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Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
55
Overall
57
Ricoh GR II front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Ricoh GR II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28mm (F2.8-16.0) lens
  • 251g - 117 x 63 x 35mm
  • Revealed June 2015
  • Superseded the Ricoh GR
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
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Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. The resolution of the GR II (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is very well matched and they possess the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The GR II was unveiled 5 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Ricoh GR II being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the GR II matches up vs the NEX-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR II over the Sony NEX-3

 GR II NEX-3 
AnnouncedJune 2015June 2010More recent by 62 months
Display resolution1230k920kSharper display (+310k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Ricoh GR II

 NEX-3 GR II 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Ricoh GR II and Sony NEX-3

 GR II NEX-3 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Ricoh GR II features external dimensions of 117mm x 63mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Examine the Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the GR II vs the NEX-3.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GR II and NEX-3 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements merely by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the GR II and NEX-3.

Clearly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Ricoh GR II to resolve greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more recent GR II provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR II Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography details
75
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh GR II
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
74
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (251 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Ricoh GR II
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
50
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
focal length is fixed (28mm)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
52
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR II Travel photography info
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
67
lighter than competition (251 grams)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
59
megapixel count good (14MP)
does not have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR II Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography information
59
manual focus
screen size is good (3")
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR II Vlogging information
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging information
32
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (251g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic support
27
provides face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
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Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR II and Sony NEX-3
 Ricoh GR IISony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR II Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-06-17 2010-06-07
Body design Large Sensor Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor GR Engine V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4928 x 3264 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-16.0 -
Macro focusing range 10cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 300 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m (at Auto ISO) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Flash Synchro., Manual Flash, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Red-Eye Flash On, Red-Eye Flash Synchro, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 grams (0.55 lbs) 297 grams (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 63 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 68
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.7 12.0
DXO Low light rating 1078 830
Other
Battery life 320 images 330 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DB-65 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $599 $0