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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34
Ricoh GR Digital III front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550 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
  • Refreshed by Ricoh GR Digital IV
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A100
Photography Glossary

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Ricoh GR Digital III versus Sony A550, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Ricoh and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the GR Digital III (10MP) and A550 (14MP) and the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and A550 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

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The GR Digital III was introduced 4 months before the A550 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh GR Digital III being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the GR Digital III grades against the A550 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Sony A550

 GR Digital III A550 

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 A550 GR Digital III 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k920kClearer display (+2k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony A550

 GR Digital III A550 
ReleasedJuly 2009December 2009Same generation
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera often, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR Digital III provides outer measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Ricoh GR Digital III versus Sony A550 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the GR Digital III versus the A550.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GR Digital III and A550 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions only by researching specifications. The pic below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GR Digital III and A550.

Plainly, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GR Digital III with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A550 will result in more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Portrait photography information
Sony A550 Portrait photography information
40
has manual focus
saves RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
72
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Street photography advice
Sony A550 Street photography advice
55
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/1.7")
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Sports photography factors
Sony A550 Sports photography factors
17
focal length is fixed (28mm)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery life (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Travel photography advice
Sony A550 Travel photography advice
63
has built in flash
very good max aperture (f1.9)
low MP (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
52
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (480 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Landscape photography with Sony A550
45
has manual focus
very good max aperture (f1.9)
good sized screen (3 inch)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
66
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low battery life (480 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Vlogging features
Sony A550 Vlogging features
25
very good max aperture (f1.9)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone port
9
can't record video
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony A550
 Ricoh GR Digital IIISony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Digital III Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-07-27 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip GR engine III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 64 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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 port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 208 gr (0.46 pounds) 632 gr (1.39 pounds)
Physical 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 score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life - 480 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $399 $749