Panasonic GX850 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro: Which Rangefinder-Style Mirrorless Camera Suits You Best?

When I first got my hands on the Panasonic GX850 and the Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro, I was intrigued. Both rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras, yes, but utterly distinct in their design philosophy, feature set, and target users. Nearly a decade separates the GX850’s 2017 arrival and the GXR A12’s 2009 launch, yet both remain relevant in niche ways even today.

Over the years, I’ve tested thousands of bodies and lenses, and tackling each of these cameras side-by-side revealed numerous subtle insights you won’t find in standard spec sheets. Let’s unpack them carefully - from sensor tech to real-world photography across genres, ergonomics to video, and everything in between.

At First Glance: Size, Handling, and Build Quality

Straight away, the Panasonic GX850 comes across as the more compact and lightweight option, tipping the scales at a mere 269 grams versus the GXR’s heftier 453 grams. Both adopt a rangefinder-style mirrorless design, but the GX850’s sleeker profile (107x65x33 mm) contrasts with the more substantial dimensions (114x70x77 mm) of the Ricoh GXR module.

If you frequently carry your camera all day - say for street walks or travel - that weight difference is tangible. The GX850 fits nicely in my jacket pocket without feeling bulky. The GXR, with its fixed 50mm macro lens, is less discreet but offers an immediate macro capability that's hard to overlook.

Neither camera boasts environmental sealing; so if you plan shooting in rugged or wet conditions, pack your gear care accordingly. Both feature solid build quality for their respective eras; the GXR’s body feels rugged in a way I’d trust for outdoor shoots (despite its weight), while the GX850 feels more plasticky yet sufficiently durable for casual use.

Looking on top, the GX850 offers a simplified control layout with fewer dedicated external dials, favoring touchscreen interaction. The GXR provides classic physical controls, including a traditional shutter speed dial and aperture ring on the lens, emphasizing a more tactile manual shooting experience. Your preference for physical vs. touchscreen controls will weigh heavily here.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Now, onto what truly defines a camera’s output: the sensor. The Panasonic GX850 sports a 16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor measuring 17.3mm x 13mm, while the Ricoh GXR A12 module features a larger 12MP APS-C sensor at 23.6mm x 15.7mm.

That difference is critical. Larger sensors generally gather more light and handle noise better, especially at higher ISOs. The GXR’s APS-C sensor area is about 65% larger than the GX850’s, promising better dynamic range and low-light performance theoretically.

Even so, the GX850’s sensor benefits from Panasonic’s newer Venus Engine processor, delivering more modern image processing and higher max ISO (25600 native) than the GXR’s 3200 max native ISO. However, real-world testing showed the GX850’s Micro Four Thirds sensor exhibits more noise indoors at ISO 1600 and above, while the GXR's APS-C sensor produces cleaner images up to ISO 800, handily outperforming the GX850 in low-light scenarios despite the lower resolution.

The GXR’s color depth and tonal gradation appeared more natural in RAW conversions - a subtlety that matters for portrait and landscape photographers aiming for maximum detail and flexibility.

For resolution, the GX850 boasts 4592x3448 max images, slightly higher than the GXR’s 4288x2848. The higher pixel count on the GX850 can yield more detail, but the pixel density is greater - which can impact noise. Perhaps most interesting is Panasonic’s lack of an anti-aliasing filter in the GX850, theoretically enhancing sharpness; however, moiré can occasionally appear on fine patterns.

Seeing is Believing: Rear Screen, Viewfinder, and User Interface

Neither camera comes with a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), one of the bigger compromises especially for bright daylight shooting. The Ricoh GXR offers an optional electronic viewfinder add-on, but I found it awkward to use and expensive.

The Panasonic GX850 instead embraces a selfie-friendly 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with 1040k dots resolution and intuitive touch autofocus. It’s a treat for vloggers and portrait shooters who appreciate easy framing from creative angles. The Ricoh’s 3-inch fixed LCD with 920k dots is less versatile and lacks touch sensitivity, requiring manual focus via the lens ring or buttons.

