Ricoh CX3 vs Zeiss ZX1

On this page, we are reviewing the Ricoh CX3 vs Zeiss ZX1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Ricoh and Zeiss. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the CX3 (10MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the CX3 (1/2.3") and ZX1 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The CX3 was manufactured 9 years prior to the ZX1 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Ricoh CX3 being a Compact camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the CX3 scores vs the ZX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Ricoh CX3 & Zeiss ZX1. The entire galleries are available at Ricoh CX3 Gallery & Zeiss ZX1 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Ricoh CX3 features outer measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) and the Zeiss ZX1 has measurements of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Ricoh CX3 vs Zeiss ZX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the CX3 compared to the ZX1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the CX3 and ZX1 is 92 and 67 respectively.

Quite often, it's hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by checking specs. The picture here will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the CX3 and ZX1.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The CX3 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Zeiss ZX1 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 27 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged CX3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.