Pentax RZ10 vs Sony WX350: A Compact Camera Face-Off for Enthusiasts and Pros

When it comes to compact cameras with superzoom capabilities, the choices abound, but very few models offer such an intriguing juxtaposition as the Pentax Optio RZ10 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350. Both were designed to deliver versatile zoom ranges within petite bodies, yet they aim their sights at slightly different user needs and expectations. Having spent countless hours on both under real-world shooting conditions, I find this comparison worth a deep dive - not just on paper, but through the lens of hands-on experience.

Let me walk you through all the essential aspects: from sensor technology and autofocus dynamics, to ergonomics and genre-specific suitability. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of which one deserves a spot in your camera bag - whether you’re a casual snapper craving versatility or a seasoned photographer needing a pocket-sized back-up.

Size, Build, and Usability: How Do They Handle in Your Hands?

If you’ve tried shooting with pocket-friendly superzooms, you know how vital ergonomics and controls are when you’re juggling focal lengths, settings, and fast moments. The Pentax RZ10 and Sony WX350 fall into the compact category but with different design philosophies.

Starting with the Pentax RZ10 - it’s modestly sized at 97 x 61 x 33 mm and weighs 178 grams. Its fixed lens spans a substantial 10x zoom range (28–280mm equivalent), packing versatility in a slightly blockier frame. The body feels a bit dated compared to modern compacts - the button layout is sparse, and the grip is shallow, demanding a careful hold. The RZ10 employs a 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCD screen with anti-reflective coating, which is serviceable though not especially sharp.

Contrast that with the Sony WX350, which is a more refined package - slightly thinner at 26 mm depth, marginally lighter at 164 grams, but also boasting a far longer 20x zoom (25-500mm equivalent). Sony’s engineering finesse shines through the camera’s ergonomic grip and overall smooth finish. The 3-inch LCD screen, with a much higher 460k-dot resolution, makes live-view framing and playback noticeably easier.

Neither camera offers a viewfinder, meaning you'll rely entirely on the rear LCD for composing your shots - something I generally find okay for casual use, but can become a downside under bright sunlight or for prolonged handheld shooting.

Looking from the top, controls are minimal on both: no dedicated manual exposure dials nor traditional shutter priority or aperture priority modes here. Hence, if you’re keen on full manual control, neither RZ10 nor WX350 will satisfy that desire.

In terms of build, the RZ10 carries an environmental sealing to resist dust and moisture - a rather unusual feature for entry compacts, granting a slight edge if you often shoot outdoors in varying conditions. The WX350 lacks any such sealing but makes up somewhat by being more lightweight and pocket-friendly.

Sensor and Image Quality: CCD vs BSI-CMOS and What it Means for Your Shots

The beating heart of any camera is its sensor. Here lies a critical difference worth unpacking.

The Pentax RZ10 is equipped with a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm, providing 14 megapixels of resolution. Its effective sensor area is about 27.7 mm², and it supports ISO sensitivities from 80 up to 6400. While CCD sensors used to be celebrated for their color rendering and low noise characteristics at base ISOs, they tend to lag behind modern CMOS types in low light performance and dynamic range.

On the other hand, the Sony WX350 sports a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with roughly the same physical dimensions (6.17 x 4.55 mm), but a notable bump in resolution with 18 megapixels. This sensor supports a broad native ISO range of 80 to 12,800, doubling the top sensitivity ceiling of the RZ10. Backside illumination (BSI) is a significant advantage here - it allows for better light gathering efficiency, which translates to improved noise control and image fidelity under dim conditions.

Now, in practical testing, while the RZ10 does deliver reasonably detailed images in good lighting, boosting ISO beyond 400 quickly introduces visible noise, and dynamic range is limited - shadows lose detail rapidly. The WX350 maintains cleaner images at ISO 800 and above, with more retained highlight and shadow details, thanks to better sensor design and more advanced image processing.

Color reproduction differs subtly: the Pentax leans a bit towards warmer, saturated hues - pleasant for portraits but sometimes a little off for natural landscapes. Sony’s color rendition is more neutral and versatile.

LCD and User Interface: Navigating Your Settings and Reviewing Shots

Since both cameras lack an optical or electronic viewfinder, the rear LCD becomes your shooting window.

