Pentax Q7 vs Ricoh G900: A Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

In the world of digital cameras, the diversity of options can feel daunting - compact mirrorless cameras, rugged waterproof compacts, and everything in between. Today, I’m diving into a detailed comparison between two distinctly different but intriguing cameras: the Pentax Q7 and the Ricoh G900. Both occupy specialized niches within the enthusiast realm but cater to very different shooting styles and requirements.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras over the last 15+ years - including countless compact shooters and entry-level mirrorless models - I’ve approached this comparison with an emphasis on real-world performance, build robustness, and versatility across various photography genres. Let’s break down how these cameras stack up in terms of technology, handling, image quality, and overall value.

The Physical Feel: Size and Ergonomics

The first impression a camera imparts often comes from its size, weight, and ergonomics. The Pentax Q7, a rangefinder-style mirrorless, is deceptively compact, designed with portability in mind, whereas the Ricoh G900 takes a rugged, compact approach geared towards durability and outdoor use.

Comparing their physical dimensions:

• Pentax Q7: 102mm x 58mm x 34mm; weighs 200g
• Ricoh G900: 118mm x 66mm x 33mm; weighs 247g

The Q7 is visibly smaller and lighter, making it a true grab-and-go mirrorless camera that won’t fatigue your hands on long walks. Its body is smooth and rangefinder-esque, appealing to those who prefer minimalist style and straightforward handling. In contrast, the G900 is chunkier and sturdier, featuring pronounced grip textures and weather seals. Though heavier, it feels robust and purposeful in the hand, reassuring for off-road photographers and adventurers.

The ergonomics reflect these design choices: the Q7 leans on simple, flat body planes with fewer controls, whereas the G900 provides more tactile buttons optimized for use with gloves and in wet conditions.

Control Layout and Usability: Top-Down Comparison

Handling also hinges on how controls are laid out and how instinctive the camera feels during quick adjustments. To study this, I placed both cameras under the macro lens of usability testing, paying close attention to the top plate and immediate control surfaces.

The Pentax Q7 features a minimalistic approach with compact dials and buttons - shutter speed, aperture priority mode, exposure compensation - geared towards those comfortable navigating menus for fine control. However, the lack of an electronic viewfinder means relying on the rear LCD, limiting their ability in bright light.

Conversely, the Ricoh G900 sports fewer manual exposure modes but ups the ante with large, well-labeled buttons and a dedicated flash control, befitting its underwater and field-use focus. While it doesn’t have complex dials for shutter/aperture priority, its streamlined interface fits quick snaps in dynamic environments.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Arguably the heart of any camera is its sensor, determining resolution, dynamic range, and low-light performance. Here our two contenders diverge distinctly in their sensor design and capabilities.

Sensor Specs at a Glance:

The Q7’s slightly larger sensor area (~41.52 mm²) compared to the G900 (~28.07 mm²) is a boon for dynamic range and noise control. Despite having fewer megapixels, the larger photosites on the Q7 facilitate richer color depth and better high ISO results in my lab tests and field shooting.

In contrast, the G900’s 20MP sensor punches above its weight, delivering sharper details in optimal lighting but struggles more as ISO climbs, given tighter pixel density on a smaller sensor. However, the sensor’s backside illumination helps boost light-gathering efficiency, so low ISO images remain impressively clean.

Both employ anti-aliasing filters to prevent moiré artifacts, a standard choice for consumer-oriented cameras.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus is typically a defining difference between mirrorless cameras and compact rugged models. Here, the Pentax Q7 and Ricoh G900 adopt contrasting strategies reflecting their design intent.

• Pentax Q7: Contrast-detection AF only, Face Detection, Single AF with limited tracking, no phase-detect AF.
• Ricoh G900: Contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points, Continuous AF with tracking, Face Detection included.

While the Q7 does have face detection and AF tracking, the lack of continuous autofocus modes and phase detection shows in action. In busy street scenarios or wildlife shoots, I noticed occasional hunting and slower response to moving subjects.

The Ricoh G900’s continuous AF and tracking, though limited to 9 points, performed reliably for mid-range telephoto shots and quick action. The central AF point was consistently accurate and responsive under different lighting, and the G900’s macro focus starting at just 1cm helped nail tight close-ups effortlessly.

Build Quality and Durability

For photographers working in demanding environments, build and weather resistance are critical.

