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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550 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 W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
Photography Glossary

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Ricoh GR Digital IV versus Sony W550, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Ricoh and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and W550 (14MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and W550 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GR Digital IV was introduced 2 months after the W550 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the GR Digital IV scores vs the W550 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony W550

 GR Digital IV W550 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen resolution1230k230kCrisper screen (+1000k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 W550 GR Digital IV 

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony W550

 GR Digital IV W550 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011July 2011Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Ricoh GR Digital IV features outside 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) while the Sony W550 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Look at the Ricoh GR Digital IV versus Sony W550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the GR Digital IV vs the W550.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital IV and W550 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading specs. The image here might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR Digital IV and W550.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GR Digital IV using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony W550 will offer you greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Portrait photography with Sony W550
41
focusing manually
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
28
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Street photography camera
Sony W550 as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography details
Sony W550 Sports photography details
34
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
better than average battery pack (390 per charge)
fixed focal length (28mm)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
35
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
67
better than average battery pack (390 per charge)
built-in flash
very good maximum aperture (f1.9)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
65
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography info
Sony W550 Landscape photography info
53
focusing manually
very good maximum aperture (f1.9)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (390 per charge)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
42
fairly wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Vlogging highlights
Sony W550 Vlogging highlights
29
very good maximum aperture (f1.9)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external mic port
29
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony W550
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Manufacturer Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Class Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Revealed 2011-09-15 2011-07-24
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
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 surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/1.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190 gr (0.42 lbs) 110 gr (0.24 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID DB65 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 -
Price at launch $599 $119