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Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
55
Overall
57
Ricoh GR II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA 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
  • Launched June 2015
  • Old Model is Ricoh GR
Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Revealed July 2018
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Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Ricoh GR II and Sony RX100 VA, both Large Sensor Compact cameras by brands Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the GR II (16MP) and the RX100 VA (20MP) is fairly comparable but the GR II (APS-C) and RX100 VA (1") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The GR II was brought out 4 years earlier than the RX100 VA and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Large Sensor Compact).

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a concise overview of how the GR II scores versus the RX100 VA with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR II over the Sony RX100 VA

 GR II RX100 VA 
Display resolution1230k1229kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Ricoh GR II

 RX100 VA GR II 
RevealedJuly 2018June 2015More recent by 37 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Ricoh GR II and Sony RX100 VA

 GR II RX100 VA 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Touch display Absent Touch display

Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and size. The Ricoh GR II enjoys external dimensions of 117mm x 63mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony RX100 VA has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check the Ricoh GR II and Sony RX100 VA in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the GR II versus the RX100 VA.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the GR II and RX100 VA is 89 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements only by going through specifications. The graphic here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR II and RX100 VA.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GR II due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Sony RX100 VA will produce more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older GR II will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR II as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Portrait photography camera
75
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect focus
saves RAW formats
66
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR II Street photography advice
Sony RX100 VA Street photography advice
74
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average (251g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
86
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than others in class (299g)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR II Sports photography features
Sony RX100 VA Sports photography features
50
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking focus
can't change focal length (28mm)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
70
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (24.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
comes with tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery (220 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR II Travel photography features
Sony RX100 VA Travel photography features
67
lighter than average (251 grams)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
lighter than others in class (299g)
good MP (20MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery (220 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR II Landscape photography advice
Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography advice
59
has manual focus
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
66
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
bad battery (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR II Vlogging details
Sony RX100 VA Vlogging details
32
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (251 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone socket
81
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others in class (299 grams)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Ricoh GR II vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR II and Sony RX100 VA
 Ricoh GR IISony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Category Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2015-06-17 2018-07-13
Body design Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip GR Engine V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 116.2mm²
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 resolution 4928 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-16.0 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range 10cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 300s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 24.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m (at Auto ISO) 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Flash On, Flash Synchro., Manual Flash, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Red-Eye Flash On, Red-Eye Flash Synchro, Wireless Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p, 24p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251 grams (0.55 lbs) 299 grams (0.66 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 63 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 220 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DB-65 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $599 $998