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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Succeeded the Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-C3
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Ricoh and Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and NEX-3 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GR Digital IV was introduced 16 months later than the NEX-3 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the GR Digital IV matches up against the NEX-3 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 NEX-3

 GR Digital IV NEX-3 
IntroducedSeptember 2011June 2010Fresher by 16 months
Display resolution1230k920kSharper display (+310k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 NEX-3 GR Digital IV 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony NEX-3

 GR Digital IV NEX-3 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Ricoh GR Digital IV enjoys outside dimensions of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

See the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the GR Digital IV against the NEX-3.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GR Digital IV and NEX-3 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The visual below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR Digital IV and NEX-3.

Plainly, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GR Digital IV with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-3 will offer extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger GR Digital IV is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography factors
41
focusing manually
delivers RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Street photography details
Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/1.7")
76
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
great battery life (390 shots)
can't change focal length (28mm)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
52
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
67
great battery life (390 CIPA)
has built in flash
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
59
good megapixels (14MP)
missing Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography details
53
focusing manually
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (390 per charge)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
29
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic socket
27
provides face detection focusing
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony NEX-3
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-09-15 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Highest aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 7.0 frames per second
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 options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190 grams (0.42 lb) 297 grams (0.65 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life 390 images 330 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DB65 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $599 $0