Pentax RZ18 vs Sony HX90V

Its time to look more closely at the Pentax RZ18 and Sony HX90V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the RZ18 (16MP) and the HX90V (18MP) is pretty comparable and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The RZ18 was released 4 years earlier than the HX90V and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the RZ18 grades against the HX90V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax Optio RZ18 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V. The complete galleries are provided at Pentax RZ18 Gallery and Sony HX90V Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax RZ18 offers external 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 HX90V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check the Pentax RZ18 and Sony HX90V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the RZ18 versus the HX90V.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the RZ18 and HX90V is 92 and 91 respectively.

In many cases, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the RZ18 and HX90V.

As you can tell, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Sony HX90V to show more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older RZ18 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.