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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Ricoh GR Digital IV
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 190g - 109 x 59 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Replaced the Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched December 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A100
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 Overview

Here is a thorough overview of the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Ricoh and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and A550 (14MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and A550 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The GR Digital IV was released 22 months later than the A550 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the GR Digital IV grades versus the A550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony A550

 GR Digital IV A550 
LaunchedSeptember 2011December 2009Fresher by 22 months
Display resolution1230k922kSharper display (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 A550 GR Digital IV 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony A550

 GR Digital IV A550 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Ricoh GR Digital IV has got outer measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the GR Digital IV and the A550.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital IV and A550 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to see the difference in sensor sizing merely by checking out specifications. The photograph here might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the GR Digital IV and A550.

To sum up, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GR Digital IV because of its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Sony A550 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The younger GR Digital IV is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Portrait photography with Sony A550
41
focusing manually
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
72
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Street photography camera
Sony A550 as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography factors
Sony A550 Sports photography factors
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
better than average battery pack (390 shots)
can't change focal length (28mm)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect AF
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography features
Sony A550 Travel photography features
67
better than average battery pack (390 CIPA)
has built in flash
very good max aperture (f1.9)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
52
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (480 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
53
focusing manually
very good max aperture (f1.9)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (390 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
66
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
terrible battery life (480 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Vlogging factors
Sony A550 Vlogging factors
29
very good max aperture (f1.9)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external mic port
9
no video recording
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony A550
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-09-15 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 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) -
Max video resolution 640x480 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190 gr (0.42 pounds) 632 gr (1.39 pounds)
Physical 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 score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life 390 pictures 480 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DB65 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $599 $749