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Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
58
Overall
55

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released February 2012
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5N
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Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Pentax WG-2 versus Sony NEX-5, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WG-2 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very well matched but the WG-2 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-2 was revealed 21 months after the NEX-5 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the WG-2 grades vs the NEX-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Sony NEX-5

 WG-2 NEX-5 
LaunchedFebruary 2012June 2010Newer by 21 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Pentax WG-2

 NEX-5 WG-2 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-2 and Sony NEX-5

 WG-2 NEX-5 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-2 offers outside measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax WG-2 versus Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the WG-2 versus the NEX-5.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-2 and NEX-5 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by checking specifications. The picture below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-2 and NEX-5.

To sum up, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The WG-2 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Pentax WG-2 will resolve more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern WG-2 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography factors
40
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
provides face detect focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
71
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Street photography features
Sony NEX-5 Street photography features
54
environment proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Sports photography camera
38
good megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
51
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Travel photography camera
70
environment proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
59
good MP (14MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
47
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3")
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
67
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging factors
30
quite wide (28mm)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have mic socket
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
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Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-2 and Sony NEX-5
 Pentax Optio WG-2Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio WG-2 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-02-07 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 125 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.40 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 192 gr (0.42 pounds) 287 gr (0.63 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life 260 shots 330 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $350 $599