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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34
Ricoh GR Digital III front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500 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
  • Launched July 2009
  • Replacement is Ricoh GR Digital IV
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Ricoh GR Digital III versus Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the GR Digital III (10MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very well matched but the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and A500 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The GR Digital III was introduced around the same time to the A500 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital III being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the GR Digital III matches up versus the A500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Sony A500

 GR Digital III A500 
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 A500 GR Digital III 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony A500

 GR Digital III A500 
AnnouncedJuly 2009August 2009Similar generation
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Ricoh GR Digital III comes with outer measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Ricoh GR Digital III versus Sony A500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the GR Digital III against the A500.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital III and A500 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The visual underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the GR Digital III and A500.

All in all, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GR Digital III having a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony A500 will give you extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
40
focusing manually
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
63
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Street photography information
Sony A500 Street photography information
55
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/1.7")
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Sports photography info
Sony A500 Sports photography info
17
can't change focal length (28mm)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery pack (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Travel photography information
Sony A500 Travel photography information
63
flash built-in
great max aperture (f1.9)
low megapixels (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
43
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (520 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Landscape photography with Sony A500
45
focusing manually
great max aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3 inch)
delivers RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (520 shots)
no Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh GR Digital III
Vlogging with Sony A500
25
great max aperture (f1.9)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone support
9
can't shoot video
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony A500
 Ricoh GR Digital IIISony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Digital III Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-07-27 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip GR engine III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) -
Largest aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 208 gr (0.46 lb) 630 gr (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life - 520 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $399 $638