Ricoh CX5 vs Sony a1

The following is a in depth assessment of the Ricoh CX5 versus Sony a1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Ricoh and Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the CX5 (10MP) and a1 (50MP) and the CX5 (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The CX5 was introduced 10 years prior to the a1 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Ricoh CX5 being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summation of how the CX5 grades versus the a1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Ricoh CX5 & Sony Alpha a1. The whole galleries are viewable at Ricoh CX5 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Ricoh CX5 has got outside dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has proportions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Compare the Ricoh CX5 versus Sony a1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the CX5 versus the a1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the CX5 and a1 is 92 and 61 respectively.

Sometimes, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions merely by seeing a spec sheet. The pic here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the CX5 and a1.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The CX5 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony a1 will provide extra detail using its extra 40MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged CX5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.