Ricoh GR III vs Sony A500

Lets take a more detailed look at the Ricoh GR III and Sony A500, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Ricoh and Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the GR III (24MP) and A500 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The GR III was revealed 9 years later than the A500 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR III being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the GR III matches up vs the A500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Ricoh GR III and Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The full galleries are provided at Ricoh GR III Gallery and Sony A500 Gallery.

When you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Ricoh GR III features exterior dimensions of 109mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 257 grams (0.57 lbs) and the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Ricoh GR III and Sony A500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the GR III and the A500.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the GR III and A500 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading through specifications. The graphic underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GR III and A500.

To sum up, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should anticipate the Ricoh GR III to give more detail because of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The more recent GR III should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.