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Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
55
Overall
57
Ricoh GR II front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99 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
  • Replaced the Ricoh GR
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Introduced December 2012
  • Older Model is Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
Photography Glossary

Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Ricoh GR II versus Sony A99, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Ricoh and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the GR II (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the GR II (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The GR II was brought out 2 years later than the A99 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Ricoh GR II being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the GR II scores versus the A99 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR II over the Sony A99

 GR II A99 
IntroducedJune 2015December 2012Fresher by 31 months
Display resolution1230k1229kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Ricoh GR II

 A99 GR II 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Ricoh GR II and Sony A99

 GR II A99 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Ricoh GR II offers physical dimensions of 117mm x 63mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony A99 has measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Contrast the Ricoh GR II versus Sony A99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the GR II against the A99.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GR II and A99 is 89 and 57 respectively.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing simply by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR II and A99.

Clearly, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GR II because of its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Sony A99 will show greater detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics more aggressively. The fresher GR II will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR II Portrait photography details
Sony A99 Portrait photography details
75
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
81
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh GR II
Street photography with Sony A99
74
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (251 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
75
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR II Sports photography advice
Sony A99 Sports photography advice
50
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (28mm)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect AF
terrible battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR II Travel photography highlights
Sony A99 Travel photography highlights
67
lighter than competitors in class (251 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
weather proof
MP count good (24MP)
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR II as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
59
has manual focus
screen size is good (3")
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
terrible battery life (500 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh GR II
Vlogging with Sony A99
32
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (251g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external mic port
76
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic port
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Ricoh GR II vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR II and Sony A99
 Ricoh GR IISony SLT-A99
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR II Sony SLT-A99
Type Large Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-06-17 2012-12-12
Body design Large Sensor Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip GR Engine V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4928 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-16.0 -
Macro focusing range 10cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 300 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m (at Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash settings 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, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/250 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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 grams (0.55 pounds) 812 grams (1.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 63 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 80 89
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.7 14.0
DXO Low light rating 1078 1555
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 500 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DB-65 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots 1 2
Cost at release $599 $1,998