The Pentax’s 2.7-inch LCD with 230k-dot resolution is adequate but feels somewhat coarse by today’s standards, especially for pinpoint focusing or checking fine details in your photos. Its anti-reflective coating helps in bright conditions, but the smaller screen size makes composing at telephoto awkward.

The Sony WX350’s 3-inch LCD provides a much crisper 460k-dot image - this not only improves composition but also enhances menu clarity and image playback.

Regarding interface, neither camera offers touchscreen control, but their menus are straightforward. The Pentax RZ10’s interface is a touch slower and less intuitive, likely reflecting its older software iterations. The Sony benefits from a more responsive system, although still limited to basic automatic and scene modes.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking in Action

Autofocus (AF) prowess is arguably the make-or-break feature when shooting wildlife, sports, or candid street shots - moments when the subject moves unpredictably.

Pentax chose a contrast-detection AF system with 9 focus points on the RZ10, including some multi-area detection and center-weighted options. The autofocus is single-mode only, with face detection absent entirely. During my testing, the AF performed reliably in good light but became noticeably sluggish when the subject moved or lighting dimmed. Tracking capability is limited, often losing focus on moving subjects and hunting for contrast in shadows. A single shot per second burst rate curtails capturing fast action sequences.

The Sony WX350 fares better with a contrast-detection AF that incorporates face detection and a center focus area. While the exact number of AF points is not specified, Sony’s implementation proved quicker to lock focus and more accurate in tracking faces, particularly in live-view mode. Continuous autofocus is unfortunately not supported, limiting its usefulness for tracking fast subjects, but the 10 fps burst rate offers some compensation to catch fast moments. I found this markedly advantageous when photographing children at play or street scenes with transient activity.

In dimmer conditions, both cameras’ AF systems struggle, but the WX350’s higher ISO capabilities help maintain faster focusing overall.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Versatility at Wide and Telephoto Ends

A highlight of these cameras, quite literally, is their zoom range.

The Pentax RZ10 offers a 10x zoom ranging from 28–280mm (35mm equivalent) with a maximum aperture spanning from f/3.2 at wide angle to f/5.9 at telephoto. This range covers popular focal lengths for portraits and general travel but falls short if you want to capture distant wildlife or sports action with a tighter reach.

The Sony WX350 almost doubles that zoom range with its 20x optic, shooting from a versatile 25mm ultra-wide to a substantial 500mm telephoto equivalent, with an aperture of f/3.5-6.5. This makes it a far more flexible choice for telephoto shooting - especially wildlife and sports - where longer reach is essential.

Both cameras feature built-in image stabilization: the Pentax with sensor-shift stabilization and the Sony employing optical stabilization. In practice, I found Sony’s optical stabilization slightly more effective, reducing blur at extended focal lengths, helping handheld telephoto shots stay sharp even at slower shutter speeds.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Types

Let’s break down how each camera holds up when put through its paces in specific photography genres you might pursue.

Portrait Photography

The Pentax RZ10 produces skin tones with warm and pleasant rendering, and its 28mm wide end facilitates environmental portraits. However, its lack of face detection autofocus, limited AF tracking, and slow burst rate hinder capturing fleeting expressions or fast movement. Its maximum aperture at 28mm and above isn’t especially bright for pronounced bokeh; expect moderate background separation only.

With the Sony WX350, you benefit from face detection AF and a wider maximum focal length reaching 500mm. While long telephoto isn’t typical for portraits, it allows tight headshots from a distance. The aperture isn’t particularly fast either, but combined with better AF, the Sony is generally more adaptable for casual portraits in varied conditions.

Landscape Photography

Landscape demands resolution, dynamic range, and often weather sealing for rugged environments.

The Sony options of wider aspect ratios like 3:2 alongside 4:3 and 16:9 provide framing choices favored by landscape shooters. Its BSI-CMOS sensor with better dynamic range preserves more scene detail in highlights and shadows.

The Pentax does offer environmental sealing, which could appeal if you shoot outdoors frequently under mist, drizzle, or dusty conditions. Still, its lower dynamic range and 14-megapixel CCD sensor compromise image detail and tonal richness.

Neither camera offers RAW shooting support, which limits post-processing flexibility for landscapes. You’ll want to shoot in good light and rely on JPEG output quality.

Wildlife and Sports

For fast-moving wildlife or sports, rapid autofocus and high continuous shooting rates are paramount.

