Clicky

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Succeeded the Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Expand to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Introduced January 2021
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 Overview

Let's look closer at the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Ricoh and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and a1 (50MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and a1 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor size.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The GR Digital IV was unveiled 10 years prior to the a1 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the GR Digital IV matches up vs the a1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms
	
	

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony a1

 GR Digital IV a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 a1 GR Digital IV 
IntroducedJanuary 2021September 2011Fresher by 114 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k1230kCrisper screen (+210k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony a1

 GR Digital IV a1 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera often, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Ricoh GR Digital IV offers outer measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has measurements of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Look at the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the GR Digital IV vs the a1.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the GR Digital IV and a1 is 92 and 61 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by researching technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the GR Digital IV and a1.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GR Digital IV with its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony a1 will render more detail having an extra 40 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older GR Digital IV will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a1 as a Portrait photography camera
41
you can focus manually
delivers RAW files
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
88
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/400 seconds)
megapixel count amazing (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Street photography with Sony a1
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
79
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
provides focus by touch
weather proof
great ISO range (32,000)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography factors
Sony a1 Sports photography factors
34
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
better than average battery life (390 CIPA)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
90
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high max fps (30.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (50 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery power (530 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Travel photography with Sony a1
67
better than average battery life (390 shots)
built-in flash
very good max aperture (f1.9)
low MP (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
73
great battery power (530 shots)
weather proof
has bluetooth
provides focus by touch
megapixel count amazing (50MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography details
Sony a1 Landscape photography details
53
you can focus manually
very good max aperture (f1.9)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (390 shots)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
88
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
great ISO range (32,000)
exports RAW files
weather proof
great battery power (530 shots)
2 card slots
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Vlogging camera
Sony a1 as a Vlogging camera
29
very good max aperture (f1.9)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic port
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (7680 x 4320 pxls)
does have external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony a1
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Alpha a1
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Alpha a1
Type Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Released 2011-09-15 2021-01-26
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" Full frame
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 50 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 8640 x 5760
Highest native ISO 3200 32000
Highest boosted ISO - 102400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 759
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Largest aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 133
Crop factor 4.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,230k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,437k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 30.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/400 seconds
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) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Highest video resolution 640x480 7680x4320
Video format Motion JPEG XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190g (0.42 pounds) 737g (1.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 390 pictures 530 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DB65 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots 1 Two
Launch price $599 $6,498