Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony HX99

Below is a in depth comparison of the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony HX99, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Ricoh and Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the GR Digital III (10MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The GR Digital III was introduced 10 years earlier than the HX99 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the GR Digital III scores vs the HX99 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Ricoh GR Digital III & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99. The whole galleries are provided at Ricoh GR Digital III Gallery & Sony HX99 Gallery.

In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR Digital III offers outer measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Sony HX99 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Take a look at the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony HX99 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the GR Digital III compared to the HX99.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the GR Digital III and HX99 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Often, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GR Digital III and HX99.

As you can see, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GR Digital III having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Sony HX99 will offer extra detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older GR Digital III is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.