Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5
91 Imaging
39 Features
37 Overall
38


89 Imaging
53 Features
58 Overall
55
Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Optio WG-2 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The full galleries are provided at Pentax WG-2 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Sony NEX-5
WG-2 | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | February 2012 | ![]() | June 2010 | Newer by 21 months |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Pentax WG-2
NEX-5 | WG-2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper display (+460k dot) |
Common features in the Pentax WG-2 and Sony NEX-5
WG-2 | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial exact focus | ||
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications
Pentax Optio WG-2 | Sony 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 |