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Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
47
Overall
40
Pentax Q front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Launched June 2011
  • Updated by Pentax Q10
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
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the Q (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly similar but the Q (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The Q was released 13 months later than the NEX-5 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the Q matches up vs the NEX-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Sony NEX-5

 Q NEX-5 
LaunchedJune 2011June 2010Fresher by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Pentax Q

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

Common features in the Pentax Q and Sony NEX-5

 Q NEX-5 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you should take into account its weight and size. The Pentax Q comes with physical measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") and a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Compare the Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the Q compared to the NEX-5.

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the Q and NEX-5 is 93 and 89 respectively.

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the Q and NEX-5.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The Q due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-5 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The younger Q provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax Q
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5
45
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000s)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax Q
Street photography with Sony NEX-5
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (180g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax Q
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
32
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (230 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography advice
57
lighter than competition in class (180g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery (230 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography information
51
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (230 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
68
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
28
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone jack
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Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q and Sony NEX-5
 Pentax QSony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Q Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-06-23 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount Pentax Q Sony E
Total lenses 8 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/2000 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 180 grams (0.40 lbs) 287 grams (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 47 69
DXO Color Depth score 20.2 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 12.2
DXO Low light score 189 796
Other
Battery life 230 shots 330 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI68 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $695 $599