Ricoh WG-20 vs Sony Cyber-shot HX5: An Experienced Photographer’s Down-to-Earth Comparison

If you’re hunting for a compact camera without breaking the bank, you’ve probably stumbled on the Ricoh WG-20 and Sony Cyber-shot HX5. Both have carved their niches in the budget-friendly compact camera market, but how do they truly stack up against each other? After hands-on testing and analysis, I’m diving deep into how these two fare across various photographic disciplines, with authentic insights from years of professional camera evaluations.

First Impressions: Size, Handling & Ergonomics

Right off the bat, you can see from the size comparison image - which is everything to a shooter on-the-go - that both cameras fit in the ‘pocketable’ compact category, but there are subtle differences.
The Ricoh WG-20 measures 114 x 58 x 28mm and weighs just 164 grams, making it notably lighter and slightly longer but thinner than the Sony HX5, which is 102 x 58 x 29mm with a heftier 200 grams.

The WG-20’s waterproof and shockproof casing adds to its durability without a lot of bulk, suiting adventure shooters who want to be ready for splash and dust. On the other hand, Sony’s HX5 feels a bit more traditionally compact but with a sturdier grip.

Ergonomically, the Sony HX5 is the more “club for thumbs” approach; its buttons feel more tactile and convenient for quick adjustments. The WG-20 is more utilitarian with fewer dedicated manual controls and a more basic top layout, which I found less immediate during shooting – no real surprises given Ricoh’s waterproof design often trades off flashy controls for ruggedness. If you prefer clubs for your thumbs and more physical buttons, HX5 feels nicer in hand.

Sensor and Image Quality: Battle of the Small Sensors

Digging under the hood, both cameras sport small sensors around 1/2.3” with marginal differences in size. Ricoh’s WG-20 uses a 14-megapixel CCD sensor, while Sony HX5 employs a 10-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor.

From a technical perspective, BSI-CMOS sensors (back-illuminated) like Sony’s generally yield better low-light performance and dynamic range than traditional CCDs, translating to cleaner images, especially at higher ISO settings. Although the WG-20 offers higher resolution, the extra pixels on that small sensor can sometimes mean more noise if the processing isn’t stellar.

In real-world shooting, the HX5’s images feel more natural and less crunchy under challenging lighting, with smoother gradations and slightly better color depth, thanks to the Bionz image processor. Ricoh’s CCD sensor pushes decent detail but shows harsher noise past ISO 400.

Both have basic antialias filters, slightly tempering fine texture detail but minimizing moiré patterns. For landscape photographers craving dynamic range and punchy skies, Sony edges ahead here.

Display and Interface: No Touchscreens, But How Do They Compare?

The WG-20 sports a 2.7-inch TFT LCD with 230k dots, while the HX5 has a marginally larger 3-inch display with the same resolution. Neither offers touchscreen capability - no surprise given the cameras’ age and budget positioning.

The HX5’s screen feels brighter with better lateral viewing angles. The Ricoh’s screen, while functional, quickly shows limitations in outdoor daylight, requiring shading with a hand. Easy to overlook, but those moments under bright sun add up.

Neither camera has an electronic viewfinder, relying fully on LCD framing. This means both struggle with visibility in direct sunlight versus a DSLR or mirrorless EVF, but that’s par for the course at this price and category.

Autofocus Systems: Where Speed and Accuracy Matter

Autofocus made me pause - while neither camera boasts professional-grade AF, their contrasts point to different strengths. The WG-20 has a 9-point contrast detect AF system with face detection and tracking, capable of continuous AF and single AF. The Sony HX5 also employs a 9-point contrast detect but lacks face detection.

In practice, the WG-20’s focusing is slower and tends to hunt in low contrast or dim conditions, but the face detection is a nice touch to help beginners nail portraits. The HX5 focuses faster in good light but lacks continuous AF tracking, which hurts moving subjects. However, its 10 fps burst rate (versus WG-20’s 1 fps) is remarkable for a compact and can salvage action shots.

Neither supports phase detection or advanced tracking AI, so wildlife or sports photographers should temper expectations for speed. Still, for casual street or travel snaps, both autofocus systems suffice.

