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Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Pentax Optio W90 front
 
Ricoh GR Digital III front
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34

Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Key Specs

Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Revealed February 2010
Ricoh GR Digital III
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 208g - 109 x 59 x 26mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Successor is Ricoh GR Digital IV
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Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Overview

Following is a extensive analysis of the Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Ricoh. The image resolution of the W90 (12MP) and the GR Digital III (10MP) is relatively close but the W90 (1/2.3") and GR Digital III (1/1.7") boast different sensor sizing.

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The W90 was brought out 8 months after the GR Digital III so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a short summation of how the W90 grades versus the GR Digital III with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 W90 GR Digital III 
IntroducedFebruary 2010July 2009More modern by 8 months

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Pentax W90

 GR Digital III W90 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Pentax W90 and Ricoh GR Digital III

 W90 GR Digital III 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Pentax W90 enjoys exterior measurements of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs) while the Ricoh GR Digital III has specifications of 109mm x 59mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check out the Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the W90 versus the GR Digital III.

Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the W90 and GR Digital III is 94 and 92 respectively.

Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III top view buttons comparison

Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The image underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the W90 and GR Digital III.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The W90 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax W90 will result in greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern W90 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III sensor size comparison

Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax W90 Portrait photography details
Ricoh GR Digital III Portrait photography details
27
has manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
40
has manual focus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax W90
Street photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
54
weather sealing
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
55
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax W90 Sports photography info
Ricoh GR Digital III Sports photography info
24
weather sealing
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
17
can't change focal length (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax W90 as a Travel photography camera
Ricoh GR Digital III as a Travel photography camera
64
weather sealing
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
63
has built in flash
very good max aperture (f1.9)
low megapixels (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax W90
Landscape photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
37
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
45
has manual focus
very good max aperture (f1.9)
screen size is good (3 inch)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax W90 as a Vlogging camera
Ricoh GR Digital III as a Vlogging camera
25
relatively wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
25
very good max aperture (f1.9)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing mic port
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Pentax W90 vs Ricoh GR Digital III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax W90 and Ricoh GR Digital III
 Pentax Optio W90Ricoh GR Digital III
General Information
Brand Pentax Ricoh
Model type Pentax Optio W90 Ricoh GR Digital III
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-02-24 2009-07-27
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime GR engine III
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 80 64
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/1.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 1s
Max shutter speed 1/1500s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 3.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft 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 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 164 gr (0.36 lbs) 208 gr (0.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 109 x 59 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID D-LI68 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $120 $399