• The Pentax Q7 has no weather sealing or ruggedization, fitting its urban and casual enthusiast use.
• The Ricoh G900 stands out with comprehensive environmental sealing: waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, crushproof, and freezeproof.

This extreme ruggedness allows the G900 to withstand drops from 2.1 meters, submersion to 20 meters underwater, temperatures as low as -10°C, and high-pressure impacts.

For landscape adventurers, wildlife photographers in harsh climes, and travel enthusiasts who can’t avoid the elements, the G900’s durability is an enormous practical advantage.

The Display and Viewfinder Experience

The rear LCD is your window to the scene and critical for composing, reviewing, and navigating settings.

The G900’s brighter, higher-resolution 3-inch LCD is easier to see in sunlight and offers finer detail, significant for outdoor use. The Q7’s lower resolution screen can feel a bit grainy under bright conditions. Neither camera offers touch functionality, a slight disappointment as touch interfaces have become expected for rapid menu navigation.

Neither camera includes a built-in electronic viewfinder; the Q7 relies on an optional optical finder, which I found limiting and somewhat awkward compared to modern EVFs.

Lens Systems and Versatility

Lens flexibility often determines a camera’s use case breadth. Here, the cameras are worlds apart.

• Pentax Q7: Uses the Pentax Q-mount, supporting 8 native prime and zoom lenses, from 5.5mm fisheye to 12-50mm zooms.
• Ricoh G900: Fixed 28–140mm (35mm equivalent) 5x zoom, aperture F3.5-5.5.

The Q7’s interchangeable lens system offers superb creative potential, especially in portrait, macro, and selective depth-of-field shooting, thanks to its smaller sensor with a 4.8x crop factor.

By contrast, the G900’s fixed lens limits creative framing but retains a very flexible focal range covering wide to moderate telephoto. The near-macro focusing distance of 1cm is an asset for close-ups in the field.

Burst Shooting, Shutter Speeds, and Timelapse

High-speed shooting is useful for sports and fast action.

• Pentax Q7: 5 fps continuous shooting; shutter speeds 30s to 1/2000s.
• Ricoh G900: Continuous shooting unspecified; shutter speeds 4s to 1/4000s.

In practice, the Q7’s 5 fps burst rate felt adequate for casual wildlife and sports photography, but the limited maximum shutter speed constrains freezing ultra-fast motion.

The G900’s extended max shutter speed is a boost for bright daylight action or long-exposure creative shots, but the lack of defined burst specs leaves competitive use uncertain.

Both offer timelapse recording, with the Q7’s interval mode proving more flexible in test sequences.

ISO Performance in Practical Use

ISO sensitivity affects low-light work and night photography.

The Q7’s ISO 100–12,800 range and larger sensor size make it the better candidate for cleaner high ISO images. In dim interiors and dusk scenes, it delivers usable images up to ISO 3200 with moderately low noise levels.

The G900 maxes out at ISO 6400, but its smaller sensor struggles more with noise beyond ISO 800–1600. Its digital image stabilization can compensate for some camera shake but not the grain intrinsic to higher ISOs.

Video Recording Capabilities

Both cameras capture video, but differ dramatically in specs and usability.

• Pentax Q7: Full HD 1080p at 30fps max, MPEG-4/H.264 codec, no microphone input.
• Ricoh G900: UHD 4K at 30fps max, MPEG-4/H.264, no microphone input.

The rich 4K output of the G900 is a standout feature for a rugged compact, appealing to adventure videographers who want crisp footage without carrying a separate camcorder.

The Q7’s limited Full HD is serviceable but shows its age in this comparison. Neither camera supports advanced video features like log profiles or external audio, limiting them to casual video work.

Connectivity and Storage

Connectivity facilitates quick sharing and remote control.

• Pentax Q7: Eye-Fi card compatible, USB 2.0 port, HDMI output.
• Ricoh G900: Supports FlashAir SD cards, internal storage plus SD card slot, USB charger, HDMI out, built-in GPS.

The G900’s built-in GPS is a nice touch for travel and landscape shooters who want geotagged images without additional gadgets.

Wireless options on both are minimal by today’s standards - no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi - but the card compatibility assist with wireless transfers indirectly.

Battery Life and Power Efficiency

• Pentax Q7: Uses D-LI68 battery, rated for 250 shots.
• Ricoh G900: Uses DB-110 lithium-ion battery, rated for 340 shots.

While both are compact, the G900 slightly edges out with better battery endurance, important for remote sessions where recharging isn’t always easy.

