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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77

Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 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
  • Introduced September 2011
Sony A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Older Model is Sony A700
  • Renewed by Sony A77 II
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the RZ18 (16MP) and A77 (24MP) and the RZ18 (1/2.3") and A77 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The RZ18 was brought out very close to the A77 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the RZ18 scores against the A77 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony A77

 RZ18 A77 

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Pentax RZ18

 A77 RZ18 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Sony A77

 RZ18 A77 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011October 2011Same generation
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax RZ18 offers outside dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Sony A77 has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Check out the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the RZ18 vs the A77.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the RZ18 and A77 is 92 and 59 respectively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing merely by researching specifications. The photograph underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the RZ18 and A77.

Plainly, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The RZ18 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony A77 will render more detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography advice
Sony A77 Portrait photography advice
36
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Street photography factors
Sony A77 Street photography factors
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competition (178 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
74
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax RZ18
Sports photography with Sony A77
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
74
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
bad battery pack (470 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A77 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competition (178 grams)
environment proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (450mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
weather proof
MP count good (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (470 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography features
Sony A77 Landscape photography features
49
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
71
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
bad battery pack (470 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A77 as a Vlogging camera
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
76
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic support
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RZ18 and Sony A77
 Pentax Optio RZ18Sony SLT-A77
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio RZ18 Sony SLT-A77
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-09-12 2011-10-25
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 50
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-450mm (18.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 4cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 2.80 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 178 grams (0.39 lbs) 732 grams (1.61 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 801
Other
Battery life - 470 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $210 $900