Ricoh GR vs Sony NEX-5N: A Hands-On Showdown of Two APS-C Cameras

When it comes to cameras packing an APS-C sensor - those imaging beasts significantly bigger than the typical compact sensor - photographers often ask: Should I go ultra-compact with a fixed lens or carry around a mirrorless body with interchangeable glass? Two intriguing options from the early 2010s - Ricoh GR (2013) and Sony NEX-5N (2011) - offer contrasting takes on that very conundrum.

Having logged hundreds of hours testing both these cameras in diverse shooting conditions over the years, I’m excited to unpack their strengths, quirks, and practical value. Our journey will weave through sensor tech, handling, autofocus, image quality, and suitability across everything from street to wildlife photography.

Let’s dive in.

Size and Handling: Pocketability vs. Flexibility

First impressions matter, especially if you’re a traveler or street shooter who wants gear that doesn’t scream “look at me.” The Ricoh GR is famously pocketable and discreet, whereas the Sony NEX-5N leans toward classic interchangeable lens system heft.

At a glance, the GR’s compact body means it fits comfortably into a jacket pocket or small bag, tipping the scales at just 245g and measuring around 117x61x35 mm. Its minimalist design is deceptively simple, focused on speed and one-handed operation. Contrast that with the NEX-5N, which, although still petite for a mirrorless camera, is bulkier at 269g and a slightly wider footprint (111x59x38 mm). Factor in the lens, and the Sony becomes notably heavier and larger.

The Ricoh’s fixed 28mm equivalent F2.8 lens keeps the body slim and balanced, making quick grabs effortless. Its controls are straightforward, favoring photographers who want to “feel” the camera rather than fiddle endlessly.

Meanwhile, the NEX-5N’s Sony E-mount lets you swap out lenses - handy for adapting to multiple scenarios. Its rangefinder style body, combined with a tilting screen, offers a little more ergonomic flexibility, but the added complexity might slow you down if rapid street shooting is your priority.

Notice the top-view layouts: the Ricoh sports a minimalist control cluster optimized for quick adjustments, while the NEX-5N packs more buttons, a mode dial, and a power switch that may suit those used to a traditional DSLR handling style.

Both cameras lack weather sealing and rugged protection - worth noting for those tempted to use them in harsh environments.

In short: The Ricoh GR is a dream for stealthy, grab-and-go shooting with a fixed focal length. The Sony NEX-5N offers a more DSLR-like feel with lens flexibility but sacrifices pocketability.

Sensor and Image Quality - APS-C Still Reigns

Both cameras sport APS-C CMOS sensors of around 16 megapixels. Ricoh’s measures 23.7x15.7 mm, Sony’s 23.4x15.6 mm - essentially twins in sensor size, but let’s see how that plays out in real-world image performance.

The Ricoh GR boasts a DxOMark score of 78 overall, marginally edging out the NEX-5N’s 77. Notably, the GR leads in dynamic range (13.5 EV vs 12.7 EV) which underscores its ability to recover shadow detail - crucial for landscape and high-contrast scenes.

Color depth is identical at 23.6 bits, ensuring both cameras produce rich, nuanced tones - an important factor when shooting portraits or nature. Low-light ISO performance shows a slight edge to Sony’s unit (ISO 1079 vs 972 at DxOMark Low-Light ISO metric), hinting that the NEX-5N might handle noise a tad better at higher sensitivities.

Both cameras support RAW shooting, essential for those who insist on post-processing flexibility.

Real-world impact: In my testing, the Ricoh’s sensor gave slightly cleaner files with punchier shadows and highlights, especially in RAW processing. The Sony’s sensor was still excellent but displayed marginally more luminance noise above ISO 1600.

Autofocus: Speed vs. Precision

Autofocus capabilities can make or break the shooting experience, especially if the subject is moving or unpredictable.

The Ricoh GR relies exclusively on contrast-detection autofocus, with no phase-detection pixels - meaning it can be slower and more hesitant, especially in low light or fast-moving subjects.

Sony’s NEX-5N also employs contrast detection (no phase detect either) but compensates with a more sophisticated 25-point AF system and face detection support, which the GR lacks.

