Ricoh G900 vs Sony WX5

Ricoh G900 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5: A Thorough Comparison for the Contemporary Photographer

Choosing the right camera can profoundly impact how photographers capture their vision, whether for casual shooting, professional assignments, or adventurous exploration. In this comprehensive comparison, we examine two compact cameras from different eras and categories: the rugged Ricoh G900 introduced in 2018, designed for extreme conditions and versatile usage, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5, a smaller sensor compact from 2010, intended primarily for casual and travel photography. With over 15 years of hands-on experience testing thousands of cameras across all photography disciplines, we bring authoritative, experience-backed insight into how these two models stack up in real-world scenarios.

Handling and Ergonomics: Durable Versatility Meets Compact Simplicity

Starting with physical design and ergonomics, the Ricoh G900’s notably more substantial body (measuring 118 x 66 x 33 mm and weighing 247g) contrasts sharply with the ultra-compact Sony WX5’s petite 92 x 52 x 22 mm form and its featherweight 146g frame. The G900 is purpose-built for rugged environments: waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, crushproof, and freezeproof, which directly translates into a robust magnesium alloy chassis designed to endure professional outdoor use. This degree of environmental sealing makes the G900 suitable for industrial inspections, extreme weather fieldwork, and adventure travel where reliability under duress is non-negotiable.

Conversely, the Sony WX5, while admirably pocketable and ideal for everyday use and travel without encumbering the photographer, lacks any official weather resistance. This makes it vulnerable in adverse conditions - a critical consideration for professionals or enthusiasts expecting to shoot in demanding environments.

Ergonomically, the G900’s larger body allows for better grip and more physically separated controls, which generally improves usability with gloves or in challenging conditions. Its button layout, while not illuminated or touchscreen-enabled, is sufficiently logical for rapid operation. The Sony WX5’s controls are more cramped, befitting its smaller size, but this could hinder quick access during action-intensive shooting. Both have fixed, non-touch displays (3.0” on the G900 vs a slightly smaller 2.8” on the WX5), but they markedly differ in resolution and user interaction, as we discuss in the user interface section.

Sensor and Image Quality: Bridging Generations of Sensor Technology

At the heart of any camera’s performance lies its sensor, responsible for capturing light and translating it into images. Both the Ricoh G900 and Sony WX5 utilize a 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor measuring approximately 6.17 x 4.55 mm, an industry-standard size for compact cameras. However, their implementation and output diverge in meaningful ways.

• Resolution and Detail: The G900 boasts a 20-megapixel sensor, dramatically higher than the WX5’s 12 megapixels, affording the ability to capture finer detail - an essential element for landscape, macro, or any photography genre demanding sharpness and resolution. Practically, this results in larger prints or greater cropping flexibility on the G900, while the WX5 suffices for standard print sizes and basic digital sharing.

• ISO Sensitivity: The newer G900 offers a wider native ISO range (125-6400), compared to the WX5’s ISO 125-3200, which translates to better low-light capability. Although image noise ultimately depends on sensor quality and processing, the G900, benefitting from technological advances, exhibits comparatively cleaner images at higher ISO values.

• Image Processing: Sony equipped the WX5 with its Bionz processor, sophisticated for its time, enabling faster image processing and continuous shooting up to 10fps. The Ricoh G900’s processor details aren’t specified publicly but leverage modern algorithms that improve noise reduction, edge rendering, and color accuracy.

Neither camera supports RAW files, which is a significant limitation for professionals requiring maximum post-processing latitude; however, the G900’s chipset and higher resolution deliver overall better JPEG quality.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Precision vs. Speed in Different Eras

Autofocus (AF) systems have seen a remarkable evolution over the last decade. Both cameras feature contrast-detection autofocus systems with 9 AF points and a central AF area option, but how they perform is heavily colored by their release dates and respective target users.

• The Ricoh G900 adds phase detection as standard in newer sensors? No - but it offers continuous, single, and tracking autofocus modes, plus face detection, which enhance accuracy and flexibility, especially in dynamic scenarios such as sports or wildlife where subject movement is unpredictable.

• The Sony WX5, while capable of single AF and tracking, lacks face detection, limiting ease of use particularly for portrait and street photographers wanting fast eye or face prioritization.

Manual focusing is user-enabled only on the G900, adding versatility for macro or landscape photographers who prefer precise control, a feature absent in the Sony WX5.

