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Ricoh GR vs Sony A850

Portability
90
Imaging
57
Features
54
Overall
55
Ricoh GR front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 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
  • Revealed April 2013
  • Renewed by Ricoh GR II
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Ricoh GR vs Sony A850, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Ricoh and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the GR (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the GR (APS-C) and A850 (Full frame) boast different sensor size.

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The GR was brought out 3 years after the A850 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Ricoh GR being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the GR matches up vs the A850 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR over the Sony A850

 GR A850 
IntroducedApril 2013April 2010More modern by 37 months
Screen resolution1230k922kCrisper screen (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Ricoh GR

 A850 GR 

Common features in the Ricoh GR and Sony A850

 GR A850 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR offers outer measurements of 117mm x 61mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony A850 has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check out the Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the GR and the A850.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GR and A850 is 90 and 54 respectively.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specifications. The pic below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GR and A850.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The GR featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A850 will offer you extra detail having its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The fresher GR provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Portrait photography advice
Sony A850 Portrait photography advice
74
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/4,000s)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
72
you can focus manually
amazing resolution (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Street photography details
Sony A850 Street photography details
74
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (245g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Sports photography highlights
Sony A850 Sports photography highlights
45
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
fixed focal length (28mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing resolution (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Travel photography highlights
Sony A850 Travel photography highlights
71
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
environment sealing
amazing resolution (25MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Landscape photography information
Sony A850 Landscape photography information
61
you can focus manually
good sized screen (3 inch)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing resolution (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
no liveview feature
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR as a Vlogging camera
Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
30
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone port
9
can't shoot video
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Ricoh GR vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR and Sony A850
 Ricoh GRSony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Company Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Category Large Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2013-04-17 2010-04-15
Body design Large Sensor Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8 -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 300 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.40 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/4000 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 245 gr (0.54 pounds) 895 gr (1.97 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 61 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.4") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 78 79
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 13.5 12.2
DXO Low light score 972 1415
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 880 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DB65 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Two
Retail pricing $971 $0