Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A99 II

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony A99 II, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Ricoh and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and A99 II (Full frame) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The GR Digital IV was brought out 6 years prior to the A99 II which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the GR Digital IV grades against the A99 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony Alpha A99 II. The entire galleries are available at Ricoh GR Digital IV Gallery and Sony A99 II Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Ricoh GR Digital IV comes with outside measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 II has measurements of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") and a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Compare the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony A99 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the GR Digital IV and the A99 II.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital IV and A99 II is 92 and 57 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specs. The pic underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GR Digital IV and A99 II.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GR Digital IV featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A99 II will provide you with more detail having its extra 32 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged GR Digital IV will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.