Ricoh GR II vs Samsung HZ30W

On this page, we are evaluating the Ricoh GR II and Samsung HZ30W, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Ricoh and Samsung. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the GR II (16MP) and HZ30W (12MP) and the GR II (APS-C) and HZ30W (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The GR II was introduced 5 years after the HZ30W which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Ricoh GR II being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Samsung HZ30W being a Compact camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the GR II scores vs the HZ30W with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Ricoh GR II & Samsung HZ30W. The whole galleries are available at Ricoh GR II Gallery & Samsung HZ30W Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Ricoh GR II features external dimensions of 117mm x 63mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Samsung HZ30W has specifications of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check the Ricoh GR II and Samsung HZ30W in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the GR II versus the HZ30W.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GR II and HZ30W is 89 and 91 respectively.

Normally, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing technical specs. The pic here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR II and HZ30W.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GR II having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Ricoh GR II will provide more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The newer GR II provides an advantage in sensor tech.