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Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S

Portability
90
Imaging
57
Features
54
Overall
55
Ricoh GR front
 
Sony Alpha A7S front
Portability
77
Imaging
60
Features
73
Overall
65

Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S Key Specs

Ricoh GR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28mm (F2.8) lens
  • 245g - 117 x 61 x 35mm
  • Announced April 2013
  • Replacement is Ricoh GR II
Sony A7S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 489g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Replacement is Sony A7S II
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Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Ricoh GR and Sony A7S, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Ricoh and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the GR (16MP) and A7S (12MP) and the GR (APS-C) and A7S (Full frame) offer totally different sensor size.

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The GR was unveiled 11 months prior to the A7S and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh GR being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A7S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the GR grades vs the A7S when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR over the Sony A7S

 GR A7S 

Reasons to pick Sony A7S over the Ricoh GR

 A7S GR 
IntroducedApril 2014April 2013Newer by 11 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Ricoh GR and Sony A7S

 GR A7S 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Screen resolution1230k1230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR features external dimensions of 117mm x 61mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony A7S has dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs).

Analyze the Ricoh GR and Sony A7S in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the GR versus the A7S.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GR and A7S is 90 and 77 respectively.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specifications. The picture here should give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR and A7S.

Plainly, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GR using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Ricoh GR will show extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged GR will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7S as a Portrait photography camera
74
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000 seconds)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
68
has manual focus
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh GR
Street photography with Sony A7S
74
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
lighter than competition (489g)
great ISO range (409,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR as a Sports photography camera
Sony A7S as a Sports photography camera
45
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
fixed focal length (28mm)
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
52
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (360 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Travel photography details
Sony A7S Travel photography details
71
lighter than competitors in class (245g)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
58
lighter than competition (489g)
environment sealing
terrible battery power (360 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7S as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
66
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
sensor size is big (Full frame)
great ISO range (409,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (360 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh GR
Vlogging with Sony A7S
30
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (245g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone port
34
provides face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone support
lighter than competition (489g)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
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Ricoh GR vs Sony A7S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR and Sony A7S
 Ricoh GRSony Alpha A7S
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Sony Alpha A7S
Type Large Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2013-04-17 2014-04-06
Physical type Large Sensor Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4928 x 3264 4240 x 2832
Highest native ISO 25600 409600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8 -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,230k dots 1,230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 300s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.40 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes - no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/4000s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 ( 60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps) 3840 x 2160, XAVC S 1080 60p(50Mbps), 30p (50Mbps), 24p (50Mbps). 720 120p (50Mbps). AVCHD 60p (28Mbps), 60i (24Mbps/17Mbps), 24p (24Mbps/17Mbps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 245g (0.54 lb) 489g (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 61 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.4") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 78 87
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.5 13.2
DXO Low light rating 972 3702
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 360 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DB65 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $971 $1,998