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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5T

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
79
Overall
65

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5T Key Specs

Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
Sony NEX-5T
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5T Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Pentax RS1500 and Sony NEX-5T, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the RS1500 (14MP) and the NEX-5T (16MP) is very well matched but the RS1500 (1/2.3") and NEX-5T (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The RS1500 was brought out 3 years before the NEX-5T which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the RS1500 matches up against the NEX-5T for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

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

 RS1500 NEX-5T 

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

 NEX-5T RS1500 
RevealedAugust 2013March 2011More modern by 29 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 RS1500 NEX-5T 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5T Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax RS1500 offers physical measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5T has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax RS1500 and Sony NEX-5T in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the RS1500 against the NEX-5T.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5T size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the RS1500 and NEX-5T is 93 and 89 respectively.

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

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5T Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at specifications. The picture underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the RS1500 and NEX-5T.

To sum up, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The RS1500 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony NEX-5T will give greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged RS1500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5T sensor size comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Portrait photography camera
35
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
74
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-5T Street photography advice
54
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5T Sports photography highlights
37
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
68
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Travel photography camera
67
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
77
includes touch to focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-5T Landscape photography info
40
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-5T Vlogging info
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
73
selfie friendly display
touch screen
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic support
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-5T Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RS1500 and Sony NEX-5T
 Pentax Optio RS1500Sony Alpha NEX-5T
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio RS1500 Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-03-16 2013-08-27
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 99
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-110mm (3.9x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 7.00 m (ISO100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157 grams (0.35 lb) 276 grams (0.61 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1015
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 330 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $150 $400