Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5
92 Imaging
38 Features
37 Overall
37
89 Imaging
53 Features
58 Overall
55
Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs
(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
(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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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.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe 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 Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio RZ18 & Sony Alpha NEX-5. The full galleries are viewable at Pentax RZ18 Gallery & Sony NEX-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony NEX-5
| RZ18 | NEX-5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | September 2011 | June 2010 | More recent by 16 months |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Pentax RZ18
| NEX-5 | RZ18 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting display | |
| Display resolution | 920k | 460k | Crisper display (+460k dot) |
Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Sony NEX-5
| RZ18 | NEX-5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | More exact focus | |||
| Display sizing | 3" | 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.
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.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the RZ18 and NEX-5 is 92 and 89 respectively.
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 Screen and ViewFinder
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications
| Pentax Optio RZ18 | Sony 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 |