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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5

Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released September 2011
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released June 2010
Photography Glossary

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the RZ18 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the RZ18 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") provide different sensor measurements.

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The RZ18 was released 16 months later than the HX5 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the RZ18 grades vs the HX5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony HX5

 RZ18 HX5 
ReleasedSeptember 2011June 2010More recent by 16 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Pentax RZ18

 HX5 RZ18 

Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Sony HX5

 RZ18 HX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax RZ18 enjoys physical measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the RZ18 versus the HX5.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the RZ18 and HX5 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements only by checking technical specs. The visual here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the RZ18 and HX5.

As you have seen, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The RZ18 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax RZ18 will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The fresher RZ18 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Portrait photography camera
36
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
19
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lighter than average (178g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Sports photography details
Sony HX5 Sports photography details
47
incredible zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax RZ18
Travel photography with Sony HX5
71
lighter than average (178g)
environment sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (450mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
60
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography info
Sony HX5 Landscape photography info
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
37
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax RZ18
Vlogging with Sony HX5
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (178 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RZ18 and Sony HX5
 Pentax Optio RZ18Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio RZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-09-12 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-450mm (18.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 4cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 2.80 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 178 gr (0.39 lbs) 200 gr (0.44 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $210 $275