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Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Ricoh WG-4 GPS front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Key Specs

Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Ricoh WG-4 GPS
(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
  • 235g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2014
  • New Model is Ricoh WG-5 GPS
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Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Overview

Below, we are comparing the Canon SD970 IS versus Ricoh WG-4 GPS, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by brands Canon and Ricoh. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and WG-4 GPS (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was announced 6 years prior to the WG-4 GPS which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SD970 IS matches up against the WG-4 GPS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Ricoh WG-4 GPS

 SD970 IS WG-4 GPS 
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-4 GPS over the Canon SD970 IS

 WG-4 GPS SD970 IS 
IntroducedFebruary 2014February 2009More modern by 60 months
Manually focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Ricoh WG-4 GPS

 SD970 IS WG-4 GPS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD970 IS provides external measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Ricoh WG-4 GPS has dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SD970 IS versus Ricoh WG-4 GPS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SD970 IS vs the WG-4 GPS.

Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SD970 IS and WG-4 GPS is 94 and 90 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes merely by going through specs. The image underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD970 IS and WG-4 GPS.

All in all, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Ricoh WG-4 GPS to provide extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SD970 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Ricoh WG-4 GPS as a Portrait photography camera
26
has face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
41
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Street photography information
Ricoh WG-4 GPS Street photography information
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than others in class (235g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Sports photography camera
Ricoh WG-4 GPS as a Sports photography camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD970 IS
Travel photography with Ricoh WG-4 GPS
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
69
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery pack (240 per charge)
more heavy than others in class (235 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography information
Ricoh WG-4 GPS Landscape photography information
32
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
54
has manual focus
really wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery pack (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Vlogging camera
Ricoh WG-4 GPS as a Vlogging camera
27
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
34
really wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than others in class (235g)
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Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Ricoh WG-4 GPS
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISRicoh WG-4 GPS
General Information
Company Canon Ricoh
Model Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Ricoh WG-4 GPS
Also called Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2009-02-18 2014-02-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-185mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 2cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 10.00 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 160 grams (0.35 lb) 235 grams (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 240 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-5L D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing - $210