Ricoh GR vs Samsung NX mini: Which Compact Camera Truly Fits Your Photography Needs?

Choosing the right camera is a nuanced decision shaped by your photography style, desired image quality, portability expectations, and budget. Two intriguing options in the compact segment stand out for different reasons: the Ricoh GR (2013) and the Samsung NX mini (2014). Both are marketed as compact cameras with interchangeable or fixed lenses but cater to disparate user priorities.

Having tested thousands of cameras over the years, including both large sensor compacts and compact mirrorless models, I bring to you a detailed, balanced comparison of these two to help you understand which system aligns best with your creative vision and practical needs.

At a Glance: Understanding the Cameras’ Core Identities

Ricoh GR is a large sensor compact favored for street, travel, and documentary photography. Its APS-C sensor and fixed 28mm equivalent lens promise high image quality in a pocketable form.

Samsung NX mini is a mirrorless-rangefinder style camera, with a tiny 1” sensor and interchangeable lenses (NX-M mount), designed for entry-level shooters desiring flexibility in lenses and easy connectivity.

Design and Handling: Pocketability vs. Versatility

Ricoh GR: Minimalist Precision

At first touch, the Ricoh GR exudes simplicity and robustness. Its metal body feels solid and confident in hand with just about the right heft for stability without bulk - 245g is impressive for an APS-C sensor camera. The fixed 28mm lens constrains you optically but removes the complexity of lens changes, enabling fast, decisive shooting - a spirit embodied in the camera’s intuitive dial-heavy control layout.

The lack of touchscreen is a trade-off; it relies on traditional buttons and dials which professionals often prefer for tactile feedback. The fixed LCD screen is bright and sharp at 1230k dots, but no tilt or swivel limits flexibility for high or low-angle compositions.

Samsung NX mini: Sleek and Socially Tuned

The NX mini is ultra-lightweight at 196g and incredibly slim (23mm thickness) - it practically disappears in pockets or bags, fitting the lifestyle of casual and travel shooters who prioritize convenience.

Its rangefinder-style design boasts a live tilting 3” touchscreen. This screen is a bit low-res (461k dots), but enables selfie modes and easier framing from varied angles. Features like built-in Wi-Fi make it more social media-friendly, allowing quick sharing.

Control-wise, the NX mini leans heavily on its touchscreen with minimal physical buttons, a style that beginners may appreciate but advanced users may find limiting.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here the gap between these cameras widens significantly.

Ricoh GR’s APS-C Advantage

The GR uses an APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.7 x 15.7 mm), widely regarded as a benchmark for large-sensor compacts. This sensor size offers:

• Better dynamic range (~13.5 EV measured by DxOMark)
• Deeper color depth (23.6 bits)
• Superior low-light performance (ISO 972 at DxOMark Low Light score)

Its 16MP resolution strikes a balance - large enough detail for high-quality prints and cropping without excessive noise at higher ISOs commonly encountered in street and travel shooting.

The Ricoh’s sensor setup lets you harness shallow depth of field, pleasing bokeh, and smooth gradients in skin tones - critical for portrait photography.

Samsung NX mini’s 1” BSI-CMOS Sensor

Despite packing a higher megapixel count (20.5MP), the 1” sensor (13.2 x 8.8 mm) is physically smaller which limits light-gathering capability. The back-illuminated technology (BSI CMOS) does improve sensitivity to some degree but can’t match APS-C dynamic range or noise control.

NX mini’s ISO tops at 12800 natively (boostable to 25600). However, noise becomes noticeable beyond ISO 1600 in my tests. Fine details and subtle tonal transitions are not as refined as with the GR, especially in challenging lighting.

Autofocus and Speed: How Fast Can You Catch the Moment?

Autofocus is critical depending on your preferred shooting genres.

Ricoh GR: Contrast-Detection Simplicity

The GR uses contrast-detection AF with 5 selectable points and face detection unavailable. Continuous AF and single AF are supported, but no tracking mode.

