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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2011
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Here is a in depth assessment of the Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WG-1 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is relatively well matched but the WG-1 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-1 was revealed 7 months before the NEX-5N which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short overview of how the WG-1 scores vs the NEX-5N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Sony NEX-5N

 WG-1 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Pentax WG-1

 NEX-5N WG-1 
IntroducedOctober 2011February 2011Fresher by 7 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax WG-1 and Sony NEX-5N

 WG-1 NEX-5N 
Manual focus More exact focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax WG-1 enjoys outside dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the WG-1 and the NEX-5N.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-1 and NEX-5N is 93 and 89 respectively.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to see the gap between sensor sizing simply by looking at specifications. The graphic underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-1 and NEX-5N.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The WG-1 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will give you greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older WG-1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography information
35
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
73
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Street photography advice
54
weather proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography advice
37
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
slow fps (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
58
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery power (460 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography info
71
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
70
better than average battery power (460 shots)
features touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
no Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
42
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
weather proof
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
71
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
25
pretty wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support
33
touchscreen capability
provides face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no microphone jack
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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-1 and Sony NEX-5N
 Pentax Optio WG-1Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio WG-1 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-02-07 2011-10-03
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.90 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 157 gr (0.35 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 460 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $350 $550