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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290 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
  • Previous Model is Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Ricoh GR Digital IV versus Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and W290 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The GR Digital IV was released 2 years later than the W290 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the GR Digital IV scores vs the W290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony W290

 GR Digital IV W290 
LaunchedSeptember 2011February 2009More recent by 32 months
Screen resolution1230k230kClearer screen (+1000k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 W290 GR Digital IV 

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony W290

 GR Digital IV W290 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR Digital IV offers external dimensions 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 W290 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Ricoh GR Digital IV versus Sony W290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the GR Digital IV vs the W290.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital IV and W290 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements just by seeing technical specs. The photograph underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the GR Digital IV and W290.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GR Digital IV due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony W290 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more modern GR Digital IV provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Portrait photography factors
Sony W290 Portrait photography factors
41
manual focus
saves RAW formats
low MP (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
27
has manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Street photography features
Sony W290 Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography features
Sony W290 Sports photography features
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
great battery (390 CIPA)
fixed focal length (28mm)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Travel photography with Sony W290
67
great battery (390 shots)
has built in flash
fast max aperture (f1.9)
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
57
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W290 as a Landscape photography camera
53
manual focus
fast max aperture (f1.9)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
great battery (390 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
41
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Vlogging with Sony W290
29
fast max aperture (f1.9)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
28
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony W290
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-09-15 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/1.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed - 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190g (0.42 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model DB65 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $599 $230