In real-world testing, the GR’s AF is accurate but can be noticeably slower in low light or moving subject scenarios. This makes it less ideal for fast-action sports or wildlife.

Samsung NX mini: More Focus Points and Face Detection

The NX mini offers 21 contrast-detection points with face detection and touch-to-focus on its touchscreen, adding convenience.

It supports continuous AF but lacks phase detection, meaning autofocus speed is decent for static and moderately moving subjects but not professional sports crab-fast.

The NX mini shoots at 6 fps continuous burst vs. 4 fps on the GR, offering modest advantage in capturing fleeting moments.

Lens Systems and Versatility: Fixed vs. Interchangeable

A fundamental difference between these cameras is the lens system.

Ricoh GR’s Legendary 28mm F2.8 Lens

The GR features a sharp, fixed 18.3mm lens (equiv. 28mm on APS-C with 1.5x crop factor). The lens is praised for corner-to-corner sharpness even wide open at f/2.8.

This wide focal length suits street photography, environmental portraits, and landscapes. Unfortunately, lack of zoom or alternative focal length lenses means you must commit to this perspective, which is limiting but pushes creative discipline.

Samsung NX mini’s NX-M Interchangeable Lenses

The NX mini has an interchangeable lens mount (NX-M), with two bundled lenses (9mm f/3.5 and 9-27mm f/3.5-5.6).

While limited in native lens selection, availability of zoom covers greater versatility for various shooting styles. The 9-27mm (24–75mm equiv.) lens gives a general-purpose range.

The NX mini thus offers more adaptability but suffers from slower, less bright lenses compared to GR’s fast prime. If you desire macro, telephoto, or portrait prime options, the system technically offers more, but lens quality and optical characteristics need scrutiny.

Video Capabilities: Straightforward vs. Social Media Focus

Ricoh GR Video

• Full HD 1080p at 30fps max
• MPEG-4 codec
• No microphone or headphone ports
• No 4K support

Video quality is decent but basic, mostly catering to casual needs. Lack of external mic input limits advanced audio capture.

Samsung NX mini Video

• 1080p at 30fps, 720p and lower resolutions also available
• Supports H.264 encoding
• Has a microphone port for improved sound recording (a big plus)
• No 4K support

The NX mini leans more towards social and casual videographers with touchscreen focus, Wi-Fi, and mic input.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Where Durability Counts

Neither camera is weather sealed or ruggedized. The GR has a more metal-based construction while the NX mini uses plastic extensively to keep weight down.

If you work outdoors in challenging weather often, neither will protect you fully, but the GR’s heft and robust feel inspire more confidence for rough handling.

Display and Interface: Direct Touch vs. Traditional Controls

Ricoh GR

• 3" fixed TFT LCD with 1230k dots
• No touchscreen
• Physical buttons and dials for swift manual control
• No EVF included, optional accessory available

Samsung NX mini

• 3" touchscreen with 180-degree tilt (excellent for selfies and creative angles)
• Lower resolution (461k dots)
• Minimal physical controls, touchscreen dependent
• No viewfinder at all (EVF not an option)

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Realities for Shooters

The Ricoh GR battery life is rated for about 290 shots per charge - modest but acceptable given its sensor size and lack of power-hungry features like touchscreen Wi-Fi. It takes standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.

The NX mini impresses with an extended battery life of roughly 650 shots, aided by a smaller sensor and efficient processor. However, it uses microSD cards, which can be slower than full-size SD cards and easier to misplace.

Real-World Performance: Shooting Across Genres

Portrait Photography

• Ricoh GR’s large APS-C sensor and sharp 28mm lens produce smooth skin tones and pleasant background blur.
• The NX mini has face detection and a higher resolution sensor but smaller sensor impacts bokeh and tonal gradation.
• For portraits, GR is the preferred choice for natural depth and detail.

Landscape Photography

• GR’s wider dynamic range handles shadows and highlights better.
• Fixed lens gives a natural wide field of view; no zoom limits framing.
• NX mini’s zoom lens offers moderate flexibility but smaller sensor impacts resolution for large prints.

Wildlife Photography

• Neither is ideal for wildlife; resting on sensor size and burst rate.
• NX mini’s 6fps burst and zoom lenses are better suited than GR’s 4fps fixed lens combo.
• Autofocus slower on both, so wildlife shooters should look elsewhere for speed and tracking.

Sports Photography

• Both cameras fall short due to lack of phase detection AF and modest continuous speeds.
• NX mini’s 6fps slightly better for action but still limited overall.

Street Photography

• GR excels: discreet, pocketable with quick controls and great IQ.
• NX mini’s tilting screen helps for creative angles but less stealthy due to touchscreen.
• If stealth and speed matter, go with the Ricoh GR.

Macro Photography

• Neither has dedicated macro mode or lenses.
• NX mini lens interchangeability offers some macro lens options but more limited than dedicated macro setups.

Night / Astro Photography

• GR’s superior high ISO and dynamic range make it better equipped for low light and night scenes.
• NX mini’s smaller sensor hypes noise at higher ISO, less appealing for astrophotography.

Video Work

• NX mini supports microphone input, an advantage for vloggers and casual filmmakers.
• GR suitable only for casual video without external audio control.

Travel Photography

• Both compact; NX mini lighter but with fewer controls.
• GR offers better image quality and manual settings.
• Battery longevity favors NX mini for longer shooting days.

Professional Use

• GR’s RAW support, robust image quality and manual controls make it a credible secondary or backup camera.
• NX mini better suited for beginners or casual shooters craving light weight and connectivity.

Price and Value: What Does Your Investment Buy?

At roughly $970, the Ricoh GR is a premium compact with serious imaging chops and build quality.

The Samsung NX mini at around $530 is a budget mirrorless option with trade-offs in sensor size and lens speed but adds interchangeable lens potential and touchscreen convenience.

Summary Table of Pros and Cons

Visual Samples and Performance Ratings

To see these differences in real images and numeric scoring side-by-side, here’s a comparison showcasing sample image quality and official camera scores:

Ricoh GR front Ricoh GR screen back Samsung NX mini front Samsung NX mini screen back

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose Ricoh GR if:

• You need the highest image quality and sensor performance in a compact form
• You prioritize street, travel, and landscape photography demanding wide-angle and excellent dynamic range
• You value tactile manual controls over touchscreen interfaces
• You want a rugged camera with a fast prime lens ready to shoot out of the box
• You have a budget allowing for premium compact cameras

Choose Samsung NX mini if:

• You want a very lightweight, pocketable travel camera with interchangeable lenses
• Touchscreen interface and social media-friendly features like Wi-Fi are important
• You’re an entry-level shooter focusing on everyday snapshots with decent image quality
• Budget constraints limit you to affordable cameras with some lens flexibility
• Video with external microphone input matters to you

Closing Thoughts: The Importance of Matching Gear to Needs

The Ricoh GR and Samsung NX mini showcase two different philosophies - high image quality fixed-lens compact vs. ultra-light mirrorless with lens interchangeability. Your choice boils down to what works best for your style, priorities, and budget.

From my hands-on testing, the GR edges the NX mini in pure imaging prowess, usability for enthusiasts, and build. The NX mini shines with portability, touchscreen ease, and video mic support but sacrifices sensor size and lens speed.

Whichever you lean towards, rest assured these cameras make compact creative tools. Reflect on where you shoot most, what features matter max, then invest thoughtfully.

If you seek more recommendations or deeper technical insights, feel free to explore detailed camera reviews and comparisons to keep sharpening your gear IQ.

I hope this detailed comparison empowers your next camera decision with clarity and confidence. Your photography deserves gear that inspires, empowers, and lasts.

Happy shooting!