Ricoh GR vs Sony a5100

Following is a in-depth assessment of the Ricoh GR and Sony a5100, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Ricoh and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the GR (16MP) and a5100 (24MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The GR was launched 16 months earlier than the a5100 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Ricoh GR being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the GR matches up versus the a5100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Ricoh GR and Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are available at Ricoh GR Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Ricoh GR comes with exterior measurements of 117mm x 61mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Compare the Ricoh GR and Sony a5100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the GR and the a5100.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the GR and a5100 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading through a spec sheet. The image here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the GR and a5100.

As you can see, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Sony a5100 to give greater detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged GR is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.