In terms of burst shooting, the WX5’s 10fps burst rate outpaces the Ricoh’s unspecified continuous shooting (not available), rendering it better adapted for high-speed action like sports, though images come at a lower resolution and potentially less overall quality. For more deliberate workflows focusing on image quality over speed, the G900’s slower shooting would be adequate.

Video Capability: From Full HD to 4K Realism

Video performance often reveals strengths or weaknesses hidden in still-photo specs. The Ricoh G900 delivers 4K UHD video recording at 3840x2160, a modern standard that supports detailed, high-resolution footage suitable for professional applications and content creators demanding sharp video quality and frame precision.

The Sony WX5 supports Full HD video at 1080p with varying frame rates (up to 50fps in AVCHD format), adequate for casual video but not competitive with recent devices in resolution or flexibility.

Neither camera offers advanced audio inputs such as microphone or headphone jacks, which restricts professional audio monitoring, but the G900’s rugged build and 4K capability still position it better for robust outdoor videography. The WX5’s optical stabilization assists with handheld video, a notable plus given the absence of digital stabilization in the G900.

User Interface and Viewfinder: Modern Needs vs. Basic Controls

Both cameras omit viewfinders, relying solely on rear LCD screens for composing shots. The G900 sports a 3.0-inch screen with a notably higher resolution of 1040k dots, enhancing clarity in framing and menu navigation, compared to the WX5’s 2.8-inch 461k dot screen, which can feel coarse and less usable in bright ambient conditions.

Neither have touchscreens, which can slow navigation in contemporary settings, but the G900’s interface benefits from being more up to date and designed with professionals’ operational speed in mind.

Lens and Optical Performance: Fixed Zooms vs. Reach and Aperture

The Ricoh G900 contains a fixed 5x zoom lens spanning 28-140mm (equiv.) with maximum apertures from f/3.5 to f/5.5. While not particularly fast, this range covers wide to medium telephoto focal lengths suited for versatile shooting, including portraits, landscapes, and documentation.

The Sony WX5 offers a slightly wider initial focal length starting at 24mm but narrower telephoto reach up to 120mm, with faster apertures at the wide end from f/2.4 to f/5.9. The brighter f/2.4 aperture helps in low light or creating subject isolation with softer background blur - albeit limited by sensor size.

A notable advantage for macro photographers is the Ricoh’s macro focusing capability reaching as close as 1cm versus Sony’s 5cm. This makes the G900 more adept for close-up work, capturing textures and details otherwise elusive to fixed-lens compacts.

Durability and Environmental Sealing: Adventure-Proof vs. Everyday Use

One of the most defining features separating these cameras is the G900’s extensive environmental sealing, certified as waterproof (to 20m depth), dustproof, shockproof (up to 2m drop), crushproof (up to 100kgf), and freezeproof (-10°C). Such specifications make it unmatched in this comparison for professional industrial, wildlife, or adventure photography that involves exposure to harsh elements.

The Sony WX5 lacks any weather sealing, making it vulnerable to damage from moisture, dust, or impact, confining it to casual travel photography under benign conditions.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Battery endurance differs notably: the Ricoh G900 achieves around 340 shots per charge (CIPA standard), sufficient for a day’s typical shooting in the field, whereas the Sony WX5’s official battery life is unspecified but traditionally lower given its smaller battery and older generation power management.

Both cameras use removable lithium-ion batteries, but the G900’s use of more modern battery chemistry and USB charging provides convenience in remote locations. Storage capabilities are broad in the G900, supporting SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards alongside internal memory, whereas the WX5 supports a wider range including Memory Stick Duo formats reflecting Sony’s older ecosystem.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Ricoh G900 supports wireless transfer via FlashAir SD cards and sports built-in GPS, a valuable feature for cataloging geographic data - a distinct advantage for professionals documenting site-specific data or travel locations. The Sony WX5 offers Eye-Fi integration for wireless image transfers but no GPS, making location tagging a manual process at best.

Both provide HDMI output, allowing direct playback on external displays, but the G900’s USB charging and connectivity options edge out in modern flexibility.

