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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34
Ricoh GR Digital III front
 
Sony Alpha A7R front
Portability
78
Imaging
74
Features
76
Overall
74

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R 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
  • Launched July 2009
  • New Model is Ricoh GR Digital IV
Sony A7R
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 465g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Announced February 2014
  • Later Model is Sony A7R II
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Ricoh and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the GR Digital III (10MP) and A7R (36MP) and the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and A7R (Full frame) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GR Digital III was revealed 5 years earlier than the A7R which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital III being a Compact camera and the Sony A7R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the GR Digital III grades vs the A7R with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Sony A7R

 GR Digital III A7R 

Reasons to pick Sony A7R over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 A7R GR Digital III 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014July 2009Newer by 55 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k920kClearer display (+310k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony A7R

 GR Digital III A7R 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR Digital III enjoys external dimensions of 109mm x 59mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Sony A7R has dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") having a weight of 465 grams (1.03 lbs).

Analyze the Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the GR Digital III vs the A7R.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital III and A7R is 92 and 78 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specifications. The pic underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR Digital III and A7R.

Plainly, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GR Digital III using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A7R will give more detail because of its extra 26MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged GR Digital III is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Portrait photography features
Sony A7R Portrait photography features
40
manual focus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
84
has manual focus
sensor resolution is high (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Street photography information
Sony A7R Street photography information
55
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
80
screen tilts
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
lighter than competition (465 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Sports photography with Sony A7R
17
focal length is fixed (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
62
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is high (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
environment proof
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (340 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Travel photography with Sony A7R
63
built-in flash
great max aperture (f1.9)
low resolution (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
70
lighter than competition (465g)
environment proof
sensor resolution is high (36 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (340 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Landscape photography with Sony A7R
45
manual focus
great max aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3")
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
sensor resolution is high (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (340 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Vlogging highlights
Sony A7R Vlogging highlights
25
great max aperture (f1.9)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of microphone support
36
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic port
lighter than competition (465 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A7R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony A7R
 Ricoh GR Digital IIISony Alpha A7R
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Digital III Sony Alpha A7R
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2009-07-27 2014-02-13
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor GR engine III Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) -
Maximum aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 208 grams (0.46 lbs) 465 grams (1.03 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 95
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 2746
Other
Battery life - 340 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $399 $1,898