Ricoh CX5 vs Sony RX100 IV: A Compact Camera Showdown with Practical Insights

When I first got my hands on the Ricoh CX5 and the Sony RX100 IV, I had a sense that I was about to witness a classic davids-versus-goliaths tale - a 2011-era superzoom pocket rocket taking on a 2015 large sensor marvel. Both cameras carry that charm of compact portability yet cater to quite different photography appetites. Over weeks of real-world shooting sessions across portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and even astro nights, I’ve tracked how each camera’s specs translate into photographic success (and where they fall short).

If you’re a photography enthusiast or professional looking to upgrade your carry-along shooter or need an additional compact workhorse, this detailed comparison is tailored just for you. Let’s dive in with a side-by-side look, punctuated with hands-on observations, technical dissections, and a sprinkle of subjective flair.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Build - Holding the Cameras in Your Hands

In compact cameras, size and ergonomics are often underestimated - however, for all-day shooting and street photography, these factors can make or break the experience. Let’s start by sizing them up.

Looking at the Ricoh CX5 and Sony RX100 IV side by side, their dimensions are quite similar in footprint - the CX5 measures 102 x 59 x 29 mm and weighs an ultra-light 205 grams; the RX100 IV is slightly thicker at 41 mm and heavier at 298 grams. The RX100 IV’s heft is justified by its larger sensor and battery. For reference, 30 grams is about an ounce, so the difference is noticeable but not burdensome.

The CX5’s slimmer profile and lighter weight make it excellent for slips into jacket pockets or minimalist travel kits. Its plastic body feels less rugged but comfortable enough for casual shooters. The RX100 IV has a more substantial magnesium alloy shell, lending a premium and durable feel favored by someone wanting a reliable daily shooter.

Ergonomically, the RX100 IV wins hands-down with a textured grip and well-judged button placement that lets me shoot confidently without constantly checking settings. The CX5’s controls are satisfactory at best but feel a little cramped given the zoom's lengthy focal length range.

Top Controls and Interface: Usability Under Pressure

Photography isn’t just about specs; intuitive operation during the magic moment matters.

Sony’s RX100 IV continues its tradition of thoughtful control layouts. It sports a pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,359k-dot resolution, a tilting 3-inch 1229k-dot screen, and a well-positioned mode dial to quickly switch between manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, and program modes - all critical for varied shooting scenarios. The RX100 IV also supports exposure compensation, full manual focus, and continuous AF modes, making it a versatile platform even for pros.

The Ricoh CX5, by contrast, falls short in control sophistication: no EVF, a fixed 3-inch 920k-dot LCD, and fewer manual shooting options. Shrugging at the very limited shutter priority or aperture priority modes may disappoint more serious photographers craving creative control. The CX5 does have sensor-shift image stabilization, which aids in steady handheld shots but lacks the finesse of optical stabilization.

While the CX5 can shoot raw isn’t in the cards - it relies solely on JPEG, which limits creative latitude in postprocessing.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where the rubber meets the road - can the CX5’s aging 1/2.3-inch sensor hold its own against the mighty 1-inch back-illuminated BSI-CMOS sensor in the RX100 IV?

Sony’s RX100 IV offers a 20MP sensor with an effective imaging area of 116.16 mm² - over four times the sensor size of Ricoh’s 10MP CX5 (28.07 mm²). This translates to better signal-to-noise ratio, richer color depth, and an impressive dynamic range.

In practical terms, shooting landscapes or portraits in natural light, the RX100 IV renders images with excellent detail, vibrant yet natural skin tones, and shadow recovery that the CX5 simply can’t match. The RX100 IV’s native ISO range (125-12800, expandable to 80-25600) lets you push low-light boundaries without too many artifacts, while the CX5 maxes out at ISO 3200 with more noticeable noise creeping in at anything above ISO 800.

The CX5’s sensor also integrates an antialiasing filter, which can soften fine details, whereas the RX100 IV balances sharpness and anti-moiré effectively.

For wildlife photography, the RX100 IV’s larger sensor allows for cleaner, sharper telephoto shots (up to 70mm equivalent), while the CX5’s massive zoom (28-300mm) offers reach but sacrifices quality in the longer end.

Seeing is Believing: LCD Screens and Viewfinders

When dragging cameras out of pockets in bright daylight, the viewfinder and LCD quality matter immensely.

Both cameras have 3-inch LCD monitors, but the RX100 IV’s tilting screen with 1229k-dot resolution shines with superior clarity and flexibility, enabling creative low or high-angle shots - huge plus for macro or street photography. Its touchscreen operation is absent, but the physical controls compensate well.

The CX5’s fixed 920k-dot screen shows colors accurately but struggles in direct sunlight, which can be frustrating during midday street shoots or landscape sessions.

