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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34
Ricoh GR Digital III front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3 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
  • Renewed by Ricoh GR Digital IV
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-C3
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Ricoh GR Digital III versus Sony NEX-3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Ricoh and Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the GR Digital III (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and NEX-3 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The GR Digital III was introduced 10 months before the NEX-3 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital III being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the GR Digital III grades against the NEX-3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Sony NEX-3

 GR Digital III NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 NEX-3 GR Digital III 
ReleasedJune 2010July 2009Newer by 10 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony NEX-3

 GR Digital III NEX-3 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Display resolution920k920kSame display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR Digital III offers outside measurements 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 NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Analyze the Ricoh GR Digital III versus Sony NEX-3 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 based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the GR Digital III against the NEX-3.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GR Digital III and NEX-3 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching specifications. The pic underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GR Digital III and NEX-3.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GR Digital III with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Sony NEX-3 will provide you with greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged GR Digital III will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
40
focusing manually
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Street photography information
Sony NEX-3 Street photography information
55
supports RAW files
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Sports photography info
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography info
17
focal length is fixed (28mm)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect autofocus
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
63
has built in flash
very good max aperture (f1.9)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
45
focusing manually
very good max aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3 inch)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
68
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging highlights
25
very good max aperture (f1.9)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
27
features face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic support
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony NEX-3
 Ricoh GR Digital IIISony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Digital III Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-07-27 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
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 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 64 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Maximum aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 lbs) 297 gr (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life - 330 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $399 $0