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Ricoh GR vs Sony A99

Portability
90
Imaging
57
Features
54
Overall
55
Ricoh GR front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Ricoh GR vs Sony A99 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
  • Newer Model is Ricoh GR II
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
Photography Glossary

Ricoh GR vs Sony A99 Overview

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Ricoh GR and Sony A99, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Ricoh and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the GR (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the GR (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The GR was introduced 5 months after the A99 so they are of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh GR being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the GR scores versus the A99 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR over the Sony A99

 GR A99 
Screen resolution1230k1229kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Ricoh GR

 A99 GR 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Ricoh GR and Sony A99

 GR A99 
RevealedApril 2013December 2012Similar age
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Ricoh GR vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Ricoh GR has got physical measurements 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 A99 has measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Contrast the Ricoh GR and Sony A99 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the GR versus the A99.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A99 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GR and A99 is 90 and 57 respectively.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to envision the difference between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GR and A99.

As you can see, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The GR with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A99 will give you extra detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively.

Ricoh GR vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh GR
Portrait photography with Sony A99
74
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/4,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
81
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR as a Street photography camera
Sony A99 as a Street photography camera
74
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (245g)
great high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
75
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Ricoh GR
Sports photography with Sony A99
45
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
fixed focal length (28mm)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR as a Travel photography camera
Sony A99 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than others in class (245 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
weather proofing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh GR
Landscape photography with Sony A99
61
has manual focus
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
has double storage slots
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Vlogging info
Sony A99 Vlogging info
30
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (245 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no external microphone support
76
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone port
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Ricoh GR vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR and Sony A99
 Ricoh GRSony SLT-A99
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GR Sony SLT-A99
Class Large Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-04-17 2012-12-12
Body design Large Sensor Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8 -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 300s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.40 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/4000s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 245 gr (0.54 lb) 812 gr (1.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 61 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.4") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 78 89
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.5 14.0
DXO Low light rating 972 1555
Other
Battery life 290 photos 500 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DB65 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots One Dual
Price at release $971 $1,998