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Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Key Specs

Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Introduced July 2013
Ricoh GR Digital IV
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 190g - 109 x 59 x 33mm
  • Released September 2011
  • Replaced the Ricoh GR Digital III
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Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Pentax MX-1 versus Ricoh GR Digital IV, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Pentax and Ricoh. The resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the GR Digital IV (10MP) is very similar and both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/1.7").

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The MX-1 was brought out 22 months later than the GR Digital IV making them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the MX-1 matches up versus the GR Digital IV with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 MX-1 GR Digital IV 
ReleasedJuly 2013September 2011Fresher by 22 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Pentax MX-1

 GR Digital IV MX-1 
Display resolution1230k920kCrisper display (+310k dot)

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Ricoh GR Digital IV

 MX-1 GR Digital IV 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax MX-1 enjoys outside measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) and the Ricoh GR Digital IV has sizing of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax MX-1 versus Ricoh GR Digital IV in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the MX-1 and the GR Digital IV.

Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the MX-1 and GR Digital IV is 84 and 92 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing simply by going over technical specs. The visual below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the MX-1 and GR Digital IV.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Pentax MX-1 to offer more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The newer MX-1 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography highlights
Ricoh GR Digital IV Portrait photography highlights
42
manual focus
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
41
manual focus
exports RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
Ricoh GR Digital IV Street photography highlights
65
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (391g)
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography details
Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography details
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
great battery (290 CIPA)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
34
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good battery power (390 shots)
fixed focal length (28mm)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography factors
Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography factors
61
great battery (290 shots)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (391g)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
67
good battery power (390 shots)
has built in flash
great max aperture (f1.9)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography info
Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography info
55
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
great battery (290 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
lack of Timelapse mode
53
manual focus
great max aperture (f1.9)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
good battery power (390 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
Ricoh GR Digital IV Vlogging advice
33
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of microphone support
more heavy than competition (391 grams)
29
great max aperture (f1.9)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
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Pentax MX-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Ricoh GR Digital IV
 Pentax MX-1Ricoh GR Digital IV
General Information
Make Pentax Ricoh
Model Pentax MX-1 Ricoh GR Digital IV
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-07-01 2011-09-15
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28mm (1x)
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/1.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 1,230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 391 gr (0.86 lb) 190 gr (0.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 208 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos 390 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-Li-106 DB65
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $599