Ricoh GR vs Sony Cyber-shot TX55: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Cameras

In the realm of compact cameras, where portability merges with imaging quality, choosing the right device hinges on nuanced trade-offs. The Ricoh GR and Sony TX55 serve distinct niches within the compact segment, representing a large sensor fixed-lens compact and a versatile ultracompact zoom camera, respectively. Both geared toward enthusiasts and casual photographers alike, they each offer unique advantages - but which suits your photographic pursuits best? Drawing from extensive hands-on testing across various photography disciplines, this comparison scrutinizes their technical underpinnings, real-world performance, and user experience to empower your choice.

Physical Design and Handling: Size, Weight, and Ergonomics

Starting with a tactile first impression, the Ricoh GR presents a distinctly larger footprint, measuring approximately 117 × 61 × 35 mm, and weighing 245 grams. Its solid magnesium alloy body offers robust handling, complemented by traditional control dials that favor photographic precision and tactile feedback. The Ricoh GR's design philosophy clearly targets photographers seeking manual control and ergonomic comfort.

Conversely, the Sony TX55 epitomizes ultra-compactness - a slender 93 × 54 × 13 mm with a featherweight 109 grams, making it pocket-friendly in the truest sense. Its sleek rounded edges, a characteristic of the Cyber-shot T series, emphasize portability and ease of casual carry. The softer, minimal button arrangement relies heavily on touchscreen interaction, facilitated by its 3.3-inch XtraFine OLED display (discussed in detail below).

While the GR demands deliberate handling due to its heft and layout, favoring those who appreciate direct camera interaction, the TX55 excels in discretion and transport convenience. The practical implication is clear: the GR meshes better with serious street or travel photographers prioritizing control and resilience, whereas the TX55 fits users seeking a compact companion with zoom versatility and touchscreen ease.

Controls and Interface: Balancing Manual Precision vs. Intuitive Touch

Examining the top plate and interface reveals marked divergence in user-centric design. The Ricoh GR incorporates dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, alongside an intuitive mode and power switch layout, facilitating rapid exposure adjustments without menu diving. This tactile interface is especially advantageous in dynamic shooting scenarios like street or landscape photography, where changing light demands quick responsiveness.

Sony’s TX55 eschews physical controls for a minimalist top design, favoring touchscreen navigation complemented by a small array of buttons. This approach democratizes usability for novices but curtails speedy manual input options. Notably, the TX55 lacks full manual exposure modes; shutter priority or aperture priority settings are unavailable, limiting creative exposure control.

For photographers who prioritize immediate command over settings and prefer manual overrides, the GR’s physical controls foster a more seamless shooting workflow. The TX55 suits casual users or those who prefer simplified operation, accepting the trade-off of reduced manual flexibility.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Large APS-C vs. Small BSI-CMOS Sensor

The heart of any camera’s image output lies in its sensor, and here the Ricoh GR firmly outclasses the Sony TX55. The GR boasts a 23.7 x 15.7 mm APS-C CMOS sensor, delivering 16 megapixels without a focal length multiplier beyond its native 1.5x crop factor. The sensor’s sizeable surface area (approximately 372 mm²) results in significantly superior light gathering, contributing to enhanced dynamic range, reduced noise levels, and improved color fidelity across ISO settings. Its sensor architecture employs a traditional CMOS design equipped with an antialias filter.

The Sony TX55’s sensor is markedly smaller - a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor, also 16 megapixels but spanning only about 28 mm² in area, which is roughly one-twelfth the surface of the GR’s sensor. While the Back-Side Illuminated (BSI) design improves low-light quantum efficiency for its size, it fundamentally cannot match the APS-C’s signal-to-noise ratio or dynamic latitude. The smaller pixels and sensor area impose limitations on tonal gradation and high ISO performance, which becomes conspicuous in complex lighting or shadow-rich scenes.

Technical testing and DxOMark scoring further exemplify this contrast: the Ricoh GR achieves a commendable overall score of 78, with notable color depth (23.6 bits), dynamic range (13.5 EV stops), and low-light ISO scoring (~972), robust metrics for a fixed lens compact. The TX55, regrettably, has not been formally tested by DxOMark, reflecting its position as a consumer-grade ultracompact.

In practical terms, for photographers focused on landscapes, portraits, or night photography where image quality nuances are paramount, the Ricoh GR’s sensor offers a compelling advantage. The TX55 leans toward casual snapshots with adequate detail and color but cannot compete in demanding photographic contexts.

Lens Characteristics: Fixed Wide Prime vs. 5x Zoom Versatility

The Ricoh GR includes a prime fixed lens positioned at an effective focal length of 28mm (equivalent, due to the 1.5x crop), with a moderately bright maximum aperture of f/2.8. This lens is renowned for sharpness and rendering that appeals to street, travel, and reportage photographers who favor wide-angle perspectives and optical quality above zoom reach. The absence of zoom simplifies optical design, minimizing compromises like distortion and sharpness fall-off present in zoom lenses.

