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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34
Ricoh GR Digital III front
 
Samsung ST30 front
Portability
98
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30 Key Specs

Ricoh GR Digital III
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 208g - 109 x 59 x 26mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Later Model is Ricoh GR Digital IV
Samsung ST30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 0 - 0
  • 640 x 480 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • 87g - 82 x 52 x 17mm
  • Announced January 2011
Photography Glossary

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Ricoh GR Digital III versus Samsung ST30, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Ricoh and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the GR Digital III (10MP) and the ST30 (10MP) is pretty close but the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and ST30 (1/3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The GR Digital III was released 18 months earlier than the ST30 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh GR Digital III being a Compact camera and the Samsung ST30 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the GR Digital III grades against the ST30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Samsung ST30

 GR Digital III ST30 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung ST30 over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 ST30 GR Digital III 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011July 2009Fresher by 18 months

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital III and Samsung ST30

 GR Digital III ST30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Ricoh GR Digital III has got exterior dimensions of 109mm x 59mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Samsung ST30 has specifications of 82mm x 52mm x 17mm (3.2" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 87 grams (0.19 lbs).

Examine the Ricoh GR Digital III versus Samsung ST30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the GR Digital III compared to the ST30.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital III and ST30 is 92 and 98 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing purely by researching specs. The visual below may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR Digital III and ST30.

All in all, the two cameras come with the identical resolution albeit not the same sensor sizing. The GR Digital III provides the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The older GR Digital III will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Portrait photography with Samsung ST30
40
has manual focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
19
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Street photography highlights
Samsung ST30 Street photography highlights
55
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
54
lighter than average (87g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/3")
no RAW format
low maximum ISO (0)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Sports photography advice
Samsung ST30 Sports photography advice
17
focal length is fixed (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
16
fixed focal length (()mm)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Travel photography advice
Samsung ST30 Travel photography advice
63
built-in flash
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
low MP (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than average (87g)
flash built-in
very good max aperture (f)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Landscape photography with Samsung ST30
45
has manual focus
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
delivers RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
30
very good max aperture (f)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (()mm)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/3")
low maximum ISO (0)
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III as a Vlogging camera
Samsung ST30 as a Vlogging camera
25
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
29
very good max aperture (f)
lighter than average (87g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have mic port
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Samsung ST30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital III and Samsung ST30
 Ricoh GR Digital IIISamsung ST30
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Samsung
Model type Ricoh GR Digital III Samsung ST30
Category Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-07-27 2011-01-19
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip GR engine III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 4.8 x 3.6mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 17.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 -
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 64 -
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) ()
Max aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Crop factor 4.8 7.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 640 x 480
Max video resolution 640x480 640x480
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 208g (0.46 pounds) 87g (0.19 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 59 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 82 x 52 x 17mm (3.2" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal -
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $399 $55