Ricoh GR vs Sony A57

In this article, we will be looking at the Ricoh GR versus Sony A57, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the GR (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is pretty close and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The GR was introduced 8 months later than the A57 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh GR being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the GR matches up against the A57 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Ricoh GR & Sony SLT-A57. The whole galleries are provided at Ricoh GR Gallery & Sony A57 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Ricoh GR comes with physical dimensions of 117mm x 61mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") and a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Contrast the Ricoh GR versus Sony A57 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the GR and the A57.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GR and A57 is 90 and 64 respectively.

More often than not, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing merely by researching specifications. The visual here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GR and A57.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same megapixels therefore you can expect comparable quality of photographs but you might want to take the age of the cameras into account. The more recent GR will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.