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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380

Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 Key Specs

Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced September 2011
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A350
  • Successor is Sony A390
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the RZ18 (16MP) and the A380 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the RZ18 (1/2.3") and A380 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The RZ18 was introduced 2 years later than the A380 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short overview of how the RZ18 matches up versus the A380 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony A380

 RZ18 A380 
IntroducedSeptember 2011August 2009Fresher by 25 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Pentax RZ18

 A380 RZ18 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Sony A380

 RZ18 A380 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax RZ18 offers 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) whilst the Sony A380 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Check out the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the RZ18 compared to the A380.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the RZ18 and A380 is 92 and 68 respectively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing just by looking at specifications. The visual here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the RZ18 and A380.

Plainly, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The RZ18 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Pentax RZ18 will give you extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher RZ18 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography info
Sony A380 Portrait photography info
36
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
71
focusing manually
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Street photography advice
Sony A380 Street photography advice
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than average in class (178g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
76
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A380 as a Sports photography camera
47
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
59
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
bad battery pack (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Travel photography features
Sony A380 Travel photography features
71
lighter than average in class (178g)
environment proof
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
53
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (500 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography details
Sony A380 Landscape photography details
49
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse function
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
bad battery pack (500 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A380 as a Vlogging camera
30
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (178g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
9
no video recording
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RZ18 and Sony A380
 Pentax Optio RZ18Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio RZ18 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-09-12 2009-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-450mm (18.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 2.80 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 178g (0.39 lb) 519g (1.14 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 614
Other
Battery life - 500 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $210 $899