Ricoh GR II vs Sony WX500

Comparing Ricoh GR II and Sony WX500: Finding the Best Compact for Your Photography Journey

When I test compact cameras, I always prioritize how their technology serves real photographers - whether professionals or serious enthusiasts - and how those features translate into images I cherish. Today, I’m diving deep into a comparison between two very different but popular compact cameras announced in 2015: the Ricoh GR II and Sony Cyber-shot WX500. Both cameras come from established brands with solid reputations but target distinct use cases. This article reflects hands-on experience with both models, revealing their strengths and weaknesses across every major photography discipline. I’ll also draw from my extensive testing experience working with sensors, autofocus systems, ergonomics, and lens capabilities to help you choose the best fit for your photographic ambitions.

First Impressions: Size and Handling

The Ricoh GR II is a classic large sensor compact featuring an APS-C sensor, while the Sony WX500 is a small sensor superzoom compact with a much longer zoom range but a smaller 1/2.3" sensor. Both cameras are pocketable, but the GR II is noticeably boxier and has a more “serious” feel, thanks to its robust magnesium alloy body that weighs 251 grams. The Sony WX500 trims down to 236 grams with a slimmer profile, aided by a retractable lens design.

In my experience, the Ricoh GR II’s fixed 28mm equivalent prime lens and straightforward control layout invite photographers who want to focus on image quality and manual control without fuss. It feels at home in street and travel photography where intuition, quick adjustments, and discreetness are key. The Sony WX500, with its massive 24-720mm zoom, offers extraordinary compositional flexibility for wildlife or sports enthusiasts on a budget, albeit with compromises in sensor size and handling finesse.

Ergonomically, the Ricoh GR II offers dedicated buttons and a well-positioned control dial, emphasizing tactile feedback and rapid access to settings. The Sony WX500’s controls feel more consumer-oriented, emphasizing ease of use over speed. For instance, manual focus isn’t available on the Sony, which affects macro and precise portrait work negatively if you want that level of control.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality

One of the defining differences between these cameras is sensor size and resulting image quality capabilities.

The Ricoh GR II’s APS-C CMOS sensor measures 23.7 x 15.7mm, giving a generous 372 mm² imaging area paired with 16 megapixels. This sensor size and pixel pitch produce excellent dynamic range, superior low-light performance, and richer color depth compared to typical compacts. DxO Mark assigns it an overall score of 80, highlighting impressive color depth (23.6 bits) and dynamic range (13.7 EV).

By contrast, the Sony WX500 sports a much smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor, only 6.17 x 4.55mm (28 mm²), but with 18 megapixels packed tightly. While it achieves higher resolution on paper (up to 4896 x 3672 pixels), this sensor physically captures much less light, limiting its ability to handle shadows and highlights or suppress noise at high ISO settings. Although DxO Mark data is not available here, smaller sensors like this generally fare worse in challenging lighting.

In practical testing, I found the GR II’s images exhibit cleaner, richer colors, deeper blacks, and finer details, especially in landscapes and portraits. The WX500 struggles with noise beyond ISO 800 and occasionally shows color fringing and softness at the telephoto end.

Mastering Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh

Portrait photography demands accurate skin tone reproduction, pleasant background blur (bokeh), and reliable eye detection or autofocus precision.

The Ricoh GR II excels here, despite its fixed 28mm lens, thanks to the large sensor and relatively fast f/2.8 aperture. I personally captured portrait sessions with excellent gradation in skin tones and smooth background separation in outdoor environments. The GR II employs an effective face detection autofocus, though it lacks dedicated eye detection - something that has become standard in more recent cameras. Its manual focus ring on the lens aids macro proximity shots as close as 10cm from the subject.

Conversely, the Sony WX500 offers no manual focusing and relies strictly on contrast-detection autofocus with face detection but no eye prioritization. Its smaller sensor and narrower maximum apertures (f/3.5-6.4) limit depth of field control and bokeh quality significantly. While it offers portrait convenience with a longer zoom range to compress backgrounds from afar, image character is generally flatter, and skin tones less nuanced.

For portrait enthusiasts prioritizing image quality and subtlety, the Ricoh GR II remains the better option.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Landscape photographers demand high dynamic range (to retain detail in shadows and highlights), robust resolution, and durability to confront outdoor elements.

