Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony NEX-5

The following is a thorough overview of the Ricoh WG-4 GPS and Sony NEX-5, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Ricoh and Sony. The resolution of the WG-4 GPS (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is pretty close but the WG-4 GPS (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The WG-4 GPS was revealed 3 years after the NEX-5 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Ricoh WG-4 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise view of how the WG-4 GPS scores against the NEX-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Ricoh WG-4 GPS and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The full galleries are available at Ricoh WG-4 GPS Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

For those who are intending to travel with your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Ricoh WG-4 GPS has got physical dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Take a look at the Ricoh WG-4 GPS and Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the WG-4 GPS vs the NEX-5.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-4 GPS and NEX-5 is 90 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The pic underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-4 GPS and NEX-5.

All in all, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The WG-4 GPS having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Ricoh WG-4 GPS will result in greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more recent WG-4 GPS is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.