Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A850

Following is a complete review of the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A850, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Ricoh and Sony. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and A850 (25MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and A850 (Full frame) come with different sensor measurements.

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The GR Digital IV was brought out 18 months after the A850 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short highlight of how the GR Digital IV scores against the A850 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The entire galleries are viewable at Ricoh GR Digital IV Gallery and Sony A850 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Ricoh GR Digital IV has got exterior measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) and the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check out the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A850 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the GR Digital IV against the A850.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital IV and A850 is 92 and 54 respectively.

Generally, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GR Digital IV and A850.

Clearly, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GR Digital IV featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A850 will show extra detail having its extra 15MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent GR Digital IV should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.