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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
 
Zeiss ZX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
78
Features
62
Overall
71

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 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
Zeiss ZX1
(Full Review)
  • 37MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 4.34" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 51200
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 35mm (F2-22) lens
  • 800g - 142 x 93 x 46mm
  • Announced September 2018
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Ricoh and Zeiss. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the GR Digital IV (10MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the GR Digital IV (1/1.7") and ZX1 (Full frame) feature different sensor sizes.

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The GR Digital IV was released 8 years earlier than the ZX1 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR Digital IV being a Compact camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the GR Digital IV grades versus the ZX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Zeiss ZX1

 GR Digital IV ZX1 

Reasons to pick Zeiss ZX1 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 ZX1 GR Digital IV 
AnnouncedSeptember 2018September 2011Fresher by 85 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing4.34"3"Bigger screen (+1.34")
Screen resolution2765k1230kClearer screen (+1535k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital IV and Zeiss ZX1

 GR Digital IV ZX1 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR Digital IV features physical measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Zeiss ZX1 has dimensions of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the GR Digital IV compared to the ZX1.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GR Digital IV and ZX1 is 92 and 67 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing purely by looking at technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GR Digital IV and ZX1.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GR Digital IV because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Zeiss ZX1 will give you more detail as a result of its extra 27 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older GR Digital IV is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Portrait photography highlights
Zeiss ZX1 Portrait photography highlights
41
focusing manually
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
86
manual focus
excellent sensor resolution (37 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Street photography features
Zeiss ZX1 Street photography features
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
70
screen articulates
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
very good high ISO (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition (800g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
Sports photography with Zeiss ZX1
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good battery pack (390 shots)
can't change focal length (28mm)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect autofocus
64
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
excellent sensor resolution (37MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography features
Zeiss ZX1 Travel photography features
67
good battery pack (390 per charge)
built-in flash
good maximum aperture (f1.9)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
65
connects via bluetooth
offers focus by touch
excellent sensor resolution (37 megapixels)
very good max aperture (f2)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (800 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography advice
Zeiss ZX1 Landscape photography advice
53
focusing manually
good maximum aperture (f1.9)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (390 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
69
manual focus
very good max aperture (f2)
bigger than average screen (4.34 inch)
excellent sensor resolution (37 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
very good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital IV Vlogging information
Zeiss ZX1 Vlogging information
29
good maximum aperture (f1.9)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
31
very good max aperture (f2)
touchscreen
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone port
more heavy than competition (800 grams)
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Zeiss ZX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital IV and Zeiss ZX1
 Ricoh GR Digital IVZeiss ZX1
General Information
Brand Ricoh Zeiss
Model type Ricoh GR Digital IV Zeiss ZX1
Type Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-09-15 2018-09-27
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" Full frame
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 37 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 7488 x 4992
Maximum native ISO 3200 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 255
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) 35mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/1.9 f/2-22
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inch 4.34 inch
Resolution of screen 1,230k dot 2,765k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 6,221k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Min shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190g (0.42 pounds) 800g (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") 142 x 93 x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID DB65 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal 512GB internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $599 -