Canon SX240 HS vs Ricoh WG-5 GPS: A Detailed Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing between two compact cameras like the Canon PowerShot SX240 HS and the Ricoh WG-5 GPS can be tricky when they serve very different niches. On one side, you have the Canon SX240 HS - a small sensor superzoom classic from 2012, ideal for zoom lovers who want a pocketable travel camera. On the other, the Ricoh WG-5 GPS is a more rugged, waterproof compact from 2015 with a more modest zoom but some rugged adventure chops.

Having put both cameras through extensive hands-on testing scenarios over the years, I’ll walk you through their design, feature set, image quality, handling, and real-world performance across multiple photography disciplines. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which one suits your shooting style and needs best.

Handling and Ergonomics: Compact but Different Missions

At first glance, both cameras are similarly sized compacts, but closer inspection reveals their intended use shapes their ergonomics.

The Canon SX240 HS feels like a more traditional point-and-shoot: slim, light (224g), and sleek with smooth curves fitting comfortably in the hand. The body measures 106 x 61 x 33 mm, making it very pocket-friendly. Its fixed 25-500mm (20x) zoom enables great reach for casual outdoor shoots - a perfect travel companion.

The Ricoh WG-5 GPS, by contrast, is chunkier (125 x 65 x 32 mm) and slightly heavier (236g), reflecting its rugged aspirations. It features reinforced weather sealing, shockproofing, and a textured grip designed for secure handling in harsh environments. You literally feel this camera is built for rough use - a boon if you’re into hiking, snorkeling, or industrial applications.

For ease of handling, the Canon’s small size and light weight win for everyday portability, while the Ricoh’s robust feel gives confidence if you’re tackling challenging situations.

Control Layout and Display: Where Usability Meets Design

Switching from looks to control, the Canon provides a fairly straightforward physical layout with mode dials supporting manual exposure modes including aperture and shutter priority - features you’d appreciate if you want some creative control beyond auto modes. The buttons are not illuminated but well placed for easy accessibility, and the camera features all the essentials: exposure compensation, ISO controls, and a decent range of autofocus options including face detection.

The Ricoh surprisingly omits aperture priority and manual exposure modes, focusing more on robust auto operation suited for quick shooting, especially outdoors. It offers shutter priority but not full manual. Its control layout, while ruggedized, is more utilitarian with fewer buttons and lacks illuminated controls, which can be a slight hindrance in low light.

Both cameras sport a fixed 3-inch LCD, with the Canon’s boasting a 461k-dot PureColor II TFT and the Ricoh’s essentially matching at 460k dots. Neither has touchscreen or articulating capabilities, limiting modern-day flexibility. However, the Ricoh pairs its screen with physical sealing that preserves its waterproof integrity.

While neither camera has an electronic viewfinder, you’ll rely on the rear screen for composition - not ideal in bright daylight but manageable given their target users.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensors, Different Strengths

Under the hood, both cameras use 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensors, which means relatively small sensor sizes (about 28 mm²). This sensor size is typical for compacts and sets inherent limits on image quality versus larger APS-C or full-frame systems.

The Canon SX240 HS carries a 12-megapixel sensor with a DIGIC 5 processor – cutting-edge for its time - delivering respectable image quality for a camera of its era. The native ISO tops out at 3200, which is sufficient for casual low-light shooting but will show noise at higher ISOs. Canon’s firmware balances noise reduction and detail well, resulting in pleasant skin tones and good color reproduction typical of Canon cameras.

In comparison, the Ricoh WG-5 GPS ups the resolution to 16-megapixels on a similar-sized sensor but with a newer sensor generation, resulting in slightly sharper images and more detail capture at base ISOs. It expands ISO sensitivity up to 6400, which gives it an edge in dim settings, but noise rises noticeably above ISO 1600, so it’s best to keep sensitivity moderate. Ricoh’s sensor-shift image stabilization compensates for handshake better than Canon’s optical method, aiding handheld sharpness.

While neither camera offers RAW shooting - a limitation for professional workflows - the Ricoh includes some white balance bracketing, which can help in critical color situations, an option the Canon lacks.

In real-world shooting, the Canon SX240 HS’s color science shines particularly in skin tones, great for portraits and casual candid shots. Meanwhile, the Ricoh’s higher resolution and better noise handling make it a better choice for landscape detail or macro exploration.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Stretch vs. Speed

Zoom range often defines a compact’s usability. The Canon SX240 HS boasts a powerful 20x optical zoom, covering 25–500 mm (35mm equivalent). This massive reach provides incredible framing flexibility - from wide-angle sweeping vistas to distant wildlife or sports action. Aperture ranges from f/3.5 at the wide end to f/6.8 telephoto, typical of superzooms.

