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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100

Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100 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
  • Launched September 2011
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Pentax RZ18 versus Sony S2100, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the RZ18 (16MP) and S2100 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The RZ18 was launched 21 months later than the S2100 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the RZ18 matches up against the S2100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony S2100

 RZ18 S2100 
LaunchedSeptember 2011January 2010Fresher by 21 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Pentax RZ18

 S2100 RZ18 

Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Sony S2100

 RZ18 S2100 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax RZ18 comes with physical dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Sony S2100 has dimensions of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Pentax RZ18 versus Sony S2100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the RZ18 against the S2100.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the RZ18 and S2100 is 92 and 93 respectively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the RZ18 and S2100.

Clearly, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Pentax RZ18 to deliver more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The fresher RZ18 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography features
Sony S2100 Portrait photography features
36
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
21
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Street photography information
Sony S2100 Street photography information
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competition (178 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
46
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax RZ18
Sports photography with Sony S2100
47
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Travel photography highlights
Sony S2100 Travel photography highlights
71
lighter than competition (178 grams)
environment proof
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
50
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax RZ18
Landscape photography with Sony S2100
49
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
27
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Vlogging factors
Sony S2100 Vlogging factors
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone support
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RZ18 and Sony S2100
 Pentax Optio RZ18Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio RZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-09-12 2010-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-450mm (18.0x) 33-105mm (3.2x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range 4cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 1s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1200s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 2.80 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 178g (0.39 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" 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 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $210 $0