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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Ricoh WG-4 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Ricoh WG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2014
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Ricoh WG-4 versus Sony NEX-5, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Ricoh and Sony. The resolution of the WG-4 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very similar but the WG-4 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The WG-4 was unveiled 3 years after the NEX-5 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Ricoh WG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the WG-4 grades vs the NEX-5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-4 over the Sony NEX-5

 WG-4 NEX-5 
ReleasedFebruary 2014June 2010More modern by 45 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Ricoh WG-4

 NEX-5 WG-4 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh WG-4 and Sony NEX-5

 WG-4 NEX-5 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh WG-4 offers physical measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst 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).

See the Ricoh WG-4 versus Sony NEX-5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the WG-4 versus the NEX-5.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-4 and NEX-5 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over specs. The picture here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-4 and NEX-5.

All in all, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The WG-4 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Ricoh WG-4 will offer greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The younger WG-4 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography features
41
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
72
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5 Street photography information
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
76
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Ricoh WG-4
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
52
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh WG-4
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5
72
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery pack (240 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
54
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery pack (240 shots)
68
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
36
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic socket
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-4 and Sony NEX-5
 Ricoh WG-4Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Manufacturer Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh WG-4 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-02-05 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (Auto ISO) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 grams (0.51 lb) 287 grams (0.63 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 69
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 796
Other
Battery life 240 photographs 330 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $330 $599