Ricoh G900 vs Sony NEX-5

Lets take a closer look at the Ricoh G900 and Sony NEX-5, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Ricoh and Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the G900 (20MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the G900 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The G900 was announced 7 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Ricoh G900 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the G900 matches up versus the NEX-5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Ricoh G900 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The whole galleries are provided at Ricoh G900 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh G900 offers exterior measurements of 118mm x 66mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Contrast the Ricoh G900 and Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the G900 against the NEX-5.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the G900 and NEX-5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the G900 and NEX-5.

As you can see, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The G900 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Ricoh G900 will resolve more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more recent G900 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.