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Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
35
Overall
33
Ricoh CX2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Ricoh CX2
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced August 2009
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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5N
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Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Ricoh CX2 and Sony NEX-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Ricoh and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the CX2 (9MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the CX2 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The CX2 was unveiled 9 months before the NEX-5 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh CX2 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the CX2 scores versus the NEX-5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX2 over the Sony NEX-5

 CX2 NEX-5 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Ricoh CX2

 NEX-5 CX2 
AnnouncedJune 2010August 2009Fresher by 9 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Ricoh CX2 and Sony NEX-5

 CX2 NEX-5 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Display resolution920k920kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh CX2 has got outside measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

See the Ricoh CX2 and Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the CX2 against the NEX-5.

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the CX2 and NEX-5 is 93 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to see the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the CX2 and NEX-5.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The CX2 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-5 will resolve extra detail having an extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images far more aggressively. The older CX2 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh CX2 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography details
25
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh CX2 Street photography features
Sony NEX-5 Street photography features
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (185 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
76
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh CX2 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography highlights
26
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
52
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh CX2
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5
66
lighter than others in class (185g)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
long zoom (300mm)
megapixel count low (9MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
59
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh CX2 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography factors
42
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh CX2 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging factors
30
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (185g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone support
28
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone support
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Ricoh CX2 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh CX2 and Sony NEX-5
 Ricoh CX2Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh CX2 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-08-20 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Smooth Imaging Engine IV 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 9MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3456 x 2592 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-300mm (10.7x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m (ISO 400) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 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)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185g (0.41 lbs) 287g (0.63 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 69
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 796
Other
Battery life - 330 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model DB-70 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 10 or Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $341 $599