Thanks to its APS-C sensor, the Ricoh GR II’s dynamic range capability shines in these scenes. I tested it shooting sunrise and sunset panoramas, under contrasty skies: shadows hold detail without crushing, and bright areas avoid losing highlight information - a weakness I noticed on the WX500.

The WX500’s smaller sensor delivered noisier shadows and less color grading latitude, especially in RAW conversions, but its extended zoom range enabled capturing distant subjects with ease.

Neither model features environmental sealing, limiting outdoor use in adverse conditions. Both lack weather resistance against dust or moisture.

Resolution-wise, both cameras deliver approximately 16-18 megapixels, sufficient for large prints up to A3 size. The Ricoh’s lack of anti-aliasing filter sacrifices slight moiré reduction for enhanced sharpness - a technical quirk that landscape enthusiasts may appreciate.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus, Speed and Telephoto Reach

If you’re chasing fast-moving subjects, autofocus speed and burst shooting rates are crucial.

The Sony WX500's 24-720mm zoom (30x optical) offers an incredible telephoto reach in a compact body. This makes it attractive for wildlife or sports shooters constrained by budget and weight.

Its autofocus is contrast detection only, which tends to be slower and less reliable for tracking erratically moving subjects than phase-detection systems. Still, the camera supports continuous autofocus with tracking, and I experienced moderately fast locking in bright daylight.

Its burst mode reaches 10 frames per second (fps), which I found useful for action sequences, though buffer depth is limited.

The Ricoh GR II, with a fixed 28mm lens, is unable to cover telephoto requirements naturally. Its burst speed is slower at 4 fps, and autofocus performance is contrast detection only, with nine focus points. While great for steady subjects, it struggles to keep pace with fast movement or capture distant wildlife.

Hence, for wildlife and sports lovers, the WX500 better fits the bill if you can adjust expectations for autofocus reliability and image quality.

Street Photography and Portability

For street photographers, discretion, fast manual controls, and portability are paramount.

In my street shooting excursions, the Ricoh GR II’s minimalist, square shape, quiet shutter, and tactile controls made it nearly invisible to subjects, enhancing candid capture possibilities. The fixed 28mm field of view encourages creativity without fumbling zooms, and its APS-C sensor delivers excellent high ISO noise control for ambient light scenes.

Sony WX500’s bulkier zoom lens and less tactile controls make it more noticeable but give versatility to capture both street portraits and wider scenes from a distance. The lack of manual focus can hinder moments that require precision focus on creative details.

Battery life is slightly better on the WX500 (360 shots) versus 320 shots on GR II, important on longer street outings.

Macro Photography: Focusing and Magnification

Macro work requires close focusing ability, focusing precision, and ideally image stabilization.

Ricoh GR II’s macro focus starts at 10 cm, and while it lacks in-body stabilization, its APS-C sensor combined with manual focus allows pinpoint sharpness in close-ups. I managed finely detailed insect shots and flower petals without difficulty. The direct manual focus ring is invaluable here.

The Sony WX500 reaches closer at 5 cm but comes with optical image stabilization, which helps handheld shooting at close distances. However, fixed autofocus and smaller sensor size somewhat limit ultimate sharpness and shallow depth of field, key for artistic macro photos.

I personally favor the Ricoh for macro precision despite the absence of image stabilization.

Night and Astrophotography: ISO Performance and Exposure Flexibility

Shooting at night or capturing stars tests sensor noise control and shutter precision.

Ricoh GR II showcases surprisingly good high ISO performance for a compact due to its APS-C sensor and GR Engine V processor, handling ISO 1600 and 3200 comfortably. Its minimum shutter speed of 1/300 sec and maximum up to 1/4000 sec allow versatile exposure control. While it lacks electronic shutter for silent/fast shooting, it supports manual exposure and custom white balance settings needed for astrophotography.

The Sony WX500’s smaller sensor restricts high ISO usability beyond 400-800 with visible noise. The shutter ranges from 30 sec up to 1/2000 sec, enabling long exposures useful for nightscapes. Built-in optical stabilization aids longer handheld shots but can't replace a tripod for star trails.

Neither camera includes special night modes or bulb exposure.

For serious night photographers, neither is ideal, but the Ricoh GR II’s sensor technology offers usable results faring better.

Video Capabilities: Quality and Usability

Video is a must-have feature in many compact cameras nowadays.

Ricoh GR II records full HD 1080p at 30 fps, using MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs. It lacks 4K capability and external mic input, limiting professional audio recording. The absence of image stabilization requires very steady hands or tripod use. The fixed focal length primes the look of the footage but limits framing flexibility.

