Olympus XZ-1 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus XZ-1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Ricoh. The resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro (12MP) is pretty comparable but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

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The XZ-1 was revealed 15 months after the GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the XZ-1 scores versus the GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus XZ-1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) while the Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro has sizing of 114mm x 70mm x 77mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus XZ-1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the XZ-1 compared to the GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-1 and GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro is 88 and 77 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes only by going through a spec sheet. The pic underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-1 and GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro.

Clearly, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The XZ-1 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro will show greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The newer XZ-1 provides a benefit in sensor technology.