Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A290

Here is a thorough comparison of the Pentax RZ18 and Sony A290, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the RZ18 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the RZ18 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The RZ18 was brought out 16 months later than the A290 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the RZ18 matches up vs the A290 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax Optio RZ18 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax RZ18 Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax RZ18 provides external dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Pentax RZ18 and Sony A290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the RZ18 vs the A290.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the RZ18 and A290 is 92 and 66 respectively.

Quite often, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing purely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the RZ18 and A290.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The RZ18 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax RZ18 will show extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern RZ18 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.