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Pentax XG-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Pentax XG-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Key Specs

Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Released July 2014
Ricoh GR Digital IV
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 190g - 109 x 59 x 33mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Replaced the Ricoh GR Digital III
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Pentax XG-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Pentax XG-1 and Ricoh GR Digital IV, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Ricoh. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the XG-1 (16MP) and GR Digital IV (10MP) and the XG-1 (1/2.3") and GR Digital IV (1/1.7") feature different sensor sizes.

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The XG-1 was introduced 2 years later than the GR Digital IV and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the XG-1 scores vs the GR Digital IV in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 XG-1 GR Digital IV 
LaunchedJuly 2014September 2011More recent by 35 months

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

 GR Digital IV XG-1 
Screen resolution1230k460kSharper screen (+770k dot)

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

 XG-1 GR Digital IV 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax XG-1 has external measurements of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") and a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) and the Ricoh GR Digital IV has specifications of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs).

Check out the Pentax XG-1 and Ricoh GR Digital IV in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the XG-1 against the GR Digital IV.

Pentax XG-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XG-1 and GR Digital IV is 66 and 92 respectively.

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

Pentax XG-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading technical specs. The visual below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the XG-1 and GR Digital IV.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The XG-1 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax XG-1 will deliver greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern XG-1 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

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

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

Pentax XG-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography factors
Ricoh GR Digital IV Portrait photography factors
40
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
41
you can focus manually
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Street photography info
Ricoh GR Digital IV Street photography info
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (567g)
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax XG-1
Sports photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
45
great zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (240 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good battery life (390 shots)
can't change focal length (28mm)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography details
Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography details
52
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (1248mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (240 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (567g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
good battery life (390 CIPA)
built-in flash
great max aperture (f1.9)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Landscape photography camera
45
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery life (240 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
53
you can focus manually
great max aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (390 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging highlights
Ricoh GR Digital IV Vlogging highlights
25
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (567 grams)
29
great max aperture (f1.9)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Pentax XG-1 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Ricoh GR Digital IV
 Pentax XG-1Ricoh GR Digital IV
General Information
Make Pentax Ricoh
Model type Pentax XG-1 Ricoh GR Digital IV
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-07-15 2011-09-15
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1248mm (52.0x) 28mm (1x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/1.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dots -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 1 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 3.00 m
Flash settings Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 567g (1.25 lbs) 190g (0.42 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 life 240 photos 390 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LB-060 DB65
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $599 $599