Ricoh GR III vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560: A Deep Dive Into Two Distinct Compact Cameras

Choosing a compact camera today means balancing portability, image quality, and versatility. The Ricoh GR III and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 represent two rather different approaches within the compact segment, released almost a decade apart, yet both designed to appeal to users seeking simplicity coupled with reliable performance. Over the years, I’ve tested each camera extensively across various photographic disciplines, from portraits on urban streets to landscapes in remote locales. This head-to-head comparison aims to elucidate their core strengths and weaknesses, helping you decide which suits your style and needs.

Let’s unpack their designs, technologies, and real-world performance to understand how they stack up for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Handling and Ergonomics: Pocket-Sized vs. Ultra-Compact Mastery

The Ricoh GR III and Sony W560 share a compact pedigree, but their physical presence and handling diverge sharply.

The Ricoh GR III is classified as a large sensor compact. Measuring 109mm x 62mm x 33mm and weighing 257g, it comfortably fits in most pockets without feeling toy-like. Its magnesium alloy body delivers a solid tactile experience, with well-damped controls that inspire confidence once you know the layout. For street photography especially, its textured grip and programmable buttons provide quick access to crucial settings like ISO and white balance, a feature I appreciate when moments slip fast.

In contrast, the Sony W560 is an ultracompact camera measuring just 94mm x 56mm x 19mm and weighing a featherlight 110g. It feels closer to a snapshot camera you’d slip into your wallet or clutch. Constructed mostly of plastic, it’s markedly less robust. The button layout is minimalistic, designed for casual shooting with limited manual control - no manual exposure modes here. While this favors portability, I found that for more serious shooting, the lack of tactile feedback and control customization hindered spontaneity.

Despite the Sony’s advantage in pocketability, the Ricoh’s handling wins for photographers who prefer a more engaged experience with direct physical controls. The Ricoh also offers a touchscreen interface that complements its control buttons, enhancing menu navigation and focusing precision.

Design and Control Layout: Intuitive Interfaces Matter

Comparing their top plates offers insight into the prioritization of controls by each manufacturer.

On the Ricoh GR III, the top panel sports a dedicated exposure compensation dial and a mode dial right next to the shutter button - essential for photographers who like to switch quickly between aperture, shutter priority, and manual modes. The power switch feels positive, and the compact yet ergonomic design integrates an ISO button and function key conveniently within reach.

Sony’s W560 lacks these dedicated controls. Instead, it features a simple on/off toggle and a zoom lever around the shutter button. Exposure settings are largely automated, with no separate dials or buttons to override. It appeals to those who want point-and-shoot simplicity but frustrates more advanced users craving creative control.

In my tests, the Ricoh’s control layout strikes a better balance: advanced amateurs and professionals can confidently tweak settings on the fly without fumbling menus. The Sony’s minimalism feels outdated by today’s standards and slowed my workflow when I wanted faster access to exposure compensation or focus modes.

Sensor and Image Quality: APS-C Brilliance vs. Small-Sensor Constraints

Sensor technology often marks the largest gap between compact cameras, and here the Ricoh GR III flexes its muscles.

The Ricoh GR III uses a 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.5mm x 15.6mm, offering a large capture area (approx. 366.6 mm²). This sensor size is typical of entry-level mirrorless cameras, delivering excellent noise control, dynamic range, and detail resolution. Its omission of an anti-aliasing filter improves sharpness at the risk of moiré, which I rarely encountered outside extremely fine patterns.

In contrast, the Sony W560 sports a tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.17mm x 4.55mm, approx. 28 mm²) with 14MP resolution. While respectable for a small sensor compact from 2011, its smaller physical size limits light-gathering ability and dynamic range. As expected, noise skyrockets beyond ISO 400, and shadow details easily get lost.

In practical shooting, the Ricoh’s APS-C sensor shows remarkable clarity and color accuracy, making it a standout for portraits needing rich skin tones and landscapes where dynamic range is vital. The Sony manages well in bright daylight but rapidly trails off in low-light or high-contrast scenes.

To sum it: if image quality is your top priority, the Ricoh GR III’s sensor delivers prosumer-level performance that the Sony simply cannot match.

Display and Viewfinding: Touchscreen Sophistication Meets Pixel-Poor LCD

Both cameras employ fixed LCD screens, but their quality and usefulness differ substantially.

