Ricoh CX1 vs Sony NEX-7

Here, we are reviewing the Ricoh CX1 vs Sony NEX-7, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Ricoh and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the CX1 (9MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the CX1 (1/2.3") and NEX-7 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The CX1 was introduced 3 years prior to the NEX-7 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh CX1 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the CX1 matches up against the NEX-7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Ricoh CX1 and Sony Alpha NEX-7. The whole galleries are viewable at Ricoh CX1 Gallery and Sony NEX-7 Gallery.

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh CX1 has external dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-7 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Check out the Ricoh CX1 vs Sony NEX-7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the CX1 and the NEX-7.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the CX1 and NEX-7 is 93 and 84 respectively.

In many cases, it is hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by reviewing specifications. The graphic underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the CX1 and NEX-7.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The CX1 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-7 will offer more detail using its extra 15 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The older CX1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.