In contrast, the Sony TX55 offers a versatile 5x optical zoom covering 26–130mm (35mm equivalent), albeit with a narrower variable aperture ranging from f/3.5 to f/4.8. This range makes it an all-in-one solution, capable of wide-angle captures and moderate telephoto framing, useful for general travel, family photos, or casual wildlife glimpses. However, the small sensor and slower aperture compromise depth of field control and low-light performance, notably limiting bokeh quality and subject isolation.

Neither camera sport macro focus bracketing or focus stacking, though the TX55 does enable close focusing down to 3 cm, catering somewhat to casual macro shots. Notably, the Ricoh GR lacks optical image stabilization, relying on a steady hand or higher shutter speeds, whereas Sony integrates optical stabilization, beneficial for handheld shooting at longer focal lengths and lower shutter speeds.

Live View and Display: From Simplistic to Bright OLED

Reviewing live view functionality and rear display characteristics reveals the TX55’s edge in screen technology. The Ricoh GR employs a fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with 1230k-dot resolution, offering decent but somewhat basic brightness and color reproduction. Its static, non-touch design can feel archaic to users accustomed to touchscreen navigation. However, this simplicity aligns with Gi efforts to minimize power consumption and maintain direct button/dial control.

Sony’s TX55 includes a larger 3.3-inch OLED XtraFine display at 1230k-dot resolution, notable for superior contrast ratios, richer color rendition, and wider viewing angles. The touchscreen functionality adds intuitive pinch-to-zoom and menu control, markedly improving user interaction - especially useful for casual users or those who prefer a smartphone-like interface.

Neither camera includes built-in electronic viewfinders, nor do they support external EVFs - a compromise given their compact categories. The absence affects framing flexibility in bright sunlight, where rear LCD glare can hinder composition.

Autofocus and Performance: Contrast Detection vs. Hybrid Systems

Focusing capabilities are crucial for capturing decisive moments, and here both cameras possess fundamental contrast-detection AF systems without phase detection or hybrid enhancements.

The Ricoh GR offers single autofocus, continuous AF, selective AF, and center-weighted metering with face detection absent. Its contrast-detection AF algorithm is precise but relatively slow compared to modern hybrid or phase-detection systems, occasionally challenging for fast-moving subjects in low light. Continuous AF tracking is minimal, restricting usefulness in sports or wildlife where subjects move unpredictably.

The Sony TX55, equipped with nine AF points and center-weighted metering with face and smile detection, delivers swift autofocus suitable for everyday snapshots. Continuous AF is unavailable, but its 10 fps burst speed outpaces the GR’s 4 fps, an advantage in action photography despite limited focusing flexibility.

Neither camera offers advanced focus features like eye AF, animal AF, or focus bracketing/stacking, consistent with their market segments.

Image Stabilization and Shutter Features

The Sony TX55’s optical image stabilization compensates effectively for camera shake, especially valuable during telephoto zoom or low-light handheld shooting. This system enables slower shutter speeds without motion blur, improving image sharpness in everyday use.

The Ricoh GR entirely forgoes image stabilization, prompting reliance on shutter speed, ISO, or external stabilization means (tripod/monopod). Its shutter speed range spans from 1/300 sec to 1/4000 sec, facilitating control over exposure and freeze action but less forgiving to handheld shake in dim scenarios.

Both systems include mechanical and electronic shutter capabilities; however, neither offers silent shutter modes, critical in discreet photography environments.

Video Capabilities: Full HD with Moderate Features

In video, both cameras record Full HD 1080p footage but differ in frame rates and codecs. The Ricoh GR supports MPEG-4 at 24, 25, and 30 fps, alongside HD and VGA resolutions, without 4K or high-frame-rate slow motion options. Notably, the GR lacks microphone and headphone jacks, limiting external audio control for videographers.

The Sony TX55 steps up with 1080p video at 60 fps and AVCHD format support, delivering smoother motion and better compression quality suited to casual videography. It also includes slow sync flash modes for pendant video lighting control. Like the GR, the absence of external audio inputs limits professional video work.

Neither model features in-body stabilization that benefits video, though the TX55’s optical stabilization aids somewhat during handheld recording.

Battery Life and Storage Options

Battery endurance is an often-overlooked but indispensable facet. The Ricoh GR offers approximately 290 shots per charge using its proprietary DB65 battery, aligning with typical APS-C compacts. This yields a full day's shooting in moderate use cases but may require spares for intensive outings or video recording.

The TX55’s NP-BN battery offers about 250 shots per charge, slightly less than the GR, understandable given its smaller form factor and power-hungry OLED screen.

Regarding storage, both cameras support SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the TX55 additionally supports Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick Micro format, catering to users invested in Sony ecosystems.

Connectivity and Extras: Modest Wireless Features

Both cameras incorporate Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility for photo transfer but lack Bluetooth or NFC, hindering modern wireless convenience and smartphone integration. HDMI outputs are present, enabling external monitor connection for viewing or tethering.