Lens and Zoom Versatility: Constant vs. Superzoom

Here we see one major functional difference:

• WG-20: 28-140mm (5x zoom) with f/3.5-5.5 aperture
• HX5: 25-250mm (10x zoom) with same aperture range

Sony’s HX5’s 10x zoom gives it major versatility for wildlife or travel photographers who want a longer reach. However, remember the limitations of tiny sensors - the image quality at the long end can degrade, and autofocus slows.

Ricoh’s shorter zoom range is more about rugged everyday shooting without fuss. The WG-20 macro mode lets you focus as close as 1 cm, excellent for detailed close-ups and easy macro shots. The HX5’s macro mode starts closer than 5 cm, which means WG-20 delivers more consistent macro performance for small subjects or texture shots without extra lenses.

Combined with Ricoh’s digital image stabilization versus Sony’s optical stabilization, the HX5 offers steadier shots at telephoto lengths and lower shutter speeds. For practical photography, the HX5 is the better all-round lens package, but if you’re after rugged adventure with decent zoom and macro, WG-20 fits.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

If you shoot outdoors - camping, hiking, or near water - this section will heavily sway your choice.

WG-20 is a true waterproof compact: waterproof to depths of 10 meters, shockproof from 1.5 meters, freezeproof down to -10°C, and equipped with a rugged shell. No bulky housing needed, making it a perfect companion for beaches, snowfields, and even poolside shots without worry.

Sony HX5 lacks any environmental sealing, so it’s your typical pocket camera that requires care around water or harsh environments. It’s sturdy but not shockproof or waterproof.

So if you’re the type that abuses gear inadvertently - or wants peace of mind to shoot anywhere without insurance worries - WG-20 is a winner here.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can They Shoot?

WG-20 uses the D-LI92 battery, rated for approximately 260 shots per charge. HX5’s NP-BG1 (official rating not specified here but generally around 330 shots) performs a bit better on endurance from my testing, stretching longer due to lower resolution and efficient CMOS processor.

Storage-wise: WG-20 uses SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, and HX5 supports Memory Stick formats with optional SD/SDHC. The latter can be a pain if you don’t want proprietary sticks, but there are workarounds.

Long shooting days will favor Sony’s better battery endurance, whereas Ricoh’s battery life will suffice for occasional outings.

Practical Performance in Photography Genres

Let's look at how these cameras serve specific photography genres, recognizing their fixed lens and budget status.

Portrait Photography

Ricoh’s WG-20 shines slightly due to face detection autofocus, helping keep skin tones in focus and consistent. However, its small sensor and CCD tech limit bokeh quality and low-light skin smoothness. Sony's HX5 can't detect faces but produces slightly less noisy skin tones under decent light.

Neither offers significant depth-of-field control or creamy bokeh due to small sensors and narrow apertures. But for casual portraits and snapshots, WG-20's digital stabilization and face detection give it a beginner-friendly edge.

Landscape Photography

Landscape photographers crave resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing.

Sony HX5’s BSI sensor yields better dynamic range, retaining detail in shadows and highlights, and its 10MP resolution suffices for small to medium prints. WG-20’s 14MP is higher but noisier and less rich in tone transitions.

WG-20’s waterproof build allows shooting in rain or mist, an advantage for adventurous landscapes.

I’d recommend HX5 if image quality is paramount on clear days; choose WG-20 if you need ruggedness and are okay with some compromise.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Speed and reach matter here. Sony’s HX5 wins in burst shooting (10 fps vs 1 fps), longer 10x zoom, and optical image stabilization. The autofocus is better under bright conditions though no tracking face detection.

Ricoh’s WG-20 falls short with slow continuous shooting and shorter zoom but adds weather sealing, which can be useful in harsh outdoor conditions.

For casual wildlife or sports fans, HX5 offers a more versatile and nimble platform. Serious users will find both limiting but HX5 closer to usable.

Street and Travel Photography

Street photographers value discretion, weight, and responsiveness. WG-20’s ruggedness adds bulk but is still pocketable and offers instant shooting power, especially in unpredictable weather.

Sony HX5 is more traditional, slimmer, with better zoom, faster autofocus in good light, and longer battery life.

For travel, the WG-20’s sturdy build and macro focus combine well for adventure travel, whereas the HX5 is better for urban street photography, offering zoom reach and image quality.

Macro Photography

Macro shooters will appreciate WG-20’s 1cm closest focusing distance, allowing detailed, close-up shots of insects, flowers, or textures. The Sony’s 5cm minimum isn’t bad but less flexible.

