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Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Nikon Coolpix AW120 front
 
Ricoh GR Digital III front
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34

Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Key Specs

Nikon AW120
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-4.9) lens
  • 213g - 110 x 66 x 26mm
  • Introduced February 2014
  • Old Model is Nikon AW110
  • Replacement is Nikon AW130
Ricoh GR Digital III
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 208g - 109 x 59 x 26mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Successor is Ricoh GR Digital IV
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Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Nikon AW120 and Ricoh GR Digital III, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Nikon and Ricoh. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the AW120 (16MP) and GR Digital III (10MP) and the AW120 (1/2.3") and GR Digital III (1/1.7") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The AW120 was introduced 4 years later than the GR Digital III and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the AW120 matches up versus the GR Digital III in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 AW120 GR Digital III 
RevealedFebruary 2014July 2009Fresher by 56 months
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Nikon AW120

 GR Digital III AW120 
Focus manually Dial exact focus

Common features in the Nikon AW120 and Ricoh GR Digital III

 AW120 GR Digital III 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon AW120 features exterior dimensions of 110mm x 66mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") having a weight of 213 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Ricoh GR Digital III has measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

See the Nikon AW120 and Ricoh GR Digital III in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the AW120 vs the GR Digital III.

Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the AW120 and GR Digital III is 92 and 92 respectively.

Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III top view buttons comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing purely by seeing specifications. The graphic below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the AW120 and GR Digital III.

Plainly, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The AW120 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Nikon AW120 will provide extra detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent AW120 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III sensor size comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon AW120 Portrait photography factors
Ricoh GR Digital III Portrait photography factors
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
40
focusing manually
exports RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon AW120 Street photography advice
Ricoh GR Digital III Street photography advice
62
image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
55
exports RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Nikon AW120 Sports photography highlights
Ricoh GR Digital III Sports photography highlights
51
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (350 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
17
can't change focal length (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon AW120 Travel photography factors
Ricoh GR Digital III Travel photography factors
69
better than average battery pack (350 per charge)
weather sealing
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
63
flash built-in
very good max aperture (f1.9)
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon AW120 Landscape photography info
Ricoh GR Digital III Landscape photography info
48
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (350 CIPA)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
45
focusing manually
very good max aperture (f1.9)
screen is a decent size (3")
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon AW120 Vlogging info
Ricoh GR Digital III Vlogging info
33
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
missing microphone jack
25
very good max aperture (f1.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
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Nikon AW120 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon AW120 and Ricoh GR Digital III
 Nikon Coolpix AW120Ricoh GR Digital III
General Information
Brand Nikon Ricoh
Model Nikon Coolpix AW120 Ricoh GR Digital III
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2014-02-07 2009-07-27
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - GR engine III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Lowest native ISO 125 64
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28mm (1x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-4.9 f/1.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 1 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.20 m 3.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 213 grams (0.47 lb) 208 grams (0.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 66 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") 109 x 59 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 350 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD / SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $350 $399