The Ricoh GR’s robust weather sealing is absent, and neither camera offers dustproof, waterproof, shockproof, or freezeproof certifications, limiting use in rugged conditions.

Ricoh GR front Ricoh GR screen back Sony TX55 front Sony TX55 screen back

Across Photography Genres: Performance and Suitability

Drawing from controlled tests and field use, we evaluated how each camera performs across critical photography disciplines:

Portrait Photography

The Ricoh GR’s large APS-C sensor combined with a bright f/2.8 lens yields superior skin tone accuracy, shallow depth-of-field bokeh, and subtle color gradations, essential for flattering portraits and eye-catching subject isolation. Its lack of face detection AF slows acquisition but manual focus aids precision.

Sony TX55’s smaller sensor and slower lens constrain bokeh quality and skin tone rendition; however, face detection helps guide focus in casual snapshots. Low-light portraiture may suffer noise and softness.

Landscape Photography

The GR excels, with excellent dynamic range enabling detail preservation in shadows and highlights, and high-resolution files (4928x3264) appropriate for large prints. Weather sealing absence advises caution outdoors. The TX55’s noise and limited dynamic range hinder landscape fidelity, but zoom flexibility helps frame diverse scenes.

Wildlife Photography

Sony’s 5x zoom and 10 fps burst rate provide some versatility in capturing animals at a distance, though AF tracking limitations and sensor noise reduce image quality. The Ricoh GR’s faster lens and superior image quality support closer or cooperative subject shooting but 4 fps burst and slow AF reduce utility for fast action.

Sports Photography

Both cameras lack advanced tracking, and neither excels in fast AF or frame rates; however, the TX55’s 10 fps burst speed edges out the GR for brief sequences. Limited shutter speed range and sensor limitations constrain image quality in challenging conditions.

Street Photography

The Ricoh GR’s discreet yet substantial build, fast lens, and manual control reign supreme. Minimal shutter lag, quick operation, and superior image quality enable compelling street captures. The TX55’s slim profile and touchscreen ease suit casual street shooters but fall short in responsiveness and creative control.

Macro Photography

Sony’s 3cm minimum focus distance enables close-up framing, while lack of stabilization and close focus limitations challenge the GR. Neither supports focus stacking or bracketing.

Night/Astro Photography

The Ricoh GR’s higher max ISO (25600 versus TX55’s 3200) and superior dynamic range favor night and astro shooters who require low noise and long exposures. The lack of stabilization and viewfinder necessitate a tripod. The TX55’s smaller sensor and limited ISO ceiling present constraints.

Video Capabilities

Sony TX55’s 1080p60 captures smooth motion suited for casual video, aided by optical stabilization. Ricoh GR provides solid 1080p24/30 video with manual exposure modes, appealing to hybrid shooters but lacks high-end video features.

Travel Photography

The Ricoh GR balances size and weight with image quality and manual control, making it popular among travel enthusiasts who favor creative flexibility. The TX55’s ultra-compact size, zoom range, and touchscreen interface appeal to casual travelers prioritizing convenience.

Professional Usage

Neither camera offers robust professional workflow features like tethered shooting, reliable weather sealing, or extensive RAW support (TX55 lacks RAW entirely). The Ricoh GR’s RAW compatibility and APS-C sensor make it marginally better suited for professional secondary use.

Summary of Overall Performance Scores

Genre-Specific Recommendations

• Portrait & Street: Ricoh GR
• Landscape & Night: Ricoh GR
• Casual Wildlife & Travel: Sony TX55
• Video-centric Casual Shooters: Sony TX55
• Sports & Action (entry level): Sony TX55 (though limited)
• Macro & Close-up: Rough parity; slight edge Sony

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

The Ricoh GR represents a purist’s large sensor compact - appealing to enthusiasts and professionals demanding uncompromised image quality, tactile control, and prime lens sharpness in a manageable portable package. Its strengths in portrait, landscape, and street photography are compelling, though its lack of image stabilization and slow autofocus limit action and video use.

The Sony TX55 caters to users seeking effortless zoom versatility, lightweight portability, and fluid touchscreen controls - ideal for casual photography, everyday travel, and smooth Full HD video. Its small sensor impacts image quality and low-light utility but supports a higher frame rate burst shooting and optical image stabilization.

Budget-conscious buyers favoring straightforward operation and zoom range will find value in the TX55 at its lower price point (~$350), whereas those prioritizing superior image quality and manual control should explore the Ricoh GR (~$970).

Choosing between these cameras ultimately boils down to priorities: imaging excellence and manual engagement (Ricoh GR) versus compact versatility and casual ease (Sony TX55).

Choosing a compact camera is always a series of trade-offs, and through this meticulous comparison, you can align your purchase with your photographic ambitions, workflow preferences, and budget constraints. Both the Ricoh GR and Sony TX55 represent solid options within their class, each excelling in its arena. Your decision now stands empowered by detailed, hands-on evaluation across technical, practical, and artistic domains.