Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A57

On this page, we will be looking at the Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A57, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Ricoh and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the GR Digital III (10MP) and A57 (16MP) and the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and A57 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The GR Digital III was released 4 years earlier than the A57 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Ricoh GR Digital III being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the GR Digital III grades against the A57 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Ricoh GR Digital III and Sony SLT-A57. The complete galleries are provided at Ricoh GR Digital III Gallery and Sony A57 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Ricoh GR Digital III has got physical 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) whilst the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Compare the Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sony A57 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the GR Digital III against the A57.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GR Digital III and A57 is 92 and 64 respectively.

Often, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by looking at specifications. The picture below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the GR Digital III and A57.

To sum up, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GR Digital III featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A57 will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged GR Digital III is going to be behind in sensor tech.