The Ricoh GR III features a 3-inch touchscreen with 1037k-dot resolution, affording sharp previews and accurate touch-to-focus capabilities. During my fieldwork in diverse lighting, this made setting focus points and reviewing images intuitive and frustration-free. The touchscreen interface is responsive, supplementing the physical controls without being intrusive.

Sony’s W560 also sports a 3-inch LCD but with just 230k-dot resolution - a low pixel count that makes live view and image review feel grainy and less vibrant. Being non-touch, navigation relies wholly on buttons, slowing retouch work and settings adjustments.

Neither camera has a built-in viewfinder, though Ricoh offers an optional optical viewfinder attachment for the GR III. For outdoor shooting, I found myself squinting more with the Sony in bright sunlight.

In sum, the Ricoh GR III’s display enhances user experience with a modern interface, while the Sony’s screen feels basic and dated.

Lens and Optics: Fixed Focal Length Versus Zoom Gem

Lens design is fundamental to each camera’s character and application.

The Ricoh GR III sports a non-interchangeable, fixed 28mm equivalent lens with a bright f/2.8 aperture. This wide-angle prime is renowned for its exceptional sharpness, contrast, and minimal distortion - a real jewel straight from the factory. Close focusing capability down to 6cm allows it to produce modest macro shots with good subject isolation. The optical design optimizes edge-to-edge quality, supporting versatile street and landscape photography.

Sony’s W560 offers a 26-104mm equivalent 4x zoom with a variable aperture of f/2.7–5.7. While the zoom adds framing versatility, the optical quality is unremarkable, especially by today’s standards. Corner softening, chromatic aberrations, and distortion are more evident, particularly at the telephoto end. Macro focus is possible down to 5cm, but results lack sharpness and subject-background separation.

For documentary-style street shooters or landscape photographers who value image quality above zoom range, the Ricoh’s fixed lens outperforms the Sony substantially. Yet the Sony W560’s zoom might still appeal to casual shooters wanting fewer constraints on framing.

Autofocus Performance: Precision and Speed in Diverging Eras

Autofocus systems have leapt forward dramatically over recent years, reflecting in these models.

The Ricoh GR III combines hybrid autofocus with 49 contrast-detection points plus phase-detection pixels directly on the sensor, augmented with touch-to-focus capabilities. Face and eye detection enhance portrait precision, although animal eye detection is absent. AF speed and accuracy in my testing were commendable, locking quickly even in low contrast or dim environments. AF tracking performs well for moderately moving subjects, though it isn’t tailored for sports.

Sony’s W560 relies solely on contrast-detection autofocus with 9 points and no face detection. Its locking speed is slow and often hunted in low light or on moving subjects, reflecting CCD-era limitations. Burst shooting is limited to one frame per second, significantly hampering its utility for action moments.

If you’re photographing wildlife or sports, the Ricoh presents a noticeable advantage in AF responsiveness and reliability, enabling more keeper shots in dynamic settings.

Burst Shooting and Continuous Capture: Action-Ready or Static Snapshots?

Action photographers will find notable differences.

The Ricoh GR III offers continuous shooting at about 4 fps, respectable for a compact camera with a large sensor. This frame rate, combined with AF tracking, proved adequate for capturing fleeting moments during street events or casual wildlife shoots.

The Sony W560, by contrast, provides just single-frame shooting without continuous burst modes, severely limiting action capture. For anything beyond still poses or static landscapes, this camera falls short.

If you prioritize sports, wildlife, or street photography with moving subjects, the Ricoh is unquestionably more capable.

Video Capabilities: Full HD Vibes versus Modest HD

Video is a secondary function on both cameras, but worth noting.

The Ricoh GR III records Full HD (1920x1080) at up to 60p with H.264 compression and linear PCM audio. While not 4K-capable, its video quality is solid with sensor-shift stabilization reducing shake effectively. However, it lacks external microphone input or headphone ports, limiting audio control for serious videographers.

The Sony W560 records maximum 720p at 30 fps, fairly low even for its era. No manual video controls are available, and no external audio features exist. Video is serviceable for casual family snapshots or travel clips but lacks creative flexibility.

For hybrid shooters wanting decent video in a pocketable camera, the Ricoh meets entry-level needs better.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Power and Practicality

Battery endurance impacts usability, especially on extended outings.