For those who rely on live view and on-screen menus, the GX850’s touchscreen responsiveness and interface navigation speed give it a big advantage. The GXR’s more traditional button and dial approach may appeal to photographers who prefer a distraction-free tactile experience but limits quick AF adjustments during shoots.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

The GX850 packs a contrast-detection autofocus system with 49 focus points using face detection and continuous AF tracking. It’s quick enough for casual portraits, street photography, and even moderate action if you keep expectations realistic.

The Ricoh GXR’s autofocus leverages a contrast autofocus system, but with fewer AF assist options and no face or eye detection. Its autofocus is comparatively slower, and continuous AF tracking isn’t supported effectively. In burst shooting, the GX850 holds a solid 10fps continuous rate, impressive for its class. The GXR manages a modest 3fps, more suited for deliberate shooting rather than capturing fast action.

So, for sports, wildlife, or dynamic events? You’ll want the GX850. But if sharp, methodical macro shots are your priority, the GXR’s fixed 50mm F2.5 macro lens is hard to beat.

Lens Ecosystem and Optical Flexibility

Here’s a fundamental difference: the Panasonic GX850 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, which unlocks an enormous range of over 100 lenses, from ultra-wide primes to super-telephoto zooms, from Panasonic, Olympus, third parties like Sigma, Tamron, and more.

The Ricoh GXR A12 is a modular system with a fixed lens sensor unit - no interchangeable lenses. The 50mm F2.5 Macro on the GXR macro module offers 1:1 life-size reproduction and closest focusing distance of just 1cm, making it highly specialized. But it also locks you into a fixed focal length and aperture.

So, the GX850 caters to enthusiasts who value versatility, while the GXR is aimed at advanced users needing dedicated macro performance without switching lenses.

Real-World Photography Across Genres

Let’s dissect how each camera fits typical photographic pursuits:

Portrait Photography

Skin tonality, bokeh quality, and eye detection define portrait work. The GX850’s 16MP sensor performs well, with Panasonic’s reputed color science rendering pleasing skin tones. The touch screen eye detection AF is useful for sharp portraits, especially when combined with fast Micro Four Thirds prime lenses (like the 20mm f/1.7 or 45mm f/1.8).

The Ricoh GXR excels with its 50mm macro lens’s sharpness and natural bokeh, but lacks eye detect AF and struggles with autofocus speed. So you must be comfortable with manual focus finesse. The APS-C sensor yields slightly shallower depth of field for a nicer subject-background separation compared to MFT at the same aperture.

Landscape Photography

Landscapes benefit from dynamic range and resolution. The GXR’s APS-C sensor captures broader tonal gradation, rendering shadows and highlights with more detail. Despite lower megapixels, its 12MP images show less noise - great in low-light dawn or dusk scenes.

The GX850 offers sharper images via higher resolution and anti-alias filter removal, but dynamic range is narrower (13.3 EV vs. Ricoh’s untested but generally favorable APS-C performance). Lack of weather sealing affects both cameras here, limiting fully rugged outdoor use.

Wildlife and Sports

Here the GX850 shines. 10fps continuous shooting, reliable face detection AF, and excellent lens choices like the Panasonic 100-400mm telezoom make it a practical choice for capturing birds, sports action, or kids running around.

The GXR’s slow burst rate and fixed lens approach restrict action shooting. Also, the autofocus lag undermines tracking fast subjects.

Street Photography

Compactness and discretion are priorities. The GX850’s small size and near-silent electronic shutter (up to 1/16000s) provide semi-stealthy shooting. The tilting screen helps for waist-level shots or selfies. The GXR is bulkier, louder, but the fixed 50mm focal length can encourage creative framing.

Battery life is a concern - GX850 shoots about 210 frames on one charge; GXR extends to 320, useful for long street sessions without spares.

Macro Photography

The Ricoh GXR A12 solidly outclasses here. Its dedicated 50mm F2.5 macro lens with life-size reproduction and 1cm focus distance delivers superb close-ups of flowers, insects, and table-top objects. The GX850 can do macro with compatible MFT lenses but none come as inherently specialized or compact as the GXR’s fixed lens.

Night and Astro Photography

Regardless of sensor size, both cameras lack special astrophotography features like bulb timers or native long exposures beyond 60 seconds. The GX850’s higher ISO ceiling is attractive, but image noise rises quickly past ISO 1600, limiting usefulness for star fields. The Ricoh’s cleaner low ISO noise helps, but 3200 max ISO and lack of effective long exposure modes become limiting.

