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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34
Ricoh GR Digital III front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Ricoh GR Digital III
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 208g - 109 x 59 x 26mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Renewed by Ricoh GR Digital IV
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Released April 2017
  • Refreshed by Sony A9 II
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Ricoh GR Digital III versus Sony A9, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the GR Digital III (10MP) and A9 (24MP) and the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and A9 (Full frame) use different sensor sizing.

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The GR Digital III was launched 8 years before the A9 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital III being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a short introduction of how the GR Digital III matches up vs the A9 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Sony A9

 GR Digital III A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 A9 GR Digital III 
ReleasedApril 2017July 2009More modern by 94 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k920kSharper display (+520k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony A9

 GR Digital III A9 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in 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) and the Sony A9 has dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") having a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Compare the Ricoh GR Digital III versus Sony A9 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the GR Digital III compared to the A9.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital III and A9 is 92 and 65 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading specs. The image here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR Digital III and A9.

All in all, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GR Digital III featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A9 will deliver more detail utilizing its extra 14MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged GR Digital III is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A9 as a Portrait photography camera
40
has manual focus
saves RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
83
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Street photography details
Sony A9 Street photography details
55
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
79
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
weather proofing
very good ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Sports photography details
Sony A9 Sports photography details
17
can't change focal length (28mm)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
86
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high frames per second (20.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
good battery pack (650 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Travel photography factors
Sony A9 Travel photography factors
63
has built in flash
great max aperture (f1.9)
MP count low (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
73
good battery pack (650 shots)
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
megapixel count good (24MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Landscape photography details
Sony A9 Landscape photography details
45
has manual focus
great max aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3 inches)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
85
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
good battery pack (650 CIPA)
has double storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Vlogging info
Sony A9 Vlogging info
25
great max aperture (f1.9)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
36
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with mic port
display is not selfie friendly
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony A9
 Ricoh GR Digital IIISony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Digital III Sony Alpha A9
Type Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-07-27 2017-04-19
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip GR engine III BIONZ X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 693
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) -
Maximum aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 4.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 1s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter speed - 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Max video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 208g (0.46 lb) 673g (1.48 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 92
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 3517
Other
Battery life - 650 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots Single Two
Retail price $399 $4,498