Moreover, the RX100 IV’s built-in EVF (pop-up style) offers 100% coverage with a refresh rate responsive enough for action shots and tracking moving subjects. Although small sensor compacts like the CX5 rely wholly on LCD framing, the presence of an EVF on the RX100 IV gives it a professional edge.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching Fleeting Moments

Speed and accuracy in autofocus and burst shooting can mean the difference between “the shot” and “the one that got away.”

The CX5’s autofocus system is limited to single-shot contrast detection without face or eye detection. This renders it sluggish and prone to hunt, especially in low-light or moving subject conditions. Sports or wildlife shooters will find this frustrating.

In contrast, the RX100 IV features 25 AF points and supports continuous autofocus with tracking and face detection, allowing confident capture of fast-moving subjects such as runners or birds. The 16 fps burst speed is another game changer compared to the CX5’s feeble 5 fps - huge for sports or wildlife photography, where decisive timing is key.

During my test shoots in a city marathon, the RX100 IV consistently nailed crisp sharp images of runners blasting past, where the CX5 often missed focus or lagged behind.

Zoom Range and Lens Quality: Flexibility vs Optical Excellence

Although fixed-lens cameras don’t have interchangeable lenses, their built-in optics heavily influence photographic versatility and image quality.

Ricoh CX5 offers an imposing 28-300mm equivalent zoom with F3.5-5.6 max aperture. That’s a 10.7x zoom - impressive reach for wildlife or travel shooters who want telephoto convenience without spectacles of bulk. Its macro focus range is as tight as 1cm, useful for extreme close-ups, though image sharpness at this focal point can suffer due to sensor limitations and lens optics.

Sony RX100 IV has a shorter 24-70mm equivalent zoom (2.9x) but a much brighter lens with F1.8-2.8 aperture. This bright aperture facilitates excellent subject isolation with pleasant bokeh that pleases portrait and street photographers alike. The 5cm macro limit is moderately close, complementing lifestyle shooting and exploratory textures but less impressive than the CX5’s super close macro capability.

In short: CX5 is the “telephoto all-rounder” while RX100 IV is a “fast, sharp walk-around” champion.

Battery Life and Storage: Endurance for the Day’s Work

Battery performance and storage options might seem mundane, but no one wants their camera to tap out halfway through a shoot.

The RX100 IV’s NP-BX1 battery offers approximately 280 shots per charge - average for a modern compact but not exceptional. Its single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot adds flexibility for high-speed UHS cards, a boon for 4K video (which the RX100 IV supports).

The CX5 uses a DB-100 battery; exact battery life numbers are scarce, but given its simple screen and modest sensor, it can stretch out longer for casual shooting. Storage-wise, it supports SD/SDHC cards plus internal memory - the latter a handy fallback but limited in capacity.

Neither camera supports dual card slots or USB charging internally, so I recommend extra batteries for extended sessions.

Video Performance: Still Image Cameras With Moving Ambitions

I’ve always been somewhat skeptical about compact cameras’ claims of “video prowess,” but in this comparison, the RX100 IV genuinely earns its stripes.

Sony RX100 IV supports UHD 4K video at 30fps and Full HD 1080p at up to 60fps, alongside slow-motion capture at 120fps in 720p. The video is recorded in advanced codecs (MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S), offering excellent editing latitude. Optical stabilization helps smooth handheld footage, and while lacking mic or headphone ports, the built-in microphones perform adequately.

Ricoh CX5 is limited to 720p HD video at 30fps in Motion JPEG format - quite outdated by today’s standards, and with large file sizes, it discourages lengthy shooting. No advanced video features or stabilization beyond standard sensor shift.

For vloggers and hybrid shooters, the RX100 IV is clearly the better tool. Cinematic footage out of a pocket? Yes, please.

Subject-Specific Performance: What Does Each Camera Excel At?

No one camera rules every photographic domain, so here is a breakdown based on genre needs:

Portrait Photography

RX100 IV steals the show, with a wide max aperture lens (F1.8-2.8), larger sensor producing shallower depth of field, excellent skin tone rendition, and face detection AF. CX5, with smaller sensor and slower lens, yields flatter portraits with less bokeh control.

Landscape Photography

Here, the RX100 IV’s superior dynamic range and resolution make richly detailed, vibrant landscapes a breeze, despite shorter zoom. The CX5’s longer zoom is less relevant here; its smaller sensor limits image quality and latitude in shadows/highlights.

Wildlife Photography

The CX5’s 300mm reach tempts casual wildlife photographers. However, autofocus sluggishness and noise at high ISO diminish results. RX100 IV’s faster and smarter AF paired with superior ISO handling can often net better wildlife shots, albeit with shorter zoom. Consider attaching a teleconverter or cropping to extend reach.

