Canon SX720 HS vs Ricoh GR Digital III: A Compact Shootout for the Enthusiast

When it comes to compact cameras, the choices can be exhilarating - and, let’s be honest, a little overwhelming. Today, we’re diving deep into a detailed face-off between two decidedly different contenders from the tail end of the 2000s and mid-2010s: the Canon PowerShot SX720 HS and the Ricoh GR Digital III. Though both fit snugly into the compact category, these cameras cater to intriguingly distinct philosophies in photography. One is a versatile superzoom powerhouse; the other, a compact prime shooter obsessively crafted for image quality and street-level finesse.

Having spent weeks with both cameras and flexed their strengths across multiple photography types, I’ll guide you through sensor tech, autofocus nuances, operational ergonomics, and more - all based on my personal testing, technical know-how, and, naturally, a healthy dash of hands-on experience. By the end, you’ll know which is worth your hard-earned cash.

Compactness Meets Ergonomics: Which Feels Better in Your Hand?

Before we talk tech specs, how a camera feels can shape whether you actually grab it out the door - so let’s get tactile.

The Canon SX720 HS is a small sensor superzoom built for versatility. Despite packing a 40x optical zoom (incredible on paper), it remains pocket-friendly thanks to a compact body measuring 110 x 64 x 36 mm and weighing about 270 grams. The Ricoh GR Digital III, meanwhile, tips the scales lighter at 208 grams with slightly slimmer dimensions (109 x 59 x 26 mm). It’s a smaller, more straightforward compact optimized for prime shooting.

Handling these side-by-side, the SX720’s boxier frame offers deeper grip comfort - for me, that meant steadier shots at the long end of its crazy zoom range. The GR Digital III feels more minimalist but has that classic rangefinder-style feel, which might appeal to street shooters who prize discretion. However, its smaller grip can be a challenge for prolonged handheld use, especially with bigger hands.

Also worth noting: The Canon features a fixed 3.0-inch screen (non-touch) that's clear and sharp, perfect for framing at odd focal lengths, while the Ricoh also sports a 3.0-inch fixed screen but with similar resolution - more about screen differences later.

If you juggle long zoom capabilities and prefer a sturdier grip, the SX720 edges ahead ergonomically. For minimalists chasing a flat, pocket-ready camera to slip into street corner cafes unnoticed, the GR Digital III wins on sleekness.

Design and Controls: Finding Your Interface Roadmap

Operating a camera intuitively is crucial - sometimes more than the specs sheet - especially when candid moments demand quick reactions.

Taking a top-down look provides insight into the control philosophy:

Canon’s SX720 HS leans into traditional superzoom controls, with a good number of dials and buttons spread logically for zoom, exposure modes, and quick access to playback or flash settings. The layout is busy, but manageable once you’ve spent some quality time with it. The zoom rocker is seamlessly integrated into the shutter button - a design almost anyone who’s handled a compact zoom camera will find familiar.

Ricoh’s GR Digital III embraces simplicity, with fewer buttons. It champions a more “purist” photographic experience, letting the photographer concentrate on composition and exposure, not toggling loads of camera settings. The lens has a dedicated aperture ring - a rare design delight that instantly won me over as a tactile joy for aperture priority fanatics.

Neither camera sports a touchscreen, which - given their vintage - isn’t surprising, but it does mean menu diving requires patience. For the SX720, the interface is more dynamic, aimed at casual shooting and quick settings changes. The GR Digital III’s menu system is leaner, optimized for photographers who enjoy a more deliberate approach.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Battle Behind the Lens

Let’s talk about what truly matters: image capture. Sensor size, resolution, and processing affect everything from noise to dynamic range to color fidelity.

Canon SX720 HS features a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor, measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, packing a hefty 20.3 megapixels. It’s paired with Canon’s DIGIC 6 processor, which, by 2016 standards, delivered decent image processing with respectable noise control. However, small sensors, especially in superzoom compacts, inherently struggle in low light and can fall short on dynamic range - a factor that limits creative latitude in shadows and highlights.

In contrast, the Ricoh GR Digital III sports a larger 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor (7.44 x 5.58 mm) with 10 megapixels. While CCDs have largely been replaced by CMOS sensors, in this configuration, Ricoh’s sensor offers richer colors, smoother gradations, and better detail rendering at base ISO compared to typical small sensor compacts. Also, fewer megapixels on a bigger sensor often translate into reduced noise and better image clarity - sweet for street and general-purpose photography.

In real-world use, the GR Digital III’s images exhibit fewer artifacts and noticeably better tonal rendition, especially at ISO 100 and 200. The SX720’s images, while higher in resolution, sometimes look softer with higher noise spike past ISO 800.

That said, if the zoom range is your priority, the SX720 still impresses by capturing usable images from wide-angle to extreme telephoto - albeit at a cost in sensor performance.

Live View, Displays, and Viewfinders: What Do You See?

Shooting via screen or viewfinder dramatically changes your interaction with the scene.

Neither camera features an electronic viewfinder, but the Ricoh offers an optional optical viewfinder, which adds a certain vintage charm for precise framing in bright sun or stealthy street shooting. The Canon SX720 omits a viewfinder altogether.

