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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34
Ricoh GR Digital III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 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
  • Announced July 2009
  • Newer Model is Ricoh GR Digital IV
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony WX350
Photography Glossary

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 Overview

Following is a thorough overview of the Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Ricoh and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the GR Digital III (10MP) and WX500 (18MP) and the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and WX500 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The GR Digital III was manufactured 6 years earlier than the WX500 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the GR Digital III scores versus the WX500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Sony WX500

 GR Digital III WX500 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 WX500 GR Digital III 
LaunchedApril 2015July 2009More modern by 69 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony WX500

 GR Digital III WX500 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Ricoh GR Digital III features outside measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Sony WX500 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the GR Digital III compared to the WX500.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital III and WX500 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to see the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing specifications. The image below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the GR Digital III and WX500.

Plainly, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GR Digital III featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony WX500 will produce extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged GR Digital III will be behind in sensor technology.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Portrait photography information
Sony WX500 Portrait photography information
40
manual focus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
39
MP count good (18 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Street photography with Sony WX500
55
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/1.7")
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (236g)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Sports photography details
Sony WX500 Sports photography details
17
focal length is fixed (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (360 shots)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Travel photography info
Sony WX500 Travel photography info
63
has built in flash
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
71
great battery life (360 per charge)
lighter than competitors (236g)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Landscape photography info
Sony WX500 Landscape photography info
45
manual focus
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
screen is a decent size (3")
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
49
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
great battery life (360 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh GR Digital III
Vlogging with Sony WX500
25
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
35
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (236g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing microphone support
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony WX500
 Ricoh GR Digital IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Digital III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-07-27 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor GR engine III Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format - AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 208 grams (0.46 lb) 236 grams (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 59 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 360 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $399 $348