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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Old Model is Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5R
Photography Glossary

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Ricoh and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and NEX-5N (APS-C) have different sensor size.

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The GR Digital IV was launched very close to the NEX-5N which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the GR Digital IV grades vs the NEX-5N for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony NEX-5N

 GR Digital IV NEX-5N 
Screen resolution1230k920kCrisper screen (+310k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 NEX-5N GR Digital IV 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony NEX-5N

 GR Digital IV NEX-5N 
LaunchedSeptember 2011October 2011Similar generation
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Ricoh GR Digital IV provides exterior dimensions of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the GR Digital IV against the NEX-5N.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the GR Digital IV and NEX-5N is 92 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the GR Digital IV and NEX-5N.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The GR Digital IV featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony NEX-5N will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Portrait photography camera
41
manual focus
exports RAW files
low MP (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
80
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
supports focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography advice
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
better than average battery power (390 per charge)
can't change focal length (28mm)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
58
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography advice
67
better than average battery power (390 CIPA)
has built in flash
great max aperture (f1.9)
low MP (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
71
great battery life (460 shots)
supports focus via touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
53
manual focus
great max aperture (f1.9)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (390 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging features
29
great max aperture (f1.9)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone support
33
screen is touchscreen
includes face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing mic support
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony NEX-5N
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-09-15 2011-10-03
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Highest aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE 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
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190 gr (0.42 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 390 shots 460 shots
Battery style 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 type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $599 $550