Sports Photography

The RX100 IV’s high burst rate (16 fps), tracking AF, and EVF make it suitable for capturing fast-moving sports action. The CX5’s slower 5 fps continuous mode and limited AF often miss critical moments.

Street Photography

CX5’s smaller size and less intimidating profile help sneak shots discreetly, but image quality and focus speed suffer. RX100 IV’s tilting screen and EVF aid in composing shots covertly, and large sensor dramatically improves low light performance.

Macro Photography

CX5’s 1cm macro is impressive on paper but marred by image softness. RX100 IV’s 5cm macro offers better sharpness and color accuracy.

Night / Astro Photography

RX100 IV supports ISO 12800 and beyond with cleaner images, faster shutter speeds, and manual exposure modes, better suited for starscapes. CX5 suffers from noise and slow shutter cutoff (max 1/8s) limiting low light potential.

Video Capabilities

RX100 IV is the clear winner with 4K video and professional codecs. CX5 falls behind with standard 720p MJPEG files.

Travel Photography

The CX5’s lighter weight and longer zoom offer practical flexibility, but RX100 IV’s superior image quality and video make it the better documented travel companion for serious enthusiasts.

Professional Work

For professional shooters needing reliable, high-quality outputs, RAW support (only RX100 IV), fast AF, and a versatile workflow (Sony’s XAVC S files) position the RX100 IV far above the CX5.

Connectivity and Extras: How Modern Are These Cameras?

The RX100 IV wins easily here, featuring NFC wireless sharing, HDMI output, and USB connectivity, allowing smooth integration into modern mobile workflows and quick social media sharing. The CX5 is basic with USB 2.0 only and no wireless options, making file transfers a bit old-fashioned and more time-consuming.

How Do They Stack Up Overall? Numbers Don’t Lie

Here’s a snapshot of their overall performance ratings from industry-standard sources (where available) combined with personal experience:

Unsurprisingly, RX100 IV’s DXO mark of 70 puts it firmly among enthusiast compact cameras, while CX5 lacks DXO testing but falls into lower performance tiers considering sensor size and features.

Genre-Specific Ratings: Where Each Camera Excels and Fails

Let’s look at specific categories ranked relative to ideal expectations:

Clearly, the RX100 IV dominates in portraits, landscapes, night, video, and sports, while the CX5 attempts to charm in telephoto reach and casual travel use.

Sample Images: Seeing is Believing

Technical specs and ratings tell only part of the story. Here are real-world JPEGs straight out of camera under varied conditions.

Ricoh CX5 front Ricoh CX5 screen back Sony RX100 IV front Sony RX100 IV screen back

Notice RX100 IV’s crisp detail, color fidelity, and clean backgrounds even in challenging light, compared to CX5’s softer edges and noisier results under the same framing.

Final Verdict: Who Should Pick Which Camera?

Both cameras have their place, but your choice depends on priorities:

• Choose the Ricoh CX5 if you...

  • Want a lightweight, compact camera with an exceptional zoom range (28-300mm) for casual wildlife or travel shooting
  • Can live with simpler controls, lower image quality, and limited video
  • Prefer an affordable camera around $400 (at launch pricing)
  • Mostly shoot in good light conditions and do not require advanced autofocus or professional-grade files

• Choose the Sony RX100 IV if you...

  • Are a serious enthusiast or pro needing superb image quality from a 1-inch sensor and fast, sharp lens
  • Want reliable, fast autofocus with tracking and face-detection for portraits, sports, and street photography
  • Require 4K video and modern connectivity options for hybrid shooting
  • Appreciate the flexibility of EVF, tilting screen, and refined manual controls
  • Don’t mind spending a premium ($900-ish at launch) for compact excellence with prosumer features

Wrapping It Up: Experience Speaking Louder Than Specs

After testing both cameras extensively, the difference comes down to sensor technology, autofocus sophistication, and video capability. The Ricoh CX5 is appealing for beginners or casual shooters wanting grab-and-go superzoom power at a budget level, but it’s showing its age in an era demanding speed and image quality.

On the other hand, the Sony RX100 IV exemplifies how far large sensor compacts have evolved - marrying portability, advanced tech, and creative control in one sleek package. But remember, it demands investment and a willingness to embrace a more serious shooting style.

I find myself reaching more often for the RX100 IV in diverse shooting scenarios due to confidence in image results and operational speed. The CX5, however, remains a lovable everyday companion in circumstances where weight and zoom range trump all else.

Both cameras tell different stories in the hands of their owners. Knowing these personalities helps you match your photography ambitions with the right kit.

Thank you for reading! If you want me to explore practical shooting guides with either camera or comparisons involving DSLR/mirrorless options, just ask. Meanwhile, happy clicking!