Ricoh WG-M1 vs Sony NEX-5R

On this page, we are reviewing the Ricoh WG-M1 vs Sony NEX-5R, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Ricoh and Sony. The resolution of the WG-M1 (14MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is fairly close but the WG-M1 (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The WG-M1 was introduced 2 years later than the NEX-5R and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Ricoh WG-M1 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the WG-M1 grades versus the NEX-5R in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Ricoh WG-M1 and Sony Alpha NEX-5R. The whole galleries are viewable at Ricoh WG-M1 Gallery and Sony NEX-5R Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Ricoh WG-M1 enjoys physical measurements of 66mm x 43mm x 89mm (2.6" x 1.7" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5R has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

See the Ricoh WG-M1 vs Sony NEX-5R in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the WG-M1 compared to the NEX-5R.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the WG-M1 and NEX-5R is 91 and 89 respectively.

Often, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The visual below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-M1 and NEX-5R.

As you can tell, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The WG-M1 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-5R will result in extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The younger WG-M1 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.