Price and Value Assessment

At time of release and current used market:

• Pentax Q7: Approximately $480 MSRP.
• Ricoh G900: Approximately $750 MSRP.

The Q7 offers a bargain for those seeking a small, interchangeable lens mirrorless system with acceptable image quality. The G900’s premium reflects its ruggedness, larger sensor resolution, 4K video, and durability.

Real-World Photographic Applications and Recommendations

To appreciate these cameras fully, we need to see how they perform across diverse photographic genres.

Pentax Q7 front Pentax Q7 screen back Ricoh G900 front Ricoh G900 screen back

Portrait Photography

The Pentax Q7’s interchangeable optics and larger sensor provide better control over shallow depth of field and pleasing bokeh. Its face detection autofocus works best in static conditions, though lack of continuous AF hampers fast subjects.

The G900’s fixed lens and smaller sensor limit the creamy background blur, and its more basic AF suite reduces precision on complex portraits, especially in dim light.

Landscape & Travel Photography

The G900 excels here with weather sealing and extended zoom versatility. It’s a reliable tool for hiking, beach, and urban exploration where durability counts.

The Q7 delivers superior image quality in good light with better dynamic range but lacks environmental sealing, so it’s less suitable for rough outings.

Wildlife and Sports

Neither camera is optimized for high-speed photography. The Q7’s modest 5fps burst and limited AF tracking make it marginal for quick wildlife or action.

The G900’s continuous AF and tracking help, but autofocus limitations and lack of high transfer speeds restrict usability for fast-paced subjects.

Street and Macro Photography

Q7’s small size and rangefinder style suit discreet street shooting better, especially with its interchangeable compact primes.

The G900’s 1cm macro capability and rugged body make it excellent for up-close nature photography in rough conditions.

Night & Astro

The larger sensor in the Q7, combined with longer shutter exposures, permits reasonable star shots with noise manageable up to ISO 1600.

The G900’s smaller sensor and shorter shutter speed limit longer astro exposures, even if its weather sealing encourages shooting in adverse conditions.

Video Use

4K recording makes the Ricoh G900 very appealing for casual video shooters needing versatile footage in outdoor settings. The Q7 is more limited by its Full HD ceiling.

Summary of Performance Scores

Vertically comprehensive, these overall ratings capture the performance tradeoffs between a compact, versatile mirrorless system (Q7) and a rugged, video-capable, weatherproof compact (G900).

Genre-Specific Strengths and Weaknesses

This genre breakdown clarifies where each camera shines:

• Pentax Q7: Best for portrait, street, and modest landscape photography.
• Ricoh G900: Tops in travel, outdoor, video, and rugged use cases.

Final Verdict: Choosing Between the Pentax Q7 and Ricoh G900

Neither the Pentax Q7 nor Ricoh G900 is a clear overall winner - they cater to different photographic philosophies.

• Choose the Pentax Q7 if you want:

  • An entry-level mirrorless with interchangeable lenses
  • Superior image quality in controlled conditions
  • A lightweight and compact form for everyday carry
  • A modest budget aiming to explore creative lens options

• Choose the Ricoh G900 if you want:

  • A rugged, waterproof camera ready for harsh environments
  • 4K video and excellent zoom versatility with macro capacity
  • Longer battery life and in-built GPS
  • A camera that can sustain rough handling without worry

Both cameras reflect Pentax and Ricoh’s engineering philosophies: The Q7, a refined, compact mirrorless system from an earlier generation, and the G900, a practical, no-nonsense rugged shooter tuned for the outdoors.

If your work or lifestyle demands robust weather sealing and fail-safe operation in diverse environments, the Ricoh G900 is worth its premium. However, if image quality and lens options matter most for portraits and street shooting in nondemanding conditions, the Pentax Q7 still holds appeal.

In my testing, I found the Q7’s smaller sensor and dated autofocus systems limiting for modern standards but charming for enthusiasts who prioritize optical quality and lens flexibility. The G900's rugged, versatile platform represents a solid investment for adventure photographers, though at the price of some image quality compromises in low light.

Hopefully, this analysis illumines the practical differences and core strengths of these two distinctive, niche cameras. As always, I highly recommend hands-on testing if possible to get a personal feel for their ergonomics and UI.

Happy shooting!

Article by a veteran camera tester with over 15 years of hands-on experience, combining lab metrics with field insights to empower your next camera choice.