The Sony WX500 also shoots 1080p but supports 60p and 60i frame rates with AVCHD and XAVC S encoding options. It has optical image stabilization, markedly improving handheld footage smoothness. Unfortunately, no mic or headphone ports exist here either.

Between the two, the WX500 is more versatile for casual videographers thanks to zoom and stabilization, though neither is designed as a dedicated video machine.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

Travel photographers benefit from well-rounded cameras that are light, quick, and adaptable.

In testing across urban and natural environments, I found the Ricoh GR II perfectly suited for travelers who value image quality, stealth, and manual control. It excels at environmental portraits, street scenes, and careful landscape compositions. While it lacks zoom, its small size and intuitive handling encourage creative engagement.

The Sony WX500 offers an enticing travel all-in-one, especially for travelers who need a huge zoom range to capture distant architecture, wildlife, or events without changing lenses. Battery life is slightly higher, at 360 shots vs 320 for the Ricoh.

Choose Ricoh if you prioritize compactness and image quality; opt for Sony if flexibility and zoom are paramount.

Professional Use: Reliability and Workflow Integration

While neither camera fits the “professional DSLR/mirrorless” category fully, they both have niches in professional contexts.

The Ricoh GR II outputs 14-bit RAW files compatible with major processors. Its robust sensor offers excellent latitude for post-processing, and its manual controls and prime lens encourage creative discipline. Its build quality is solid but not weather-sealed, limiting use in harsh environments. I’ve seen it used as a discreet secondary camera by photojournalists and street photographers.

Sony WX500 lacks RAW support and professional-grade controls, making it less appealing for workflows requiring high fidelity RAW editing.

Both cameras offer Wi-Fi and NFC for quick image transfers, but neither supports Bluetooth or advanced tethering features.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera offers official weather sealing, dustproofing, or shockproofing, which is typical of this class.

The Ricoh GR II’s metal body feels more durable and premium, providing confidence to shoot in variable conditions cautiously. The Sony WX500’s plastic shell feels less rugged but benefits from a hideaway lens mechanism to protect optics during travel and transport.

Connectivity and Storage

Both cameras include built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easy connection to smartphones, enhancing social sharing and remote controls.

On storage, both cameras rely on a single card slot compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards. The Sony also supports Memory Stick Duo cards, which is handy if you have older Sony accessories.

USB 2.0 ports are present but lack faster data transfer speeds.

Price-to-Performance Analysis

At launch, the Ricoh GR II retailed for around $600, reflecting its higher-end sensor and features, while the Sony WX500 was positioned nearer $350, aimed at budget-conscious consumers desiring maximal zoom and easy operation.

Given current prices and marketplace options, the Ricoh commands a premium for image quality and manual control. The Sony offers superb zoom and video features for its cost but compromises sensor performance and raw capture capability.

Ricoh GR II front Ricoh GR II screen back Sony WX500 front Sony WX500 screen back

Summary Performance Ratings

Genre-Specific Strengths

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Having spent considerable time with both the Ricoh GR II and Sony WX500, I can confidently advise photographers according to their priorities:

• Pick the Ricoh GR II if:

  • You want outstanding image quality with a large APS-C sensor.
  • Manual controls and prime lens creativity are your focus.
  • Street, portrait, landscape, or travel photography are your main interests.
  • RAW shooting and post-processing flexibility are important.
  • You don’t need zoom but prefer pocket-ability and stealth.

• Pick the Sony WX500 if:

  • You need a powerful zoom range in a compact form.
  • Wildlife, sports, or casual video shooting are priorities.
  • You prefer more frames per second for action capture.
  • Budget constraints steer you towards a cheaper, versatile compact.
  • You don’t require RAW files or advanced manual focus.

Practical Tip: For serious landscape or portrait shooters wanting a lightweight daily carry, the Ricoh GR III (successor to the GR II) is worth considering for upgrades in autofocus and image stabilization, but the GR II remains a capable, affordable choice. Meanwhile, Sony has since refreshed the WX line with models offering better sensors and 4K video if zoom flexibility remains paramount.

I hope this in-depth comparison demystifies the choices between these two cameras and helps you find the best tool for your photographic adventures. Please feel free to reach out with questions or experiences with either camera - I’m always eager to exchange insights with fellow photographers.

Happy shooting!