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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
65
Features
74
Overall
68

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100 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
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Older Model is Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • Replaced the Sony a5000
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Ricoh GR Digital IV versus Sony a5100, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and a5100 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The GR Digital IV was revealed 3 years prior to the a5100 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the GR Digital IV matches up versus the a5100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony a5100

 GR Digital IV a5100 
Screen resolution1230k922kCrisper screen (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 a5100 GR Digital IV 
AnnouncedAugust 2014September 2011More modern by 35 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony a5100

 GR Digital IV a5100 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Ricoh GR Digital IV offers physical measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Ricoh GR Digital IV versus Sony a5100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the GR Digital IV vs the a5100.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GR Digital IV and a5100 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes only by checking out specs. The pic below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the GR Digital IV and a5100.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GR Digital IV with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony a5100 will provide more detail because of its extra 14MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged GR Digital IV will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Portrait photography advice
Sony a5100 Portrait photography advice
41
focusing manually
exports RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Street photography with Sony a5100
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
82
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography features
Sony a5100 Sports photography features
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
better than average battery power (390 per charge)
fixed focal length (28mm)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
68
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (400 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography information
Sony a5100 Travel photography information
67
better than average battery power (390 per charge)
built-in flash
very good maximum aperture (f1.9)
MP count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
80
better than average battery power (400 per charge)
offers focus via touch
MP count good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography information
Sony a5100 Landscape photography information
53
focusing manually
very good maximum aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (390 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
79
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (400 shots)
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Vlogging features
Sony a5100 Vlogging features
29
very good maximum aperture (f1.9)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
34
touch screen
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic port
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony a5100
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Alpha a5100
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Alpha a5100
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-09-15 2014-08-17
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 179
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) -
Max aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190 grams (0.42 lbs) 283 grams (0.62 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1347
Other
Battery life 390 images 400 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DB65 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $599 $448