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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Alpha A7S III front
Portability
61
Imaging
65
Features
92
Overall
75

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III Key Specs

Ricoh GR Digital IV
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 190g - 109 x 59 x 33mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Old Model is Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony A7S III
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 102400 (Boost to 409600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 699g - 129 x 97 x 81mm
  • Announced July 2020
  • Superseded the Sony A7S II
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Ricoh GR Digital IV versus Sony A7S III, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Ricoh and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and the A7S III (12MP) is fairly similar but the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and A7S III (Full frame) possess different sensor measurements.

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The GR Digital IV was unveiled 9 years prior to the A7S III and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony A7S III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a brief view of how the GR Digital IV matches up vs the A7S III with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony A7S III

 GR Digital IV A7S III 

Reasons to pick Sony A7S III over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 A7S III GR Digital IV 
AnnouncedJuly 2020September 2011More recent by 107 months
Display typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1440k1230kClearer display (+210k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony A7S III

 GR Digital IV A7S III 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Ricoh GR Digital IV provides physical dimensions of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sony A7S III has sizing of 129mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 699 grams (1.54 lbs).

Examine the Ricoh GR Digital IV versus Sony A7S III in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the GR Digital IV compared to the A7S III.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital IV and A7S III is 92 and 61 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading a spec sheet. The graphic below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GR Digital IV and A7S III.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GR Digital IV having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A7S III will offer you extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The older GR Digital IV is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7S III as a Portrait photography camera
41
focusing manually
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
71
manual focus
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Street photography camera
Sony A7S III as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
76
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
weather proofing
good high ISO (102,400)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography features
Sony A7S III Sports photography features
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
better than average battery power (390 per charge)
can't change focal length (28mm)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
great battery pack (600 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
MP count low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Travel photography with Sony A7S III
67
better than average battery power (390 per charge)
built-in flash
great maximum aperture (f1.9)
low megapixels (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
70
great battery pack (600 shots)
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
display is selfie friendly
MP count low (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography info
Sony A7S III Landscape photography info
53
focusing manually
great maximum aperture (f1.9)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (390 shots)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
good high ISO (102,400)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
great battery pack (600 shots)
has dual storage slots
MP count low (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Vlogging advice
Sony A7S III Vlogging advice
29
great maximum aperture (f1.9)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
77
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external mic jack
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A7S III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony A7S III
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Alpha A7S III
General Information
Company Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Alpha A7S III
Category Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2011-09-15 2020-07-21
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz XR
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4240 x 2832
Max native ISO 3200 102400
Max enhanced ISO - 409600
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 759
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Highest aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 4.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,230k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.91x
Features
Min shutter speed 1s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 120p / 280 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 100p / 280 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 140 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 140 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, XAVC S, XAVC HS, XAVC S-1, H.264, H.265
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190g (0.42 lb) 699g (1.54 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 129 x 97 x 81mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 2993
Other
Battery life 390 photographs 600 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DB65 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots
Storage slots 1 Two
Cost at release $599 $3,499