Ricoh CX4 vs Sony a5100

Let's look a little more in depth at the Ricoh CX4 and Sony a5100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the CX4 (10MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the CX4 (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The CX4 was launched 5 years prior to the a5100 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh CX4 being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the CX4 grades versus the a5100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Ricoh CX4 and Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are viewable at Ricoh CX4 Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Ricoh CX4 comes with outer measurements of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Look at the Ricoh CX4 and Sony a5100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the CX4 against the a5100.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the CX4 and a5100 is 92 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions only by viewing technical specs. The pic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the CX4 and a5100.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The CX4 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony a5100 will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged CX4 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.