Comparing the Ricoh CX4 and Sony NEX-5N: A Deep Dive for Photography Enthusiasts

If you are in the market for a reliable camera that fits both your creative ambitions and practical needs, understanding how different models measure up is vital. Today, we'll thoroughly explore two very distinct cameras from the early 2010s: the Ricoh CX4, a compact superzoom, and the Sony NEX-5N, an entry-level mirrorless. Despite their release dates being just over a year apart, these two cameras offer widely different user experiences and capabilities. Our goal is to equip you with expert insights distilled from hands-on testing, technical benchmarks, and real-world scenarios covering all major photography disciplines.

Let’s unpack their unique strengths, technical specifics, and use cases to help you decide which might better fulfill your creative vision.

Putting Them Side by Side: Size, Design, and Handling

Understanding a camera’s ergonomics and controls is fundamental because how a camera feels directly impacts your shooting comfort and spontaneity.

• Ricoh CX4 is a pocketable, fixed-lens compact camera designed for casual superzoom use.
• Sony NEX-5N is a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses, offering greater versatility and professional control.

When placed side by side, you can see the CX4’s notably smaller footprint (102x59x29mm) and lighter weight (205g) compared to the NEX-5N’s 111x59x38mm size and 269g weight. The Ricoh is ideal if portability and pocketability are your highest priorities.

The top-view comparison reveals the NEX-5N’s more sophisticated control layout featuring customizable dials and buttons ideal for manual exposure modes - something the CX4 lacks entirely. The Ricoh offers a simplified control scheme without shutter or aperture priority modes, which limits manual creative input.

For beginners or those who want a grab-and-shoot experience without fuss, CX4’s fixed lens and minimal buttons are welcome. If you want manual control - essential for creative exposure adjustments - the NEX’s dedicated dials and exposure modes fit better.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Image quality begins with the sensor. Sensor size directly impacts dynamic range, noise performance at high ISO, and depth of field capabilities.

• Ricoh CX4: 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor, measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, with a resolution of 10 MP.
• Sony NEX-5N: APS-C CMOS sensor, 23.4 x 15.6 mm, boasting 16 MP resolution.

The NEX-5N’s sensor is about 13 times larger in area than that of the CX4. This size difference is critical:

• Dynamic Range: Larger sensors capture more tonal information, preserving highlights and shadows. The NEX-5N scores a DxO dynamic range rating well beyond that of typical compact cameras like the CX4 (which lacks DxO testing but would predictably lag).
• Noise Performance: The NEX’s low-light performance is far superior, with a maximum native ISO of 25600 versus CX4's 3200. The Sony camera allows handheld shooting in challenging low-light environments with cleaner images.
• Color Depth: The 16MP sensor coupled with the Bionz processor helps the Sony NEX-5N deliver richer colors and more natural skin tonalities compared to the Ricoh CX4’s lower-resolution CMOS sensor and older Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor.

For portrait and landscape photographers demanding superior image quality, the NEX-5N’s sensor is a game-changer, enabling greater creative flexibility in post-processing while retaining sharpness and detail.

Mastering Exposure: Control and Autofocus Systems Compared

When it comes to controlling the image capture process, the two cameras diverge significantly.

The Ricoh CX4 uses a basic contrast-detection autofocus system which, while adequate for casual shooting, lacks the speed and accuracy needed for action or wildlife photography. Its 5 fps burst mode is limited by sensor and processor speed. Also, no face or eye detection autofocus is present, restricting creative portrait work.

The Sony NEX-5N, however, offers a more advanced 25-point autofocus system with face detection, hugely beneficial in portrait and event photography where subject tracking and focus accuracy are essential. Manual focus is supported on both cameras, but the NEX 5N also includes touch-based AF for quick selection on its tilting screen.

Furthermore, exposure control differences are stark. Beginners will appreciate the CX4’s simplicity, but if you want to fine-tune aperture, shutter speed, or ISO, the NEX offers much more control. Shutter speeds up to 1/4000 sec allow freezing fast sports or wildlife action better than the CX4’s max 1/2000 sec.

Exploring the Rear Interface: Displays and Usability

Both cameras feature a 3-inch rear screen of equal resolution (920k dots), but their designs affect usability and framing flexibility.

• CX4: Fixed LCD without touchscreen. Controls rely on physical buttons around the body.
• NEX-5N: Tilting TFT screen with touchscreen capabilities, enabling intuitive menu navigation and touch focus.

The tilting screen on the Sony is excellent for creative angles including low-to-the-ground macro shots and high-overhead street photography. The touch interface enhances user experience, especially for beginners or vloggers who can tap to focus.

The Ricoh’s fixed screen is simpler but limits flexibility in composing shots at unusual angles.

Zoom, Lens Versatility, and Macro Capabilities

Lens options drastically influence the types of photography you can pursue.

• Ricoh CX4: Fixed 28-300mm equivalent zoom lens (10.7x optical zoom), max aperture F3.5 to F5.6. Macro focusing down to 1cm enables closeup photography.
• Sony NEX-5N: Interchangeable Sony E-mount lenses; 121 lenses available including primes, zooms, macros, and specialized optics. Macro focusing range depends on the lens chosen.

The Ricoh CX4’s integrated superzoom is perfect for travel, casual wildlife snapshots, and macro photography on a budget. The extensive zoom range covers landscapes to telephoto subjects without swapping lenses.

