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Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
55
Overall
57
Ricoh GR II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30 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  • Superseded the Ricoh GR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 QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Launched September 2014
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Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Ricoh GR II and Sony QX30, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Lens-style by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the GR II (16MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the GR II (APS-C) and QX30 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The GR II was manufactured 10 months later than the QX30 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR II being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short introduction of how the GR II grades against the QX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR II over the Sony QX30

 GR II QX30 
LaunchedJune 2015September 2014Fresher by 10 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen sizing3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution1230k0kCrisper screen (+1230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Ricoh GR II

 QX30 GR II 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Ricoh GR II and Sony QX30

 GR II QX30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Ricoh GR II provides physical 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) while the Sony QX30 has sizing of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Analyze the Ricoh GR II and Sony QX30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the GR II compared to the QX30.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the GR II and QX30 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing just by looking at specs. The visual here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR II and QX30.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GR II because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony QX30 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern GR II should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR II Portrait photography information
Sony QX30 Portrait photography information
75
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
38
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR II as a Street photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Street photography camera
74
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors (251 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR II Sports photography highlights
Sony QX30 Sports photography highlights
50
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking focus
fixed focal length (28mm)
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh GR II
Travel photography with Sony QX30
67
lighter than competitors (251g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
has focus by touch
good megapixels (20MP)
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR II Landscape photography factors
Sony QX30 Landscape photography factors
59
focusing manually
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
39
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen ( inches)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR II Vlogging info
Sony QX30 Vlogging info
32
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (251g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of mic jack
35
decently wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
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Ricoh GR II vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR II and Sony QX30
 Ricoh GR IISony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Company Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Category Large Sensor Compact Lens-style
Revealed 2015-06-17 2014-09-03
Body design Large Sensor Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Chip GR Engine V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-16.0 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focus range 10cm -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch -
Resolution of display 1,230k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 300 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m (at Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Flash On, Flash Synchro., Manual Flash, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Red-Eye Flash On, Red-Eye Flash Synchro, Wireless None
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251 grams (0.55 lb) 193 grams (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 63 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 1078 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 200 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DB-65 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $599 $348