Both cameras balance this with a fixed 3-inch LCD display - the SX720 slightly edges the GR Digital III in screen resolution (922 vs 920k dots), but the difference is negligible for practical use.

On bright days, the SX720’s screen seemed marginally easier to see, partly thanks to better handling of glare. The Ricoh’s screen holds up well but calls for a wrist shade.

Importantly, neither camera has touchscreens. After getting used to phones and modern mirrorless cams, this felt dated. Yet it also meant that menu navigation was distraction-free once shortcuts were learned.

Snapdragon Zoom or Prime Dedication? Lens and Focal Range Implications

One of the defining features setting these two apart is lens design.

The Canon SX720 HS boasts an epic 24-960 mm equivalent zoom (40x optical) with a max aperture range of f/3.3 to f/6.9. This reach is astonishing, allowing sports, wildlife, and landscape shooters to cover a range of distances without lugging multiple lenses. However, tiny apertures at the tele end and sensor size limit low light usability and bokeh control.

Contrast this with the Ricoh GR Digital III’s 28 mm equivalent prime lens at a bright f/1.9 aperture. This wider field of view shines in street, landscape, and environmental portraiture, delivering sharp images with lovely subject separation - especially important for portrait and street genres where background blur adds artistic weight.

Neither camera supports interchangeable lenses, but the Ricoh’s prime lens is legendary for its sharpness and minimal distortion. The Canon’s superzoom lens understandably compromises on optics complexity but excels at versatility.

If you crave dynamic zoom capacity - for hopping from wide vistas to detailed wildlife shots - the SX720 is your flexible friend. For those who prioritize optical quality and shooting style over focal length range, the GR Digital III is a steadfast companion.

Autofocus Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus is a make-or-break feature in capturing fleeting moments. How do these two deliver?

The Canon SX720 HS employs a contrast-detection system with 9 AF points, including face detection and continuous AF options. During burst shooting or sports scenarios, it manages respectable focus tracking at 5.9 fps, although contrast detection lags subtly behind today’s phase detection technologies - which wasn’t common in 2016 superzooms.

The Ricoh GR Digital III’s autofocus system is contrast-detection only, with no continuous AF or tracking. Focus speed is moderate - quick enough for relaxed street shooting, but not primed for fast-action or wildlife bursts. Its macro focusing range begins at a commendable 1 cm, making it capable for close-up creativity.

In practice, the Canon’s autofocus is more versatile, notably better at locking on moving targets. The Ricoh expects a steadier hand and deliberate composition, rewarding patience with precision but not speed.

Shutter, Burst Rates, and Exposure Modes

While both cameras offer manual exposure, aperture priority, and shutter priority modes, they differ in shutter speed ceilings.

The Canon SX720 HS shutters max out at 1/3200 seconds with a minimum speed of 15 seconds, while the Ricoh GR Digital III maxes at 1/2000 seconds, minimum 1 second (longer exposures rely on manual bulb mode). The longer maximum shutter speed on the Canon assists in freezing fast motions.

Burst rates favor the Canon with a solid 5.9 fps continuous shooting mode. Ricoh does not list a continuous burst speed, signalling it’s not intended for multi-frame rapid shooting.

Both cameras have flash capabilities, but Ricoh’s external flash compatibility is a plus for strobing aficionados, albeit with a limited flash range (3 meters). Canon has a built-in flash only, with a slightly longer range (4 meters).

Image Stabilization and Macro Capabilities

Image stabilization comes standard on the Canon SX720 HS (Optical IS), which significantly helps counteract shake - essential when zoomed in at extremes.

Ricoh omits stabilization, relying on fast aperture and sensor size to combat blur, so steady hands or tripods become more necessary here.

On macro fronts, both cameras impress with close focusing starting at 1 cm - handy for flower or product shots. The Canon’s IS proves invaluable here to keep shots sharp handheld.

Video Skills: Is Either a Pocket Camcorder?

Neither camera excels as a video powerhouse - but looks can deceive.

The Canon SX720 HS records Full HD (1920 x 1080) video at up to 60 fps, delivering smooth, crisp footage with H.264 compression. Steering framing through the zoom and optical image stabilization vastly improves handheld shots. Unfortunately, it lacks an external microphone input, limiting sound control.

The Ricoh GR Digital III stutters behind with VGA (640 x 480) resolution at 30 fps max - featuring no HD or Full HD options - essentially relegating video to casual use or novelty.

For casual videographers, the Canon is clearly superior. Videophiles should look elsewhere altogether.

Connectivity, Battery Life, and Storage

Connectivity-wise, the Canon SX720 HS includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, making transferring images and remote shooting more plausible - features absent in the Ricoh GR Digital III, which comes without wireless options.

Battery life favors Canon with about 250 shots per charge using the NB-13L battery pack. Ricoh’s official battery life ratings are absent, but in practice, it’s less robust, partly due to older tech and smaller battery capacity.

Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with Ricoh even including internal storage - a useful fallback.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Now, onto the burning question: how do these cameras perform practically, across the wide spectrum of genres that might define your photography life?

Canon SX720 HS front Canon SX720 HS screen back Ricoh GR Digital III front Ricoh GR Digital III screen back

Portrait Photography

The Ricoh’s fast f/1.9 lens artistically blurs backgrounds, captures pleasing skin tones, and renders emotion gracefully. Its 10 MP CCD sensor's smoother tonal gradients complement close-ups beautifully.

The Canon, with a smaller sensor and slower max apertures, struggles to isolate subjects and create creamy bokeh, especially at longer zoomed lengths, but benefits from face detection AF. For casual portraits where ultimate blur isn’t a priority, it suffices.

Landscape Photography

Here, resolution and dynamic range are king. The Ricoh’s larger sensor delivers better tonal nuances and less noise at base ISO, ideal for sprawling vistas. Its prime lens offers edge-to-edge sharpness.

The Canon’s extensive zoom allows for creative composition but the small sensor limits shadow detail retrieval and leads to more noise in darker scenes.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Canon’s 40x zoom and continuous autofocus put it miles ahead for distant wildlife or sports subjects - framing with the SX720’s zoom window lets you isolate action without changing location.

Ricoh simply cannot compete in reach or tracking. Its slower AF and fixed focal length restrict use to close encounters or controlled environments.

Street Photography

Ricoh’s compact size, prime lens, and discreet styling make it a cult favorite among street shooters aiming to capture life’s authentic moments with minimal intrusion.

Canon’s lens versatility is tempting but its bulkier grip, slower AF under street lighting, and no viewfinder diminish fast responsiveness.

Macro and Close-Up Work

The Canon’s optical stabilization combined with a close minimum focus distance fosters sharp handheld macro shots.

Ricoh’s sharp optics and similar focusing range offer quality but need steadier handling.

Night and Astro Photography

Small sensors typically tank here. The Ricoh’s CCD sensor with lower maximum ISO and absence of image stabilization limits night shooting but allows longer exposure captures on tripod.

The Canon’s higher ISO ceiling helps handheld low light shots somewhat, and stabilization aids further, but its sensor noise rises sharply after ISO 800.

Video Recording

Canon’s Full HD recording and stabilization make it a competent compact video shooter. Ricoh’s VGA output and no HD option makes it a novelty for video.

Travel and General Use

Canon’s zoom versatility covers many scenarios compactly, making it a useful travel companion when you want “one camera fits all.”

Ricoh’s lightweight, prime lens combination suits travelers focused on quality street and landscape shots over zoom flexibility.

Professional Workflows

Neither camera targets pro workflows: no RAW support on the Canon, limited output resolution on the Ricoh, and absent weather sealing on both.

Durability and Build Quality

Neither camera boasts weather sealing, dustproofing, or shock resistance - common in their class and era. Robustness feels moderate on both; careful handling is recommended for outdoor shoots.

Price-to-Performance: Which Camera Offers More Bang for the Buck?

At launch, the Canon SX720 HS and Ricoh GR Digital III sat in comparable price brackets (~$370-400), with Canon offering more features aimed at casual versatility and Ricoh targeting serious enthusiasts.

Today, in the used market, the Ricoh GR series commands a premium for its image quality and cult following, despite aging tech and limited video.

Verdict: Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose Canon PowerShot SX720 HS if:

• You want ultra-long zoom reach packed in a compact.
• You shoot a diverse array of subjects from wildlife to sports to casual travel snapshots.
• You appreciate in-camera image stabilization for handheld use.
• You want Full HD video without fuss.
• Wireless connectivity and NFC for quick sharing matter.
• You prefer a more traditional zoom-camera handling experience.

Choose Ricoh GR Digital III if:

• You prioritize image quality, color fidelity, and lens sharpness - especially for street and portrait photography.
• You like a prime fixed focal length and bright aperture for creative control and low-light shooting.
• Your photography style is deliberate and minimalist rather than quick action.
• You can live without video specs and wireless connections.
• You want a compact rangefinder-style experience with an optional optical viewfinder.
• You desire some RAW shooting capability for advanced post-processing.

Final Thoughts From My Photo Bag

Both the Canon SX720 HS and Ricoh GR Digital III are charming relics of their respective eras, distinct yet compelling. The Canon is the Swiss Army knife of compact superzooms for travelers, hobbyists, and those who prize versatility with moderate image quality compromises. The Ricoh, meanwhile, is a precision instrument for photographers who want to wrest maximum quality from a small camera, with a no-nonsense workflow and the fun of a fast prime lens.

In the hands, I often found myself reaching for the GR Digital III when craving that “photographer's tool” feel - quiet, precise, and rewarding care. The Canon, however, saved me more than once when chasing dynamic subjects too distant to approach on foot, or when I just wanted to capture a smorgasbord of views on a single outing without changing gear.

Ultimately, the choice boils down to your photographic priorities: versatility and reach, or compact quality and focus? Hopefully, this detailed exploration helps you decide which of these pocket rockets deserves your attention - and passion.

Happy shooting!