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Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
55
Overall
57
Ricoh GR II front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Announced June 2015
  • Succeeded the Ricoh GR
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5N
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Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Ricoh GR II and Sony NEX-5, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the GR II (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The GR II was introduced 5 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh GR II being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summary of how the GR II grades against the NEX-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR II over the Sony NEX-5

 GR II NEX-5 
LaunchedJune 2015June 2010Fresher by 62 months
Screen resolution1230k920kCrisper screen (+310k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Ricoh GR II

 NEX-5 GR II 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Ricoh GR II and Sony NEX-5

 GR II NEX-5 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR II comes with exterior measurements of 117mm x 63mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

See the Ricoh GR II and Sony NEX-5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the GR II and the NEX-5.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GR II and NEX-5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to see the difference between sensor sizing merely by checking a spec sheet. The visual underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the GR II and NEX-5.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Ricoh GR II to give greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The younger GR II will have an edge in sensor technology.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh GR II
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5
75
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
72
has manual focus
good MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR II as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Street photography camera
74
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average in class (251 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
76
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR II Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography highlights
50
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking focus
can't change focal length (28mm)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
52
good MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR II Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography factors
67
lighter than average in class (251g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
59
good MP (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR II Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography details
59
manual focus
screen size is decent (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
68
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR II Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging highlights
32
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (251g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone support
28
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing mic port
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Ricoh GR II vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR II and Sony NEX-5
 Ricoh GR IISony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR II Sony Alpha NEX-5
Category Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 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 dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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 images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-16.0 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 300 secs 30 secs
Highest 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
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m (at Auto ISO) 12.00 m
Flash modes 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
Highest 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 251g (0.55 lb) 287g (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 63 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 69
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score 13.7 12.2
DXO Low light score 1078 796
Other
Battery life 320 shots 330 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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 $599