Pentax W60 vs Sony NEX-5

Lets look much closer at the Pentax W60 and Sony NEX-5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the W60 (10MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the W60 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The W60 was manufactured 11 months earlier than the NEX-5 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax W60 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the W60 grades against the NEX-5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Optio W60 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The entire galleries are viewable at Pentax W60 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax W60 offers outside dimensions of 98mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Examine the Pentax W60 and Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the W60 versus the NEX-5.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the W60 and NEX-5 is 94 and 89 respectively.

Often, it can be hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching a spec sheet. The picture below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the W60 and NEX-5.

Clearly, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The W60 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-5 will result in greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged W60 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.