Ricoh GR II vs Sony a1

The following is a thorough assessment of the Ricoh GR II and Sony a1, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Ricoh and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the GR II (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the GR II (APS-C) and a1 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The GR II was introduced 6 years before the a1 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR II being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the GR II scores versus the a1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Ricoh GR II and Sony Alpha a1. The whole galleries are viewable at Ricoh GR II Gallery and Sony a1 Gallery.

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Ricoh GR II offers external dimensions of 117mm x 63mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has proportions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Check the Ricoh GR II and Sony a1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the GR II vs the a1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GR II and a1 is 89 and 61 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor dimensions only by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GR II and a1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GR II having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony a1 will give you extra detail using its extra 34 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged GR II is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.