Ricoh WG-20 vs Sony NEX-5N

Its time to take a closer look at the Ricoh WG-20 and Sony NEX-5N, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-20 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is pretty similar but the WG-20 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The WG-20 was launched 2 years after the NEX-5N which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh WG-20 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the WG-20 grades vs the NEX-5N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Ricoh WG-20 & Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The complete galleries are available at Ricoh WG-20 Gallery & Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

If you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and size. The Ricoh WG-20 features physical dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Ricoh WG-20 and Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the WG-20 compared to the NEX-5N.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-20 and NEX-5N is 93 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading technical specs. The pic below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-20 and NEX-5N.

As you can tell, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The WG-20 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-5N will offer you greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more modern WG-20 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.