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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5R
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Lets look much closer at the Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the RS1500 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is pretty comparable but the RS1500 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The RS1500 was launched 6 months before the NEX-5N and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the RS1500 grades vs the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Sony NEX-5N

 RS1500 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Pentax RS1500

 NEX-5N RS1500 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax RS1500 and Sony NEX-5N

 RS1500 NEX-5N 
AnnouncedMarch 2011October 2011Same generation
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax RS1500 enjoys exterior dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the RS1500 against the NEX-5N.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the RS1500 and NEX-5N is 93 and 89 respectively.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by seeing specifications. The pic below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the RS1500 and NEX-5N.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The RS1500 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures way more aggressively.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography information
35
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Street photography advice
54
weather proofing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
offers touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography highlights
37
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
58
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography information
67
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
70
great battery (460 CIPA)
offers touch focus
resolution is good (16MP)
no Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax RS1500
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
40
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
71
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
great battery (460 shots)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RS1500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
25
rather wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
33
has touchscreen
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no external microphone jack
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RS1500 and Sony NEX-5N
 Pentax Optio RS1500Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio RS1500 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-03-16 2011-10-03
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-110mm (3.9x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157g (0.35 pounds) 269g (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 260 photos 460 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $150 $550