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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Superseded the Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 Overview

Below is a detailed analysis of the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and W690 (16MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and W690 (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

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The GR Digital IV was launched 5 months earlier than the W690 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the GR Digital IV matches up vs the W690 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony W690

 GR Digital IV W690 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen resolution1230k230kClearer screen (+1000k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 W690 GR Digital IV 

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony W690

 GR Digital IV W690 
LaunchedSeptember 2011February 2012Same generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Ricoh GR Digital IV provides exterior 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) and the Sony W690 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the GR Digital IV vs the W690.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the GR Digital IV and W690 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GR Digital IV and W690.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GR Digital IV because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony W690 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Portrait photography info
Sony W690 Portrait photography info
41
has manual focus
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Street photography camera
Sony W690 as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/1.7")
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Sports photography with Sony W690
34
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
great battery power (390 CIPA)
fixed focal length (28mm)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography information
Sony W690 Travel photography information
67
great battery power (390 CIPA)
built-in flash
good max aperture (f1.9)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
68
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography features
Sony W690 Landscape photography features
53
has manual focus
good max aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (390 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
43
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Vlogging with Sony W690
29
good max aperture (f1.9)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony W690
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-09-15 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190g (0.42 lb) 142g (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 220 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DB65 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $599 $297