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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Old Model is Ricoh GR Digital III
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A55
  • Renewed by Sony A58
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and A57 (16MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and A57 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GR Digital IV was introduced 12 months earlier than the A57 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the GR Digital IV matches up versus the A57 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Sony A57

 GR Digital IV A57 
Screen resolution1230k921kCrisper screen (+309k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 A57 GR Digital IV 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012September 2011Fresher by 12 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony A57

 GR Digital IV A57 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Ricoh GR Digital IV comes with physical measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sony A57 has proportions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Contrast the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the GR Digital IV and the A57.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital IV and A57 is 92 and 64 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing simply by looking through specifications. The photograph below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GR Digital IV and A57.

To sum up, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GR Digital IV using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A57 will provide you with greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older GR Digital IV will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Portrait photography highlights
Sony A57 Portrait photography highlights
41
you can focus manually
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Street photography information
Sony A57 Street photography information
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
75
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Sports photography camera
Sony A57 as a Sports photography camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good battery power (390 shots)
can't change focal length (28mm)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography info
Sony A57 Travel photography info
67
good battery power (390 CIPA)
flash built-in
good max aperture (f1.9)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
67
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography factors
Sony A57 Landscape photography factors
53
you can focus manually
good max aperture (f1.9)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (390 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
72
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Vlogging with Sony A57
29
good max aperture (f1.9)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic jack
77
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic jack
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Sony A57
 Ricoh GR Digital IVSony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Digital IV Sony SLT-A57
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-09-15 2012-09-13
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 16000
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/1.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 190 grams (0.42 pounds) 618 grams (1.36 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life 390 images 550 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DB65 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $599 $1,000