Ricoh GXR GR Lens A12 28mm F2.5 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Cameras

Choosing the right camera can be surprisingly tricky, especially when the gear on offer occupies different corners of the photography spectrum yet share some overlapping specs. Today, I’m placing the Ricoh GXR GR Lens A12 28mm F2.5 alongside the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90, a match-up between a rangefinder-style advanced mirrorless camera and a sleek ultracompact point-and-shoot. Both sport 12-megapixel sensors and 3-inch LCDs but serve very different purposes. I’ve spent countless hours probing their strengths, weaknesses, and quirks, so let’s get into how they stack up in real-world photography and whether either fits your needs.

Size, Handling, and Design: Form Meets Function

When you pick up both cameras side-by-side, the physical differences immediately catch your eye. The Ricoh GXR GR Lens A12 is chunkier, with a classic rangefinder-style profile emphasizing manual operation and control. The Sony T90, by contrast, is ultra-slim and pocketable - ideal for stealthy shooting or travel.

The Ricoh weighs a slight 140g but packs a more substantial grip and control surface relative to its size, which lends confidence when holding for longer periods. Its fixed 28mm prime lens means no fumbling with zooms, just straightforward frame and focus. Conversely, the T90 is feather-light at 148g but mind you - it’s paper-thin (94x57x15mm), making it incredibly portable but also a touch awkward for users craving robust handling.

Flip them over and note the control layout too:

The Ricoh’s minimalistic top plate includes traditional shutter priority and aperture priority dials, plus a dedicated exposure compensation knob. These tactile controls appeal to enthusiasts who prefer tweaking settings on the fly with fingers instead of deep menu diving. The T90, true to its compact DNA, relies largely on touchscreen inputs - surprising for its 2009 vintage - and fewer physical buttons. While the touchscreen is user-friendly, it doesn’t replicate the Ricoh’s degree of creative control.

For ergonomics, I definitely lean toward the GXR for prolonged shooting sessions or if manual exposure control is your thing. The Sony excels if you need an unobtrusive point-and-shoot that tucks into your pocket and doesn’t scream “camera.”

Sensor, Optics, and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At the heart of any camera is the sensor and lens combo, a marriage that dictates image fidelity and creative potential. While both cameras offer 12-megapixel resolution, their sensor sizes and types differ markedly and shape performance in substantial ways.

The Ricoh sports an APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.6 x 15.7mm - significantly larger than the Sony’s tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor of just 6.17 x 4.55mm. That’s approximately 370.5 mm² sensor area for Ricoh vs. just 28 mm² for Sony. In practical terms, this gulf translates into better dynamic range, superior noise handling, and shallower depth of field possibilities with the Ricoh.

The Ricoh’s fixed 28mm f/2.5 lens is a classic, perfect for street, landscape, and documentary styles where a bit of wide-angle perspective shines. The large aperture also facilitates pleasant background defocus – an essential ingredient to attractive portraits and artistic storytelling.

Sony’s 35-140mm f/3.5-10 zoom offers more framing flexibility but at the cost of slower apertures and diminished low-light prowess. The T90 prioritizes versatility in a compact shell rather than pure image quality.

In my experience testing the Ricoh GXR’s sensor, images reveal excellent sharpness, lovely color rendition, and a natural vignette that adds character without overprocessing. The Sony’s output, while decent for snapshots, feels softer at base ISO and struggles with clarity in complex lighting. Skin tones on Ricoh are rendered more faithfully, essential for portraiture and naturalism.

This difference shows clearly in low-light or high-contrast scenes, where the Ricoh’s sensor retains detail and nuance without resorting to heavy noise reduction, unlike the Sony which exhibits grain and color smudging past ISO 400.

The Viewing Experience: Screens and Viewfinders

A camera’s LCD and optional viewfinder play a big role in how intuitively you frame and review shots. Both models feature 3-inch fixed screens, but their resolution and interface reveal the era and priorities.

Ricoh’s screen comes with a 920k-dot TFT panel, noticeably sharper and more vibrant than Sony’s modest 230k resolution panel. This improvement makes critical focus checking and menu navigation much more pleasant and reliable.

Interestingly, while the Ricoh offers an optional electronic viewfinder, it doesn’t include one by default, forcing users to either attach one or rely on the LCD. The Sony, designed as an ultracompact, lacks any viewfinder altogether - common in this category.

