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.

For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.

Here we compare the Pentax X-5 with the Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Canon PowerShot SX50 HS and Nikon Coolpix L810.

JPEG signal to noise ratio

Pentax X-5 review

These results show that JPEG images from the Pentax X-5 have the weakest signal to noise ratio of all the cameras here at low sensitivity settings. At ISO 400 and above, however, the Pentax climbs up the rankings, coming second to the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS and beating the Panasonic Lumix FZ200 and Nikon Coolpix L810.

JPEG dynamic range

Pentax X-5 review

JPEG results for dynamic range are more spread out than those for signal to noise ratio, with the Pentax X-5 again starting off weaker than the other cameras at ISO 100, before moving ahead of the Nikon Coolpix L810 at ISO 200-400. At ISO 800 and above, the Pentax also shows a greater dynamic range than the Panasonic Lumix FZ200, so that at mid and high sensitivities it's only behind the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS.

Latest in Bridge Cameras
Nikon Coolpix P1100 superzoom camera in the hand
Should you buy Nikon’s new Coolpix P1100? Here are 5 things you need to know about the updated 125x superzoom
Panasonic Lumix FZ80D/FZ82D
Panasonic Lumix FZ80D / FZ82D review: the bridge camera is back, but should it be?
Sony RX10 IV
'Very disappointing': Sony fans react to rumors that Cyber-shot RX10 IV bridge camera is ceasing production – and no successor is coming
Panasonic Lumix FZ80D bridge camera reflected on a gray background
Bridge cameras are back – Panasonic revives travel-friendly superzooms with surprise successor to our favorite cheap Lumix
Nikon P950
Nikon P950 review
Nikon P950
Nikon P950 is a 4K upgrade to its 83x zoom bridge camera
Latest in Reviews
A screenshot from The First Berserker: Khazan
I got absolutely destroyed by The First Berserker: Khazan’s bosses for hours on end and loved every second of it
The player holding a Shard Card in Fragpunk.
Competitive shooter Fragpunk wowed me with its game-changing Shard Cards, but I can't stand the aggressive monetization
Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank leaning on plinth on desk with pink background
I wouldn't take the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank on extreme adventures, but it's great for my basic traveling needs
VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank leaning on plinth on desk with pink background
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is one of the most stylish batteries I’ve seen, but it’s too slow for the price
Atomfall
I survived Atomfall’s testing countryside and became an ethically murky mercenary
HP OmniStudio X 31.5 all-in-one PC resting on a desk in between house plants
I spent a week testing the HP OmniStudio X 31.5, and while it's not the best choice for gaming, it is great for everyday computing