The Sony WX350’s 10 fps burst speed and face detection AF give it a clear edge over the Pentax RZ10’s slow 1 fps continuous and more basic AF system. The 500mm reach dramatically extends your subject framing possibilities, while optical stabilization keeps images sharp handheld.

Pentax’s limited 280mm reach and slower AF make it less suited for these action genres, and the single shot burst rate can leave crucial moments untapped.

Street Photography

Discretion and portability rule here. Both cameras are compact, but the WX350’s thinner body and lighter weight make it easier to carry unnoticed.

The RZ10’s environmental sealing might lend some confidence shooting in urban rain. But the Sony’s faster AF and burst rate facilitate street candids better.

Neither camera sports a quiet shutter, so both might attract notice.

Macro Photography

Pentax claims a minimum focus distance as close as 1 cm, which theoretically allows capture of very close macro shots. In practice, lens sharpness and stabilization matter more. The sensor-shift stabilization helps the RZ10 minimize shake in close-up shots.

Sony doesn't specify minimum macro distance but generally handles moderate close-ups well.

Night and Astro Photography

Shooting in low light demands high ISO performance and long shutter speeds.

The WX350’s BSI-CMOS sensor and ISO 12800 rating dramatically outperform the Pentax CCD’s ISO max of 6400. I found Sony images cleaner and with less color noise at elevated ISO levels.

Neither camera offers bulb mode or manual exposure controls, which limits their usefulness for astrophotography.

Video Capabilities

For videographers, the two cameras again display significant differences.

The Pentax RZ10 shoots up to 1280x720 HD at 30fps using Motion JPEG, which is an older and less efficient codec yielding larger file sizes and lower quality compared to modern codecs.

The Sony WX350 records Full HD 1920x1080 video at 60p or 60i, using AVCHD and MP4 codecs - allowing crisper, smoother motion suitable for casual video projects. It also includes HDMI output for monitoring.

Neither camera features external microphone inputs or headphone jacks, so audio options are limited.

Travel and Everyday Use

For travel, battery life, size, and sensor versatility matter.

Sony’s WX350 shines with an impressive 470-shot battery life versus Pentax’s modest 178 shots. That almost triples the endurance and reduces the need for spares.

The WX350’s slimmer profile and longer zoom make it a stellar all-in-one travel companion. Pentax’s environmental sealing gives some edge on durability under adverse weather.

Technical Summaries: Connectivity and File Formats

Both cameras use SD card storage but the Sony adds support for SDXC and proprietary Memory Stick formats, increasing flexibility.

Neither offers RAW image capture - a drawback for those wanting extensive post-processing.

Connectivity options are limited: Pentax offers Eye-Fi SD card compatibility for wireless transfers, while Sony sports built-in Wi-Fi for more straightforward direct transfer to smartphones or tablets. USB 2.0 ports are standard on both.

No Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, or advanced wireless features exist here.

Final Scorecard and Value Assessment

The overall takeaway is this: The Sony WX350 is a more modern, versatile, and capable compact zoom, excelling in autofocus speed, zoom reach, video quality, battery life, and low light performance. The sensor technology and interface improvements translate into better image quality and shooting experience for the majority of users.

The Pentax RZ10, while sporting an interesting environmental seal and a unique warm color palette from its CCD sensor, strongly trails behind in technological advancements and performance benchmarks. Its limited continuous shooting and autofocus systems, older video specs, and lower battery life make it suitable primarily for budget-minded buyers or those specifically needing weather resistance in a compact design.

Pentax RZ10 front Pentax RZ10 screen back Sony WX350 front Sony WX350 screen back

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

• If your priority is ultimate zoom reach, longer battery life, improved video recording, and faster autofocus for action or travel shooting, I recommend the Sony WX350 without hesitation.

• If you primarily want a small, budget-friendly compact with solid environmental sealing for occasional outdoor use, and you prefer warmer portrait tones over cutting-edge tech, the Pentax RZ10 remains a decent entry-level option, but bear the limitations in mind.

To summarize, both cameras serve overlapping niches but cater to different photography habits. The WX350 embodies the modern compact superzoom ethos, while the RZ10 reflects a bygone era with some distinctive strengths but important compromises.

Always consider your primary photography use cases and workflow needs when choosing. And if video or low-light shooting figures in your plans, Sony’s WX350 will likely be the more satisfying companion.

If you found this comparison practical, be sure to check out my dedicated video review showcasing side-by-side real-world shooting samples and settings walk-throughs.

Happy shooting!