Conversely, the Ricoh WG-5 GPS offers a shorter zoom at 25–100 mm (4x zoom), but with a brighter lens: f/2.0 wide-angle aperture narrowing to f/4.9 telephoto. The wide f/2.0 opening is a big win in low-light and indoor situations or when you want shallow depth of field bokeh effects. Its macro focus distance down to 1 cm is impressive for extreme close-ups.

If sheer zoom reach is your priority for wildlife, sports, or travel shooting, the Canon is the clear winner. For low light and macro with rugged durability, Ricoh’s brighter and sharper zoom range plateaus sooner but excels at capturing detail up close.

Autofocus and Continuous Shooting: Tracking Speed vs. Responsiveness

Autofocus performance can make or break your shooting experience, especially for action or wildlife photography.

The Canon SX240 HS features a 9-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection, continuous AF, and tracking. While this system worked well in 2012, it can feel sluggish compared to modern standards and sometimes hunts noticeably in low light or challenging contrast conditions. Still, for casual use, its accuracy is fine.

Ricoh’s WG-5 adopts a similar 9-point contrast detection AF but adds live view AF and face detection, plus faster continuous shooting up to 14 fps (frames per second), a huge jump over Canon’s much slower 2 fps burst. This rapid shooting facilitates catching fast action, and Ricoh’s sensor-shift stabilization also aids keeper rates with moving subjects.

In wildlife or sports where responsiveness is critical, the Ricoh edging faster fps will help more. The Canon’s slower burst rate might frustrate when tracking birds or athletes.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance: Take the Wild Route

If you shoot outdoors frequently, the gear’s durability matters.

Canon’s SX240 HS features a lightweight compact body without weather sealing - no dust, waterproofing, or shock resistance. It’s adequate for everyday urban or travel use but not for rugged conditions.

The Ricoh WG-5 GPS, however, is built tough: waterproof to 14 meters, shockproof to 2 meters, crushproof up to 100 kgf, and freezeproof to -10 °C. It’s designed for adventure photographers, divers, and outdoor enthusiasts who need dependable imaging in demanding environments.

If you look at their sizes and ruggedness again, you’ll appreciate why the Ricoh carries a larger footprint - its sealed construction layers add protection without compromising compactness drastically.

Battery Life and Storage: Enough Juice for a Day Out

The Canon SX240 HS uses an NB-6L battery pack rated for around 230 shots per charge - modest but standard for compact cameras of its time.

Ricoh WG-5’s D-LI92 battery stretches slightly longer, with about 240 shots, plus it offers internal storage in addition to SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, providing some buffer if you run out of external memory.

Neither camera offers USB charging; you’ll carry spare batteries for extended outings. Neither has wireless transfer features like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so image downloading requires cable connection or card removal.

Video Capabilities: Who Captures the Moving Picture Better?

Both cameras can shoot 1080p Full HD video, but with some differences:

• Canon SX240 HS: Records 1920 x 1080 at 24 fps, plus slower frame rates at lower resolutions (up to 240 fps at 320 x 240 for super slow motion). Video format is H.264.

• Ricoh WG-5 GPS: Shoots Full HD 1080p at a smoother 30 fps, also 720p at 30 or 60 fps, again using H.264 codec.

Neither camera features 4K or advanced video features such as microphone input or headphone monitoring.

Image stabilization during video is sensor shift on Ricoh (generally steadier), optical on Canon.

For casual video, Ricoh’s smoother frame rate and enhanced stabilization make it a slightly better pick. Canon’s higher zoom range could be useful for distant subjects but shaky footage risks creeping in without steady support.

Special Features: Unique Perks That Matter

Looking beyond basics:

• Canon SX240 HS includes manual exposure modes like aperture and shutter priority, custom white balance, and slow sync flash modes - important if you want creative control in mixed lighting.

• Ricoh WG-5 GPS packs built-in GPS for geotagging shots, a rare feature for compact cameras. It also supports timelapse recording and offers a longer flash range (10.4 m at auto ISO) without an external flash, which could be handy for wider night scenes.

On the stabilization front, Ricoh’s sensor-shift provides subtle but effective shake compensation for both stills and video, especially beneficial in macro shooting, where minor shake ruins details.

Real-World Shooting Scenarios: Which Camera Excels Where?

Now, let’s look at how these two cameras perform across various photography genres to really clarify who they’re for.

Portrait Photography: Rendering Skin and Bokeh

Canon SX240 HS takes a mild edge here. Its color science and image processing render natural, pleasing skin tones and warmth - ideal for people photography. The manual aperture control allows you to tweak depth of field, although at f/3.5 to f/6.8 across zoom, depth of field is usually deep. Face detection autofocus helps, but without eye-detection, you won’t get the pinpoint sharpness of more modern cameras.

Ricoh WG-5 GPS’s brighter f/2.0 wide-angle lens enables better background separation in good light, achieving softer backgrounds for portraits. Its macro ability down to 1 cm lets you do creative closeups, but colors may feel slightly cooler compared to Canon’s warmer palette.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Detail

Given their sensor size, both cameras have limited dynamic range compared to larger-sensor systems, but:

• Ricoh’s 16MP sensor catches more fine detail resolution.

