Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A850

Its time to take a deeper look at the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A850, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the RZ18 (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the RZ18 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The RZ18 was introduced 18 months later than the A850 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the RZ18 scores vs the A850 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Optio RZ18 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The whole galleries are viewable at Pentax RZ18 Gallery and Sony A850 Gallery.

For those who are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and size. The Pentax RZ18 has exterior dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Sony A850 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A850 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the RZ18 versus the A850.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the RZ18 and A850 is 92 and 54 respectively.

Usually, it's difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the RZ18 and A850.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The RZ18 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A850 will offer more detail using its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The younger RZ18 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.