Canon S120 vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Below is a extended review of the Canon S120 versus Ricoh WG-4 GPS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Canon and Ricoh. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the S120 (12MP) and WG-4 GPS (16MP) and the S120 (1/1.7") and WG-4 GPS (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The S120 was unveiled 2 months prior to the WG-4 GPS and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the S120 matches up vs the WG-4 GPS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot S120 and Ricoh WG-4 GPS. The full galleries are available at Canon S120 Gallery and Ricoh WG-4 GPS Gallery.

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Canon S120 offers physical measurements of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Ricoh WG-4 GPS has specifications of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Examine the Canon S120 versus Ricoh WG-4 GPS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the S120 compared to the WG-4 GPS.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the S120 and WG-4 GPS is 92 and 90 respectively.

Generally, it is very tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements just by reading specifications. The visual here might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the S120 and WG-4 GPS.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S120 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Ricoh WG-4 GPS will offer you more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively.