Ricoh GR III vs Sony RX100 VI: An Expert’s Deep Dive into Two Large Sensor Compacts

When it comes to large sensor compacts, few cameras spark as much enthusiastic debate as the Ricoh GR III and the Sony RX100 VI. Both announced in 2018, these pocket-sized marvels cater to discerning enthusiasts who want more than mere smartphone snapshots without lugging around bulky DSLRs or mirrorless rigs. Yet, despite occupying the same broad category, they embody very different philosophies, strengths, and compromises.

Having logged countless hours testing each - and even compared them side-by-side in studio setups and field shoots - I'm here to share a balanced, practical, and deeply technical perspective on how each stacks up for photographers. Whether you’re a street shooter craving discretion, a landscape lover chasing detail, or a travel pro needing versatility, by the end you’ll know which camera talks your language.

Let’s start our tour by sizing them up - literally.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: Pocket-Sized Champions with Different Characters

The Ricoh GR III is beloved for its minimalist, almost monastic design ethos: simple, sharp edges, and a surprisingly solid metallic build. By contrast, the Sony RX100 VI leans into a richer ergonomics package, sporting a slightly heftier but still compact body that houses a longer zoom range.

The GR III measures approximately 109 x 62 x 33 mm and weighs a feather-light 257 grams. It fits so snugly in a jacket or even trouser pocket that you might forget it's there - until it delivers a perfect street photo within seconds. Its rather flat profile and uncluttered controls make it ideal for one-handed operation and street stealth. The back screen is fixed and touch-enabled, favoring simplicity.

Sony RX100 VI, meanwhile, clocks in at 102 x 58 x 43 mm - thicker due to the lens assembly - and weighs about 301 grams. The welcome trade-off here is a versatile lens and a pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF) that adds a pro-feel to composition. Its tilting touch screen and more extensive control layout offer a richer handling experience.

The top panel designs underline their different control philosophies:

Ricoh opts for tidy dials and a compact, no-nonsense approach, while Sony’s top is packed with buttons and a zoom rocker catering to focal length adjustments on the fly. Your choice may well hinge on whether you prioritize swift, tactile control versus zoom flexibility.

Bottom line: If pocketability and intuitive ergonomics are your top priorities - say, street photography or everyday carry - the Ricoh GR III has a slight edge. But the RX100 VI isn't exactly an anvil and compensates with more hardware functionality.

Sensor and Image Quality Face-off: The Heart of the Matter

Image quality boils down largely to sensor size, resolution, and processing. The Ricoh GR III sports a 24-megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.5 x 15.6 mm), notable because APS-C is far more common in enthusiast DSLRs than compacts. Larger sensors generally deliver better image quality, improved low-light performance, and richer depth of field control.

In contrast, the Sony RX100 VI squeezes its sensor into a 1-inch BSI CMOS format (13.2 x 8.8 mm) with a 20-megapixel resolution. The smaller sensor means less surface area to gather light, which typically impacts dynamic range and noise behavior. However, Sony’s renowned BIONZ X processor and advanced noise reduction algorithms help mitigate some of that disadvantage.

Real-world testing confirms the GR III’s advantage in dynamic range and noise control, especially above ISO 800. Images show cleaner shadows, more highlight detail retention, and more accurate color depth. The absence of an optical low-pass filter in Ricoh’s sensor helps it eke out sharper fine detail at base ISO.

Sony compensates with an optional optical anti-aliasing filter that slightly softens images but aids in moiré suppression - handy for shooting high-detail patterns. Its sensor resolution peaks at about 5472 x 3648 pixels versus GR III's 6000 x 4000.

With raw file flexibility on both, post-processing latitude is excellent, but those wanting the most latitude and cleaner high ISO should lean Ricoh.

Seeing Your Shot: Screens and Viewfinders Showing Their True Colors

The Ricoh GR III features a fixed 3-inch touchscreen LCD with 1037k-dot resolution. It’s responsive but feels a bit restrained with no tilting or eye-level finder built-in. An optional optical viewfinder is available, but that’s an add-on, and many users find composing via the rear screen works well enough - especially in street photography where swiveling tilt screens can attract unwanted attention.

Conversely, the Sony RX100 VI shines here. It has a 3-inch tilting touchscreen with a 1229k-dot resolution, making low-angle or high-angle shooting a breeze. Its pop-up EVF boasts 2359k dots and 0.59x magnification with a 100% coverage, putting you in full control of framing and exposure even in bright conditions. This feature arguably shifts RX100 VI closer to mirrorless usability, bridging amateur compact convenience with professional clarity.

While both provide touch autofocus and focus point selection on the screen, Sony’s richer screen resolution and EVF responsiveness give it a clear advantage - especially for photographers who value precise framing or video work.

Autofocus: Speed and Accuracy Under Pressure

Both cameras use hybrid autofocus systems combining phase-detection and contrast-detection, but differences abound.

The Ricoh GR III's autofocus relies primarily on contrast detection and does so remarkably well given its compact credentials. It won’t chase action like a DSLR but nails sharp focus for static subjects - especially with its excellent face detection. However, it lacks animal eye AF or advanced subject tracking algorithms, limiting potential in dynamic wildlife or sports scenarios.

Sony, true to its reputation, equips the RX100 VI with 315 phase-detection points covering much of the frame, delivering blazing fast focus lock and impressive tracking. Its continuous AF modes excel with moving subjects in wildlife and sports, while real-time eye AF (human) further increases keeper rates.

Shooting bursts, Sony trumpets up to 24fps continuous shooting - remarkable for a compact - but sustained burst durations are limited by buffer speed. Ricoh does not officially support continuous shooting, so action shooters should look to Sony here.

Lens: The Glass Story – Fixed Focal Length vs Versatile Zoom

The Ricoh GR III features a superbly sharp, fixed 28 mm equivalent lens with a bright f/2.8 aperture. No zoom means less mechanical complexity, smaller size, and improved optical performance. The f/2.8 aperture allows for decent subject isolation and bokeh, making it ideal for street portraits and creative depth control. Its macro focus distance down to 6 cm affords close-up shots with crisp detail.

The Sony RX100 VI counters with a jaw-dropping 24-200 mm equivalent zoom lens. This 8.3x zoom range covers everything from wide angles for landscapes or interiors to telephoto reach for distant wildlife and candid portraits. Aperture varies from f/2.8 at wide angle to f/4.5 at telephoto - less bright than primes but impressive given the range.

So, what’s the trade-off? The zoom compromises maximum aperture and introduces the typical softness and distortion challenges, though Sony’s optics maintain excellent sharpness across the range. For photographers who demand versatility without changing lenses, RX100 VI is the obvious choice. Yet if optical purity and rapid street snapshots without fuss are your game, Ricoh’s fixed lens earns nods for its “set it and forget it” clarity.

Build, Durability, and Weather Resistance: Ready for Adventure?

Neither camera offers full weather sealing or ruggedization - the Ricoh and Sony both miss out on dust and moisture resistance. This fact deserves emphasizing, as travel and outdoor photographers should be prepared to protect the bodies in inclement conditions.

Ricoh’s somewhat minimalistic magnesium alloy chassis is sturdy but unsealed. Sony opts for a premium compact build but similarly lacks weatherproofing.

Given this parity, decisions should hinge more on handling preferences and use cases than toughness differences.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered on the Road

Sony RX100 VI claims a battery life around 240 shots per charge under CIPA testing, somewhat modest for extended fieldwork. The GR III battery life details are less defined but generally hover in the same range.

Personally, I recommend carrying at least one spare battery for both cameras for day-long shoots - a necessity with these power-hungry sensors and processors, especially if shooting video or burst sequences.

Both accept SD cards (SDHC/SDXC), but Sony also supports Memory Stick formats - their legacy choice.

Video Capabilities: Not Just Still Photography

If video is part of your creative toolkit, the RX100 VI takes a significant upper hand. It shoots 4K UHD up to 30p at 100 Mbps with efficient XAVC S codec and linear PCM audio, delivering sharp, detailed video with solid dynamic range.

Ricoh GR III is restricted to Full HD 1080p at 60 fps with a simpler H.264 compression - adequate for casual clips but far from professional video needs.

Neither camera has microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio options, but Sony’s inclusion of HDMI output is a plus for monitor connectivity or external recorders.

If hybrid shooters are reading this, know that RX100 VI brings the goods when video matters, while Ricoh stays firmly in still photography teritory.

Real-World Use Cases: Who Should Consider Which?

Street Photography and Everyday Carry

Ricoh GR III, with its compact, unobtrusive design, fixed 28mm equivalent prime, and excellent image quality, remains a classic among street photographers. Its swift one-shot AF, intuitive controls, and pocket-friendliness make it a relentless companion for urban explorers.

The Sony RX100 VI, while portable, is bulkier and noisier given its lens zoom mechanisms but compensates with zoom versatility, faster AF, and EVF. It’s a powerhouse for photojournalists or travelers who want to nail a variety of scenes without swapping lenses.

Landscape and Travel Photography

Ricoh’s high-resolution APS-C sensor delivers rich, detailed, and clean files perfect for landscapes, with its fixed wide lens offering a natural perspective. However, absence of environmental sealing constrains tough outdoor usage.

Sony’s zoom lens flexibility aids framing tight landscapes or distant details. Its tilting screen and EVF improve composition in challenging angles. Battery endurance may warrant caution on extended trips.

Wildlife and Sports

Sony RX100 VI is the better pick here, with fast autofocus, long zoom reach, and rapid burst modes helping capture fleeting moments. While still compact, it lacks the firepower of larger mirrorless systems but sings above Ricoh in this niche.

Portraits and Macro

Both can produce great portraits, but Ricoh’s wide f/2.8 aperture and sharp prime lens deliver creamier bokeh and punchy skin tones. The GR III’s closer macro distance (6 cm vs 8 cm) aids fine detail capture in close-ups.

Final Scores: Objective Meets Subjective

I’ve compiled overall and genre-specific performance ratings based on hands-on testing across technical factors like speed, image quality, ergonomics, and video:

Both cameras are stars in the large sensor compact galaxy, but with different orbits. Ricoh GR III shines in image quality, street ergonomics, and prime optics, while Sony RX100 VI excels in versatility, autofocus speed, video, and zoom reach.

Conclusion: Choosing Your Champion

The Ricoh GR III is a masterclass in simplification and image quality for enthusiasts who want the quintessential street and travel camera with impeccable IQ and minimal fuss. If you prize tactile controls, large APS-C sensor files, and a stealthy, pocketable device, the GR III will reward you with stunning results.

Meanwhile, the Sony RX100 VI is an all-rounder powerhouse crammed into a compact chassis. Its extended zoom, blazing AF, EVF, and 4K video make it ideal for those who demand versatility in a small size, balancing photo and video needs with high performance.

Your best choice depends on priorities:

• Go Ricoh GR III if pure image quality, minimalism, and prime lens sharpness are your jam.
• Go Sony RX100 VI if zoom flexibility, video, and action autofocus matter most, and you can stomach a slightly larger footprint and price premium.

Whichever side you pick, both are formidable tools made for serious photographers who want to travel light without compromising quality. Happy shooting!

Sample Images Gallery: Real Results from the Field

To give you a true sense of each camera’s output, here’s a curated gallery of test images - note the distinct character of Ricoh’s sharp yet subtle rendering, versus Sony’s versatile framing and vibrant colors:

Ricoh GR III front Ricoh GR III screen back Sony RX100 VI front