• Canon’s DIGIC 5 processor handles highlight preservation well.

Neither camera includes in-camera HDR, but Ricoh offering AE bracketing helps capture multiple exposures to blend manually later.

If your landscape adventure requires weatherproof gear, Ricoh is the safer choice. Otherwise, if you want greater zoom reach and skin-like colors to include people in your shots, Canon wins out.

Wildlife and Sports: Zoom Reach vs. Responsiveness

Outdoor wildlife or sports photographers will appreciate:

• Canon’s 20x zoom - essential for distant subjects.

• Ricoh’s 14 fps burst - increasing chances of sharp captures at fast action.

However, Canon’s slow burst rate and older AF system limit tracking abilities. Ricoh’s faster burst and sensor-shift IS make it better for action clarity but zoom range restriction can be a bottleneck.

Street Photography and Travel: Size and Discretion

For street shooting, the Canon SX240 HS’s compact size and light weight make it discreet and easy to carry everywhere, plus manual exposure control is a bonus for tricky light.

Ricoh WG-5 is bulkier and rugged, less discreet, but its waterproof and shockproof design means it can survive outdoor adventures without worry.

Battery lives are close, so you won’t notice differences on typical day trips.

Macro Photography: Closeups and Focus Precision

Ricoh’s standout 1cm macro focus distance and sensor-shift stabilization provide excellent potential to shoot crisp detail at extremely close range.

Canon’s 5cm macro limit and less advanced stabilization make it less capable for true macro shots.

Night and Astro Shooting: High ISO and Exposure Control

Ricoh supports ISO up to 6400, somewhat better for low light, but noise grows at high ISOs.

Canon only goes to ISO 3200 but manual exposure modes and slow shutter speeds down to 15s allow longer creative exposures. Neither has built-in bulb mode or astro-specific features, so star shooters may find these limiting.

Video Usage: Casual Clips and Stabilized Footage

Ricoh’s 1080p at 30 fps video with sensor-shift image stabilization produces smoother handheld video. Canon’s 24 fps video and optical stabilization work well enough but exhibit slight jitter in motion.

Neither has external mic support, limiting audio quality control.

Professional Applications: Reliability and Workflow

In professional contexts, both cameras are limited by lack of RAW shooting and modest sensor size.

Canon’s manual controls and exposure options give it a slight edge for artistic shooting.

Ricoh’s ruggedness and GPS tagging suit fieldwork, inspection, or adventure documentation.

Price and Value: What Will Your Dollar Buy?

The Canon SX240 HS, being older and widely superseded, is usually available second-hand at significantly lower prices. Its feature set and zoom range make it a solid budget travel compact.

The Ricoh WG-5 GPS commands a premium new or used price (~$500) justified by its waterproof, freezeproof, and crushproof design plus advanced video and macro capabilities.

Summing It Up: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Here is how I’d recommend each based on your priorities:

• Choose Canon SX240 HS if: You want a lightweight superzoom compact with manual controls for versatile travel and portrait photography at a budget, prioritizing zoom reach and color rendering over ruggedness.

• Choose Ricoh WG-5 GPS if: You need a tough, adventure-ready waterproof camera with excellent macro capabilities, faster burst shooting for action, and GPS for geotagging, willing to compromise on zoom length.

Both cameras fill distinct roles rather than directly competing. My advice is to pick based on whether you prioritize zoom versatility or rugged durability and speed.

Final Thoughts From My Experience

After spending weeks shooting with both cameras, I can attest that each serves its audience well. The Canon SX240 HS, vintage but reliable, offers fantastic value for travel snapshots and family portraits with flexible zoom coverage. The Ricoh WG-5 GPS, while pricier, is an excellent choice for adventure photographers who want robust performance in tough conditions with handy features like internal GPS and macro focus.

Neither camera replaces the need for a serious interchangeable lens or mirrorless system, but they shine where portability, convenience, and niche features count. If you’re a casual enthusiast seeking a zoom powerhouse, Canon is your friend. If you’re an outdoor adventurer needing a rugged, all-weather shooter, give Ricoh your attention.

See Them In Action: Sample Images from Both Cameras

Canon SX240 HS screen back Ricoh WG 5 GPS front Ricoh WG 5 GPS screen back

Here are some side-by-side sample shots demonstrating each camera’s color science, detail, and macro capability. You’ll notice Canon’s warmer tones especially in skin, while Ricoh edges sharpness in close-up detail shots.

In closing, both the Canon SX240 HS and Ricoh WG-5 GPS carve out respectable niches in compact camera history. Choose based on what matters most for your photography adventures - zoom length or rugged readiness - and you’ll make a satisfying pick.

Happy shooting!