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Ricoh GR vs Sony A37

Portability
90
Imaging
57
Features
54
Overall
55
Ricoh GR front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 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
  • Released April 2013
  • Later Model is Ricoh GR II
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released May 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A35
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Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Ricoh GR vs Sony A37, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the GR (16MP) and the A37 (16MP) is pretty comparable and they possess the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The GR was released 12 months after the A37 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Ricoh GR being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the GR grades vs the A37 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR over the Sony A37

 GR A37 
ReleasedApril 2013May 2012More modern by 12 months
Screen dimension3"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.4")
Screen resolution1230k230kSharper screen (+1000k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Ricoh GR

 A37 GR 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Ricoh GR and Sony A37

 GR A37 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Ricoh GR has got outer dimensions of 117mm x 61mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony A37 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

See the Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the GR and the A37.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GR and A37 is 90 and 67 respectively.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing technical specs. The picture below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR and A37.

As you have seen, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same megapixels and you should expect comparable quality of images though you should really factor the production date of the cameras into account. The newer GR is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GR Portrait photography features
Sony A37 Portrait photography features
74
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR as a Street photography camera
Sony A37 as a Street photography camera
74
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than others (245 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
77
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Sports photography factors
Sony A37 Sports photography factors
45
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
can't change focal length (28mm)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Travel photography information
Sony A37 Travel photography information
71
lighter than others (245 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (500 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Landscape photography information
Sony A37 Landscape photography information
61
you can focus manually
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
64
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.6 inches)
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR as a Vlogging camera
Sony A37 as a Vlogging camera
30
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (245 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing mic port
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Ricoh GR vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR and Sony A37
 Ricoh GRSony SLT-A37
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh GR Sony SLT-A37
Type Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-04-17 2012-05-16
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8 -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 2.6"
Display resolution 1,230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 300s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.40 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/4000s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 245 gr (0.54 lb) 506 gr (1.12 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 61 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.4") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 78 75
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score 13.5 12.9
DXO Low light score 972 799
Other
Battery life 290 photos 500 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DB65 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $971 $522