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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Released April 2009
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 Overview

Lets look closer at the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and the HX1 (9MP) is relatively similar but the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and HX1 (1/2.4") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The GR Digital IV was unveiled 2 years after the HX1 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple summation of how the GR Digital IV matches up against the HX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony HX1

 GR Digital IV HX1 
ReleasedSeptember 2011April 2009Newer by 30 months
Screen resolution1230k230kCrisper screen (+1000k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 HX1 GR Digital IV 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony HX1

 GR Digital IV HX1 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Ricoh GR Digital IV features external measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) and the Sony HX1 has measurements of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") along with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Check out the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the GR Digital IV and the HX1.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital IV and HX1 is 92 and 67 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing technical specs. The pic below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GR Digital IV and HX1.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GR Digital IV with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Ricoh GR Digital IV will offer you extra detail having an extra 1MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The newer GR Digital IV will have an edge in sensor technology.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX1 Portrait photography highlights
40
focusing manually
saves RAW files
low resolution (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
27
manual focus
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Street photography with Sony HX1
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Sports photography camera
33
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
great battery (390 per charge)
fixed focal length (28mm)
low resolution (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
36
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography features
Sony HX1 Travel photography features
67
great battery (390 per charge)
built-in flash
very good maximum aperture (f1.9)
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
48
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (544g)
megapixel count low (9MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography details
Sony HX1 Landscape photography details
52
focusing manually
very good maximum aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
great battery (390 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
low resolution (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
39
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (9MP)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX1 as a Vlogging camera
29
very good maximum aperture (f1.9)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic port
22
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1440 x 1080 pixels)
missing external mic support
heavier than competitors in class (544g)
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony HX1
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-09-15 2009-04-22
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 9MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/1.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 9.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1440x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190 gr (0.42 lbs) 544 gr (1.20 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 390 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID DB65 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $599 $47,999