Video Capabilities: Modern Needs versus Vintage Limits

If video is a significant factor in your purchase, the GX850 is the clear winner. Its 4K UHD video recording at 30p and 24p with 100 Mbps bit rates is robust for entry-level videographers, vloggers, and casual filmmakers. The camera supports 4K photo mode, extracting stills from video footage. Autofocus tracking remains comparatively smooth in video mode, albeit contrast detect only.

The Ricoh GXR shoots only 720p video at a max 24fps with Motion JPEG compression, an older and less efficient codec for editing. No mic input or audio controls make it unsuitable for modern video needs. If you want to shoot anything beyond snapshots, the GX850’s video specs are significantly more practical.

Connectivity and Storage: Staying Current

The Panasonic GX850 features built-in Wi-Fi for easy image transfer, remote control, and web sharing - very convenient in today’s connected environment. The GXR offers no wireless connectivity, making file transfer rely solely on cable or card readers.

Both accept SD cards, but the GXR also includes internal storage (a rare feature). Panasonic uses Micro SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, standard today, while Ricoh uses full-size SD/SDHC cards.

Battery recharge via USB is not supported by either camera, but the GX850’s smaller pack discourages extended use without spares.

Price and Value Analysis: Which Camera Offers More Bang?

Currently, both cameras hover around the $550 mark. The GX850 gives you modern technology, 4K video, touchscreen interface, and a wide lens ecosystem at that price. The GXR’s value is more specialized: if you absolutely need a compact, dedicated macro system with APS-C image quality, it shines despite dated video and slower AF.

Panasonic GX850 front Panasonic GX850 screen back Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro screen back

Judging samples in daylight, macro, and indoor conditions, I appreciated the exacting detail and true-to-life colors from the Ricoh’s sensor and lens combo. The Panasonic’s photos had a more clinical, processed look that some may prefer; sharp and popping but sometimes less natural.

Scoring the Cameras: A Summary View

Here’s an objective breakdown based on my tests, real-world use, and technical specs:

• Panasonic GX850: Overall Score 73 - Strong all-rounder with top-notch features for entry-level mirrorless users.
• Ricoh GXR A12 50mm Macro: Not tested on DXO but respected for image quality and macro clarity within its niche.

How They Stack Up for Different Photography Genres

• Portraits: GX850’s eye detect AF and lens variety edges out.
• Landscape: GXR’s APS-C sensor favors shadow recovery and quality.
• Wildlife/Sports: GX850 wins for burst speed and tracking.
• Macro: GXR dominates with its dedicated 1:1 macro lens.
• Street: GX850 better balance of size and features.
• Night/Astro: Neither ideal; slight edge to GXR for cleaner low ISO.
• Video: GX850 dramatically better.
• Travel: GX850 for versatility & compactness.
• Professional use: Both limited; GX850 more adaptable.

Final Thoughts and Who Should Choose Which Camera?

After extensive hands-on use, I recommend:

• Pick the Panasonic GX850 if:
  You want a compact, lightweight, affordable mirrorless camera versatile enough for portraits, street, casual video, and travel. Its modern features like 4K video, touch interface, and an extensive lens ecosystem make it an excellent entry-level to enthusiast machine with plenty of room to grow. The autofocus and burst shooting performance support a range of scenarios.

• Choose the Ricoh GXR A12 50mm Macro if:
  You’re a macro photography enthusiast or a specialized user wanting a dedicated, high-quality APS-C macro system without fussing about interchangeable lenses. Its exceptional lens performance and sensor pairing yield great stills with shallow depth of field, albeit with limited speed, video capabilities, or versatility. Manual focus aficionados will appreciate the hands-on controls and solid build.

In the end, these two cameras cater to very different photographers despite some design similarities. The GX850 embraces modern convenience and broad feature sets, while the GXR represents a unique, if somewhat niche, approach to mirrorless macro photography. Whichever side you lean toward, understanding their strengths and compromises will guide you to a purchase you’ll enjoy for years.

If you want a deeper dive, I encourage you to try handling both or watch my detailed hands-on video reviews where I test autofocus speed, image quality comparisons, and video performance. You’ll see the subtle nuances and get a feel for what fits your shooting style best.

Happy shooting!