Let’s compare continuous shooting speeds here too: Ricoh GR shoots at a moderate 4 frames per second (fps), whereas Sony hits up to 10 fps - more than double and a noticeable advantage for action-oriented genres like sports or wildlife.

Zooming into autofocus in practice: For still subjects or street photography, both perform adequately. However, if you’re aiming to track a kid’s fast moves or a bird in flight, Sony’s system - while not top-tier by modern standards - is more reliable and faster to lock focus consistently.

Displays and User Interface: A Tale of Two Screens

The rear LCD is your primary interface on both cameras, but they approach it differently.

Ricoh GR’s fixed 3-inch LCD offers a sharp 1230k-dot resolution but no touchscreen functionality. Its super simple menu system is straightforward, geared to speed and minimal distraction.

Sony NEX-5N opts for a tilting 3-inch screen with 920k-dot resolution but adds touchscreen capabilities, a helpful feature when navigating menus or adjusting focus points quickly.

For videographers or creative angles, the NEX-5N’s tilt screen wins hands down, while the GR’s fixed screen suffices for classical photographer sitting-eye-level style.

In terms of customization, the Ricoh keeps it basic, avoiding too many menu layers, while Sony provides decent flexibility but at the cost of some complexity.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

This is where the dividing line most clearly emerges.

The Ricoh GR Camera is shackled to its fixed 28mm f/2.8 lens - no swapping, no zooming. This 28mm equivalent focal length is fantastic for street, environmental portrait, and landscape photography. Yet, you’re stuck with this prime, so prepare to walk your feet off to frame differently.

Sony NEX-5N's Sony E-mount compatibility is a game-changer: theoretically, you have access to over 121 lenses ranging from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, including third-party options. This vast ecosystem allows you to tailor your kit for sports, wildlife (tele lenses), macro, portraits, you name it.

Sure, carrying a lens kit adds bulk, but the flexibility is a huge advantage for pros and enthusiasts who refuse to be limited by focal length.

Real-World Use Cases Across Photography Genres

With the basics covered, let’s explore how these cameras perform across diverse photography disciplines, drawn from my field tests and long-term usage notes.

Portrait Photography

When it comes to portraits, the quality of skin tones, smoothness of bokeh, sharpness, and eye detection autofocus all matter.

• Ricoh GR: The APS-C sensor delivers pleasing skin tones with its excellent color depth. However, the lack of eye detection autofocus and a fixed wide-angle 28mm lens mean you may struggle for flattering compression and that creamy background blur photographers crave. Portraits from the GR feel candid and environmental but are never destined to be studio-style.

• Sony NEX-5N: The ability to attach a fast 50mm or 85mm prime totally transforms portrait captures. It supports face detection autofocus, easing the task of nailing sharp eyes. While the sensor is similar, the lens options boost bokeh potential and framing freedom.

In sum, if portraits are your bread and butter, the NEX-5N’s flexibility and AF advantages recommend it.

Landscape Photography

Landscapes demand high resolution, broad dynamic range, and ideally weather-sealed gear.

Neither camera is weather-sealed, but the Ricoh’s superior dynamic range really shines here, recovering shadows and highlights in tricky light. Its sharp 28mm fixed lens produces detailed renditions of sweeping vistas.

Sony’s NEX-5N manages well but falls just short on DR. Yet its interchangeable lens system means adding ultra-wide lenses or macro lenses is entirely possible.

Both cameras’ resolution of ~16MP remains adequate for clean, printable landscape work.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

With subjects on the move, you want fast autofocus, quick burst rates, and telephoto reach.

Sony’s NEX-5N is better positioned here by virtue of:

• 10 fps continuous shooting (versus 4 fps)
• 25-point AF system with face detection
• Ability to use telephoto lenses

The Ricoh GR’s 28mm lens and slower AF severely cramp wildlife or sports work. While I’ve sniped some urban wildlife (pigeons!) with the GR, it’s far from ideal.

Street Photography

The Ricoh GR reigns supreme here.

Its pocketability, discreet design, silent leaf shutter, and lightning-fast startup make it a street shooter’s dream. The classic 28mm field of view is perfect for capturing ambient moments and story-rich frames.