The Sony NEX-5N, with its vast E-mount lens ecosystem, offers unparalleled versatility for professionals and enthusiasts alike. You can select fast primes for creamy bokeh, dedicated macro lenses for botanical photography, or telephoto zooms for wildlife and sports.

This modularity means if you want to specialize, say macro or street, you can pick lenses optimized for those styles, which the Ricoh cannot match.

Video Recording Capabilities: Creative Dimensions Beyond Photography

For hybrid shooters balancing stills and video, understanding each camera’s video functions is essential.

The Ricoh shoots video in 720p, which today is modest and offers minimal creative control. It does have sensor-shift image stabilization during video, which helps handheld footage.

The Sony NEX-5N provides Full HD 1080p recording at smooth 60 fps, making it better suited for higher quality content creation. It records in more efficient AVCHD format, allowing longer clips with better compression. While it lacks in-body stabilization, compatible lenses can offer optical stabilization. Support for external flash units enables creative lighting for video.

If video content is a core part of your creative workflow, the NEX-5N is clearly the more capable choice.

Battery Life and Storage Options: Keeping You Shooting Longer

Shooting time and memory flexibility often influence overall usability.

• Ricoh CX4: Uses a DB-100 battery (capacity details not specified). Storage via a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot plus limited internal memory.
• Sony NEX-5N: Uses NPFW50 battery with approximately 460 shots per charge. Storage supports SD/SDHC/SDXC plus proprietary Memory Stick cards.

The Sony’s battery life is robust for a mirrorless camera of its generation, important for travel, event photography, and prolonged shooting sessions.

Ricoh’s battery life is less documented, typically shorter for compact superzoom cameras due to smaller batteries and power-hungry zoom motors.

Both take standard, widely available SD cards, but the Sony’s Memory Stick compatibility is a niche plus if you prefer Sony accessories.

Wireless Connectivity and Extras

• Ricoh CX4: No wireless capabilities.
• Sony NEX-5N: Eye-Fi SD card support enables wireless transfer – useful for quick sharing and remote shooting workflows.

While primitive by today’s standards, these features were cutting edge at release and may still benefit mobile shooters prioritizing immediate image access.

Performance Ratings at a Glance

When considering overall system capabilities - sensor, processor, autofocus, lenses, and features - the Sony NEX-5N scores significantly higher across key performance metrics.

How They Perform Across Photography Types

Here’s how these cameras break down over major photographic disciplines:

• Portraits: The NEX-5N’s larger sensor, face detection, and lens options produce more natural skin tones and beautiful bokeh.
• Landscape: NEX-5N’s dynamic range and resolution excel, while CX4’s limitations in sensor size restrict image quality.
• Wildlife: The Ricoh’s superzoom is handy, but slow autofocus limits action capture; NEX shines with better AF but requires telephoto lenses.
• Sports: NEX-5N’s faster burst rate and manual controls outperform the CX4.
• Street: CX4’s smaller size aids discretion; NEX’s tilting screen supports creative angles.
• Macro: Both capable, CX4 offers good close focusing; NEX depends on lens choice but can achieve higher magnification and precision.
• Night/Astro: NEX’s high ISO and manual modes are indispensable; CX4 is less suited.
• Video: NEX-5N leads with Full HD, frame rates, and format.
• Travel: CX4’s compactness wins for portability; NEX’s versatility is best for those carrying multiple lenses.
• Professional Work: NEX-5N is better suited; supports RAW, manual controls, external flashes, and advanced workflows.

Sample Images: Visualizing the Differences

Ricoh CX4 front Ricoh CX4 screen back Sony NEX 5N front Sony NEX 5N screen back

Here, you can see sample photos from both cameras under different lighting conditions and subjects. Notice how the NEX-5N delivers greater detail, contrast, and depth of field control, while the CX4 images, although generally well-exposed, lack sharpness in fine details and dynamic range.

Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Choose?

The Ricoh CX4 is a compact, budget-friendly superzoom ideal for casual users, travelers prioritizing pocket-friendly gear, or those seeking an all-in-one camera without fuss. Its intuitive simplicity is inviting for beginners and convenient enough to capture a wide range of scenes without changing lenses.

The Sony NEX-5N remains a compelling entry-level mirrorless system camera offering far superior image quality, autofocus sophistication, and creative control. If you envision growing as a photographer, experimenting with lenses, shooting portraits, landscapes, or video content - this is a powerful stepping stone into adaptable, professional-grade photography.

Our Expert Recommendations

Getting Started and Next Steps

Whichever camera you lean toward, consider pairing it with essential accessories:

• For Ricoh CX4: Extra batteries (DB-100), UV filter to protect lens, carry case.
• For Sony NEX-5N: Explore lens options based on your focus area, extra NP-FW50 batteries, SD cards, and optional EVF.

Hands-on trials are invaluable. If possible, visit stores or rentals to hold each camera, test controls, and evaluate how they feel to you.

Closing Words

Choosing your next camera is a blend of understanding technical merits and trusting your creative instincts. The Ricoh CX4 and Sony NEX-5N each offer distinct strengths. Whether you want a pocket superzoom for daily snapshots or a mirrorless system to deepen your photographic journey, this comparison gives you a holistic view based on industry-tested standards and real-world use.

Embrace your next creative chapter with a camera that not only fits your budget but also enhances your artistic vision. Happy shooting!

If you have further questions or want personalized advice tailored to your photography style, feel free to ask. We’re here to support your creative journey every step of the way.