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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500 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
  • Earlier Model is Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Ricoh GR Digital IV versus Sony A500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very similar but the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and A500 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The GR Digital IV was released 2 years after the A500 which is quite a serious difference 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 A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the GR Digital IV scores vs the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony A500

 GR Digital IV A500 
RevealedSeptember 2011August 2009More modern by 25 months
Display resolution1230k230kSharper display (+1000k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 A500 GR Digital IV 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony A500

 GR Digital IV A500 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Ricoh GR Digital IV has got external measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Ricoh GR Digital IV versus Sony A500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the GR Digital IV and the A500.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GR Digital IV and A500 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes only by going over specs. The pic here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the GR Digital IV and A500.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GR Digital IV due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A500 will offer more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The more recent GR Digital IV should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
41
has manual focus
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
63
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Street photography details
Sony A500 Street photography details
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/1.7")
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography info
Sony A500 Sports photography info
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good battery power (390 CIPA)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
low battery pack (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography info
Sony A500 Travel photography info
67
good battery power (390 CIPA)
built-in flash
great max aperture (f1.9)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
43
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
low battery pack (520 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Landscape photography with Sony A500
53
has manual focus
great max aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (390 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
60
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
low battery pack (520 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Vlogging with Sony A500
29
great max aperture (f1.9)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic support
9
lack of video recording
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony A500
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-09-15 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190 grams (0.42 lbs) 630 grams (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 390 photos 520 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DB65 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $599 $638