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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
58
Overall
55

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Revealed September 2011
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5N
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Pentax RZ18 versus Sony NEX-5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the RZ18 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly similar but the RZ18 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The RZ18 was unveiled 16 months later than the NEX-5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the RZ18 scores against the NEX-5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony NEX-5

 RZ18 NEX-5 
RevealedSeptember 2011June 2010More recent by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Pentax RZ18

 NEX-5 RZ18 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Sony NEX-5

 RZ18 NEX-5 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax RZ18 features external dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check out the Pentax RZ18 versus Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the RZ18 and the NEX-5.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the RZ18 and NEX-5 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the RZ18 and NEX-5.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The RZ18 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax RZ18 will offer greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The fresher RZ18 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography information
36
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5 Street photography info
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lighter than competition in class (178g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography advice
46
excellent zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
51
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax RZ18
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5
71
lighter than competition in class (178g)
environment sealing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (450mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
59
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography information
49
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
environment sealing
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
67
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging features
30
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (178g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
missing external microphone socket
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RZ18 and Sony NEX-5
 Pentax Optio RZ18Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio RZ18 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-09-12 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-450mm (18.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 2.80 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 178 grams (0.39 pounds) 287 grams (0.63 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 69
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 796
Other
Battery life - 330 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $210 $599