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Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Ricoh GR III front
Portability
90
Imaging
69
Features
62
Overall
66

Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III Key Specs

Pentax X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Announced August 2012
Ricoh GR III
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28mm (F2.8-16) lens
  • 257g - 109 x 62 x 33mm
  • Released September 2018
  • Superseded the Ricoh GR III
  • Renewed by Ricoh GR III
Photography Glossary

Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Ricoh. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the X-5 (16MP) and GR III (24MP) and the X-5 (1/2.3") and GR III (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The X-5 was manufactured 7 years prior to the GR III and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Ricoh GR III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the X-5 scores against the GR III in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Ricoh GR III

 X-5 GR III 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR III over the Pentax X-5

 GR III X-5 
ReleasedSeptember 2018August 2012More recent by 74 months
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Ricoh GR III

 X-5 GR III 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and size. The Pentax X-5 comes with physical measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Ricoh GR III has specifications of 109mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 257 grams (0.57 lbs).

Examine the Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the X-5 versus the GR III.

Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the X-5 and GR III is 65 and 90 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The graphic below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the X-5 and GR III.

All in all, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The X-5 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Ricoh GR III will resolve more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The older X-5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X-5
Portrait photography with Ricoh GR III
43
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
81
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography advice
Ricoh GR III Street photography advice
50
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competition in class (595g)
84
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
lighter than others (257g)
great ISO range (102,400)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography details
Ricoh GR III Sports photography details
52
amazing zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
76
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
fixed focal length (28mm)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography advice
Ricoh GR III Travel photography advice
53
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (22mm)
very long reach (580mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (595g)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than others (257g)
has touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography info
Ricoh GR III Landscape photography info
47
manual focus
relatively wide (22mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
69
has manual focus
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (102,400)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging features
Ricoh GR III Vlogging features
26
relatively wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
heavier than competition in class (595 grams)
37
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (257 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone support
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Pentax X-5 vs Ricoh GR III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Ricoh GR III
 Pentax X-5Ricoh GR III
General Information
Make Pentax Ricoh
Model Pentax X-5 Ricoh GR III
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-08-22 2018-09-25
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1 and 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) 28mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/2.8-16
Macro focus range 1cm 6cm
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 230 thousand dots -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash options - Auto, Flash On, Flash On+Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Slow Sync+Red-eye
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595g (1.31 pounds) 257g (0.57 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 109 x 62 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Internal, SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $230 $900