Clicky

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34
Ricoh GR Digital III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 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
  • New Model is Ricoh GR Digital IV
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Introduced July 2011
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the GR Digital III (10MP) and W550 (14MP) and the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and W550 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The GR Digital III was unveiled 24 months earlier than the W550 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital III being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the GR Digital III matches up versus the W550 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Sony W550

 GR Digital III W550 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 W550 GR Digital III 
IntroducedJuly 2011July 2009Newer by 24 months

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony W550

 GR Digital III W550 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR Digital III has exterior 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 W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Examine the Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 in the new Camera and 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 have at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the GR Digital III and the W550.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the GR Digital III and W550 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions only by checking out technical specs. The image below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GR Digital III and W550.

As you can tell, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GR Digital III having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Sony W550 will provide greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged GR Digital III will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Portrait photography with Sony W550
40
you can focus manually
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Street photography with Sony W550
55
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Sports photography with Sony W550
17
fixed focal length (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Travel photography features
Sony W550 Travel photography features
63
flash built-in
good max aperture (f1.9)
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
65
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Landscape photography with Sony W550
45
you can focus manually
good max aperture (f1.9)
screen size is good (3")
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
42
rather wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Vlogging features
Sony W550 Vlogging features
25
good max aperture (f1.9)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
29
rather wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony W550
 Ricoh GR Digital IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Digital III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Launched 2009-07-27 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by GR engine III BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 64 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 208 gr (0.46 lbs) 110 gr (0.24 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single -
Cost at release $399 $119