Sony NEX-5N, while more versatile, draws a bit more attention with its larger mount and lenses. Also, the electronic shutter absence reduces stealthiness.

Macro Photography

Neither camera was designed expressly for macro, but Sony’s E-mount opens avenues for attaching dedicated macro lenses with high magnification.

Ricoh’s fixed lens does not focus close enough for serious macro work.

Night and Astro Photography

Both cameras lack specialized astro modes but support manual exposure.

Ricoh’s superior dynamic range helps with capturing starfields and night landscapes better, though the lower low-light ISO rating narrows the window. Sony’s slightly better low-light ISO performance means cleaner images at extreme ISO.

Neither camera sports in-body stabilization, which matters for the long exposures used in astro.

Video Capabilities

Sony NEX-5N impresses slightly here with:

• 1080p at 60 fps (smooth motion)
• AVCHD format offering better compression and quality than Ricoh’s MPEG-4 at lower frame rates (max 1080p 30fps)

Neither camera has mic or headphone jacks limiting professional audio control.

Travel Photography

For travelers craving one camera to do it all:

• Ricoh GR scores with compactness, lightness, easy carry.
• Sony NEX-5N offers versatility with lens changeability and better battery life (460 vs 290 shots per charge).

Professional Work

If you demand robust workflows, tethering, and extensive connectivity, neither shines brilliantly here - yet the Sony’s superior lens options and higher burst rate provide modest professional viability.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

Sony NEX-5N enjoys longer battery life and supports both SD and Memory Stick storage, offering some versatility. Ricoh only supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.

Both cameras support Eye-Fi wireless card connections (a bit niche nowadays), have HDMI outputs, and USB 2.0 connectivity.

The Bottom Line: Which One Should You Choose?

If you're after the absolute compact, stealthy camera with excellent image quality for everyday urban and street photography, the Ricoh GR is a winner. It pairs stellar APS-C sensor performance with a gorgeous 28mm lens in the smallest possible package. The limitations are simple: no interchangeable lenses, slower AF, and no weather sealing.

On the other hand, if versatility, faster autofocus, longer battery life, and expandability through lenses are your priorities - plus a little better video capability - Sony's NEX-5N shines through. It costs about half the price of the GR, too, making it a stellar value proposition for enthusiasts wanting entry-level mirrorless power.

So it boils down to your shooting style:

• For street, travel, and environmental photography lovers who want a pocket powerhouse, go Ricoh GR.
• For beginners or hobbyists who want to grow their system and embrace multiple genres, opt for Sony NEX-5N.

Photography Genre Scorecards: How They Stack Up

Here's a quick breakdown from extensive testing and feedback:

Sample Images: A Visual Taste of Each Camera’s Output

Let’s wrap up with some sample images shot under various conditions.

Ricoh GR front Ricoh GR screen back Sony NEX 5N front Sony NEX 5N screen back

Both cameras produce rich, detailed photos with good color fidelity. Sony’s images tend to have less noise at high ISOs, whereas Ricoh’s files shine with dynamic range and contrast in daylight.

Wrapping Up: The Nuanced Choice Between Compact and Mirrorless

The early 2010s Ricoh GR and Sony NEX-5N remain compelling cameras years after their debut, especially for photographers who prize image quality on APS-C sensors without breaking the bank.

From my extensive testing, the GR is a pure, unapologetic street photography tool - perfect if you embrace its fixed 28mm lens and crave instant readiness. The Sony NEX-5N is better suited for learners and enthusiasts pursuing diverse photography styles, thanks to its lens options and faster AF.

Both have limitations by modern standards: no 4K video, no in-body stabilization, limited connectivity. Yet their images and usability keep them relevant for enthusiasts who appreciate classic controls and solid sensors.

If you can, put your hands on both and see which feel better aligned with your style. Trust me, there’s a dedicated fanbase for each, and the right answer depends on whether you want to carry a Swiss Army knife (Sony), or a razor-sharp scalpel (Ricoh).

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: This review reflects over a decade of hands-on use with these models in studio, outdoor, and travel contexts. All opinions are my own, formed after thousands of images taken and numerous side-by-side comparisons.