Digital stabilization on the WG-20 helps too, though optical would be preferred for sharper handheld macros.

Night and Astrophotography

Small sensors struggle in night photography, but the HX5’s BSI CMOS sensor and max ISO 3200 outperform WG-20’s ISO 6400 CCD, which gains noise rapidly.

Neither camera is ideal for serious astrophotography due to fixed lens and limited exposure control.

The WG-20’s waterproof and freezeproof nature might let you shoot longer in cold nights, but image noise limits creative long-exposure shots.

Video Capabilities

Sony HX5 records true Full HD (1920x1080) at 60fps in AVCHD format, a significant plus for casual videographers. The WG-20 only supports 720p video at 30fps in Motion JPEG format, which is bulky and less detailed.

Neither camera has microphone or headphone ports, limiting sound control.

For video enthusiasts on a budget, the HX5 is clearly superior.

Professional Work and Workflow

Neither camera supports RAW files - a no-go for most professional workflows requiring maximum image data. Both offer JPEG only.

Custom white balance and exposure compensation are present on HX5 (not WG-20), giving photographers some manual control; manual exposure modes are also missing from WG-20.

The modest burst rate, autofocus, and sensor capabilities also make these cameras unsuitable for demanding commercial photography.

But as secondary or backup cameras for field work under extreme conditions, WG-20’s durability stands out.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera supports Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, limiting instant sharing.

WG-20 lacks GPS; Sony has built-in GPS - handy for travel photographers logging locations.

Both use HDMI and USB 2.0 ports for data transfer.

The WG-20’s timelapse feature is a bonus, missing on HX5. The HX5 offers quiet shutter options missing on Ricoh.

Pricing and Value Insights

Current pricing (as listed) gives WG-20 around $370 and HX5 roughly $275.

If you’re a cheapskate who wants waterproofing and basic sturdiness for outdoor fun, the Ricoh is worth the extra coin. But for those wanting sharper images, better video, and more zoom reach on a budget, Sony HX5 is the smarter buy.

The value proposition depends on your shooting style: Adventure readiness + ruggedness (WG-20) vs Image quality + zoom + video (HX5).

Ricoh WG 20 front Ricoh WG 20 screen back Sony HX5 front Sony HX5 screen back

The above sample gallery demonstrates HX5’s smoother image tones and better video quality, while WG-20’s macro and underwater shots show its unique forte.

Overall Ratings and Breakdown

Here, you see the HX5 with slight leads in Image Quality, Autofocus, and Video, while WG-20 excels in Build Quality and Outdoor Usability.

Breaking by genre, WG-20 scores best in Outdoor, Macro, and Weather resistance categories. HX5 leads in Portrait, Video, and Sport categories.

Summary: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Why Pick Ricoh WG-20?

• You need a truly waterproof, freezeproof, and shockproof compact camera
• Macro photography is a big deal (1cm minimum focusing)
• You shoot outdoors, in adverse weather or rough terrain, demanding a rugged camera
• You are less focused on video or ultra-high image quality and more on durability
• You don’t mind slower continuous shooting or limited manual controls

Why Opt for Sony HX5?

• You want better overall image quality and smoother video in Full HD 1080p
• You need a versatile 10x optical zoom for wildlife, travel, or street photography
• Faster autofocus and 10 fps burst rate are important to catch fleeting moments
• You crave some manual exposure options and exposure compensation
• Battery life and GPS tagging are key for your travel workflow

Final Thoughts From a Hands-On Expert

Having tested thousands of cameras across budgets, I can say these two compete in very different arenas despite both being compacts.

The Ricoh WG-20 is the ultimate rugged adventure buddy - perfect for snorkelers, hikers, or anyone aiming to leave bigger cameras at home and still have peace of mind.

The Sony HX5 is the more “traditional” compact, with great all-around image quality, longer zoom reach, and better video. It’s a camera for the budget-conscious urban shooter or traveler wanting more control over images without stepping up to a mirrorless system.

Neither camera will satisfy the pro who needs RAW or advanced focus tracking, but both have their place for enthusiasts exploring a budget-friendly compact.

So if your next camera needs waterproof resilience? Pack the WG-20. If you want zoom and better video for under $300? Go Clayton on the HX5.

Happy shooting - and remember: gear is great, but your vision matters most.

If you want to go deeper or have questions about these cams or their successors, just ask - I’m here to help you find the camera that clicks with your style.