Comparative Summary: Where Each Camera Excels

Ricoh G900 front Ricoh G900 screen back Sony WX5 front Sony WX5 screen back

Photography Disciplines: Tailoring the Choice to Your Needs

Portrait Photography:
The Ricoh G900’s 20MP sensor paired with face detection autofocus delivers finer image detail and more reliable focusing on eyes and faces - although it lacks advanced eye AF found in modern mirrorless cameras. The WX5’s faster aperture lens wide open (f/2.4) allows slightly better subject isolation, but its lower megapixel count and no face detection limit overall portrait quality and convenience.

Landscape Photography:
Ricoh’s higher resolution and wider ISO range enable capturing expansive scenes with finer detail and better dynamic range handling. More importantly, the G900’s superior weather sealing permits shooting in precarious outdoor environments without risk to equipment - an essential for landscape photographers working in rough or wet conditions. The WX5 may suffice only in fair weather for casual landscapes.

Wildlife Photography:
While neither camera is designed as a wildlife powerhouse (due to limited zoom and sensor size), the WX5’s high burst rate might theoretically aid in capturing fleeting moments, but it lags behind the G900’s superior AF tracking and ruggedness that allow closer macro work and shooting in challenging terrain.

Sports Photography:
The WX5’s 10fps burst shooting offers an edge for capturing fast action, but limited AF functionality and lower ISO capability restrict performance in low light or complex tracking situations. The G900’s more advanced AF modes lend themselves better to low light accuracy but with slower shooting speed, emphasizing quality over quantity.

Street Photography:
Portability is king here; the Sony WX5 excels with its slim profile and light weight, making it unobtrusive and quick to deploy. The G900’s larger body makes candid shooting more obvious and perhaps cumbersome for street photographers valuing secrecy and speed.

Macro Photography:
The G900’s 1cm macro focusing distance outperforms the WX5’s 5cm minimum focus, providing superior close-up capability and more detailed texture capture, suitable for nature or product photographers working with fine detail.

Night and Astrophotography:
The G900’s higher ISO ceiling and larger sensor pixel count give it an advantage, although small sensor limitations apply to both. Neither is optimal for long-exposure astrophotography given sensor size and absence of manual bulb modes.

Video Work:
Ricoh’s 4K UHD output makes it far more viable for modern videographers, with higher resolution and frame quality that can satisfy content creators. The WX5 remains functional for casual video but is dated technologically.

Travel Photography:
Sony WX5’s small size and weight excel for travelers prioritizing packing light and casual shooting, while Ricoh’s ruggedness appeals more to travelers in extreme or unpredictable environments.

Professional Use:
The Ricoh G900’s reliability, weatherproofing, GPS tagging, and higher image quality mark it as more suited for professional industrial, fieldwork, or inspection use. Both cameras lack RAW support and advanced workflows but the G900 is a more dependable workhorse.

Final Recommendations: Matching Camera to Photographer

• Choose the Ricoh G900 if you:

  • Need a rugged, weather-sealed camera for industrial, adventure, or environmental photography
  • Require higher resolution images and 4K video
  • Value macro capabilities and GPS tagging
  • Shoot often in challenging conditions demanding durability and reliability
  • Can invest a higher budget and prioritize quality over bulk

• Choose the Sony WX5 if you:

  • Prefer a pocketable, easy-to-carry camera for casual shooting or travel
  • Are on a tight budget and need basic stills and HD video capability
  • Appreciate fast burst mode and simpler controls
  • Mostly shoot in controlled, fair-weather environments
  • Do not require rugged features or professional-level recording formats

Closing Thoughts

While the Ricoh G900 and Sony Cyber-shot WX5 share certain baseline compact camera traits - including their sensor size and zoom range - their design philosophies and technological generations diverge significantly. The G900 embodies a durable, high-resolution tool built to perform reliably where others fear to tread, whereas the WX5 represents an earlier generation’s approach to making competent, affordable compact cameras for everyday users.

Both have strengths within their niches, but for photographers and videographers desiring ruggedness, higher image fidelity, and modern video capabilities, the Ricoh G900 is the clear choice. Those seeking lightweight, simple, and cost-effective point-and-shoot solutions without demanding advanced features might find the Sony WX5 an acceptable, compact companion.

Through detailed technical analysis and tested user scenarios, this comparison empowers photographers across disciplines to select a compact camera aligned with their shooting styles, environments, and budgetary needs - ensuring that acquisition delivers satisfaction and enhances creative expression.