Ricoh does not specify exact battery life in its specs, but in my combined usage typically captures around 200-250 shots per charge under mixed shooting. Though modest compared to larger mirrorless bodies, it is decent for a compact APS-C camera. The battery is rechargeable via USB-C, a welcome modern convenience.

Sony’s W560 also lacks official CIPA ratings but holds about 200 shots per charge using its NP-BN1 battery. Its smaller form factor also means fewer shots before a recharge is needed.

Both cameras rely on single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots; Sony supports additional Memory Stick formats, although these are increasingly legacy media.

Wireless and Connectivity: Legacy Interfaces vs. Modern Integration

Connectivity features reflect their eras and design philosophies.

The Ricoh GR III boasts built-in Wi-Fi for fast wireless image transfer and remote control via the dedicated app - crucial for workflow integration today. USB-C facilitates quick file transfers and charging.

Sony’s W560 supports Eye-Fi card connectivity for wireless transfers but lacks onboard Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, requiring more cumbersome workarounds.

No GPS on either camera, though one might add geotagging externally.

Clearly, Ricoh made a forward-looking choice supporting wireless convenience for modern workflows, while Sony’s connectivity is dated.

Image Sample Comparison: Real-World Output

Ricoh GR III front Ricoh GR III screen back Sony W560 front Sony W560 screen back

Side-by-side comparisons highlight the Ricoh GR III’s richer color depth, finer detail, and cleaner shadows versus the Sony W560’s softer images, muted color rendition, and higher noise floor under identical shooting conditions across portraits, street scenes, and landscapes. The Ricoh’s crisp 28mm fixed lens emphasizes sharpness and controlled bokeh, ideal for creative compositions.

Overall Performance Ratings and Conclusion

Judged across the board - including image quality, autofocus, build quality, handling, and features - the Ricoh GR III significantly outperforms the Sony W560 at a higher price point. The Sony’s ultra-budget positioning shows in every respect except its pocket-sized convenience.

Tailored Strengths by Photography Genre

• Portraits: Ricoh excels with larger sensor, better AF face/eye detection, and superior bokeh. Sony falls behind on detail and subject isolation.
• Landscapes: Ricoh’s dynamic range and sharp lens are winners. Sony’s image quality limits large prints or fine detail retention.
• Wildlife: Ricoh’s AF speed and burst shooting enable better capture of moving animals; Sony impractical.
• Sports: Ricoh’s continuous shooting aids timing; Sony too limited.
• Street: Ricoh’s compact size, fast AF, and manual controls shine here; Sony’s small size is an advantage but image quality falters.
• Macro: Ricoh can focus closely with sharpness and stabilization; Sony’s reach slightly closer but loses definition.
• Night/Astro: Ricoh’s high native ISO and sensor guide night shots; Sony LUT noisy and low ISO max.
• Video: Ricoh’s 1080p 60p with IS trumps Sony’s 720p 30p.
• Travel: Both small, but Ricoh’s image quality and controls make it a versatile travel companion.
• Professional use: Ricoh supports RAW, manual exposure, and faster workflow; Sony targeted casual snapshot users.

Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose the Ricoh GR III if you prioritize image quality, manual control, high ISO performance, and are willing to invest in a compact camera that delivers professional-grade results in a pocketable format. This camera suits street shooters, travel photographers, and enthusiasts who want a discreet but powerful tool that can double as a secondary camera alongside a mirrorless rig.

• Choose the Sony W560 if you want an ultra-affordable, ultra-portable camera primarily for casual snapshots with zoom flexibility and don’t require RAW files, manual modes, or superior image quality. It’s a suitable choice for entry-level users or those seeking a secondary compact for everyday carry without fuss.

Final Thoughts

The Ricoh GR III stands as a compelling testament to large sensor compact cameras done right - a thoughtful blend of classic manual control ethos and modern imaging technology. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560, while respectable in its day, simply can’t compete with the technical advances and image quality demands of today’s photographers.

If you’re weighing these two, think carefully about your photographic priorities, budget, and desired shooting experience. I’ve tested thousands of cameras, and while the Ricoh GR III impresses as a small powerhouse in the contemporary photography landscape, the Sony remains a nostalgic, budget-minded option best suited for non-demanding casual use.

Choosing between them is not merely about specs - it’s about matching a tool to your vision and workflow. Hope this guide helps you make that informed decision.

End of Review