The touchscreen on the T90 is responsive but limited in reach, mostly handling basic focusing point selection and menu commands. The Ricoh, though missing touchscreen capabilities, compensates through physical dials and buttons that reduce arm fatigue and don’t distract your eye from the scene.

Overall, for a photographer working in varied light and needing precise focus confirmation, the Ricoh’s higher-res screen is far preferable.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

Autofocus performance is one aspect where these cameras diverge sharply, reflecting their conceptual differences.

The Ricoh GXR offers contrast-detection AF with face detection and multi-area focus, capable of single and continuous AF modes. It shoots at a respectable 5 frames per second in burst mode, impressive for its era and sensor size.

The Sony T90 relies on contrast detection with 9 focus points but lacks continuous or advanced tracking AF, capping burst speed at 2 fps. The AF hunt is generally slower and less reliable in dim conditions due to the tiny sensor and less sophisticated AF logic.

In wildlife or sports photography, where fast and accurate focus is crucial, the Ricoh is the better bet. While neither camera boasts the cutting-edge AF systems of modern rivals, Ricoh’s autofocus system offers better precision and speed during testing - especially in good lighting.

Specialized Photography Disciplines: How Each Excels or Falls Short

Both cameras present unique advantages and limitations across various photography genres. Let’s break it down:

Portrait Photography

Ricoh’s larger sensor and fast 28mm f/2.5 lens give it the edge for natural skin tones and creamy bokeh. Its face-detection autofocus helps nail eye sharpness consistently. The Sony lacks face detection and produces flatter tonal transitions due to sensor constraints.

Landscape Photography

Again, the Ricoh’s dynamic range advantage and higher native ISO aid in capturing richly detailed scenes with balanced highlights and shadows. The fixed wide-angle lens suits landscapes nicely. Sony’s zoom is versatile but limited by noise and narrower apertures, making it less ideal here.

Wildlife Photography

Neither camera is a wildlife shooter’s dream. Still, Ricoh’s quicker AF and higher burst rate give it a slight edge for opportunistic wildlife portraits. Sony’s slower response and zoom, combined with minimal AF tracking, limit effectiveness.

Sports Photography

The Ricoh’s 5 fps is decent for casual sports, though continuous AF is rudimentary. The T90’s 2 fps and basic AF make it unsuitable for fast action.

Street Photography

The Ricoh is often praised as a street photographer’s companion thanks to silent leaf shutter and discreet form factor. The Sony, though small, is less versatile due to delayed AF and slower responsiveness.

Macro Photography

Neither camera shines here; Ricoh does not support macro modes, and Sony’s optical zoom can help slightly but doesn’t approach dedicated macro capability. Ricoh’s lack of image stabilization makes handheld macro challenging.

Night and Astro Photography

The Ricoh’s APS-C sensor delivers clearer night shots with less noise and reasonable ISO performance up to 3200. The Sony suffers from noise and limited low-light data capture due to sensor size.

Video Capabilities

Both offer 720p video, but Ricoh captures at 24 fps in MPEG-4 and Sony at 30 fps in Motion JPEG. Neither supports microphone input or advanced stabilization. Ricoh’s video feels a bit more stable due to superior optics, but both are basic options for casual video.

Travel Photography

Sony’s pocketable size and versatile zoom are convenient for travel, while Ricoh’s superior image quality and manual controls benefit those prioritizing photo quality over stealth.

Professional Work

Ricoh outputs RAW, critical for professional post-processing, whereas Sony lacks RAW support. The Ricoh’s robust file formats and workflow compatibility make it the superior choice for serious work.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, dustproofing, or shockproof ruggedness. However, the Ricoh feels solidly built with metal components, while the Sony leans on plastic body construction to maintain its slim profile.

Neither are designed for harsh weather or rugged outdoor use, so they require care during travel or outdoor shoots.

Battery Life and Storage

The Ricoh uses a DB-90 battery rated for approximately 320 shots per charge, typical for mirrorless cameras of its time. The Sony’s battery life data is not officially documented but tends to be shorter given tiny internal capacity.

Storage-wise, Ricoh accepts SD/SDHC cards; Sony uses Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo cards - a format now largely obsolete and more expensive.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera supports wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, or GPS - unsurprising given their release timeframe. Both provide USB 2.0 ports and HDMI outputs, useful for image transfer and external display.

Ricoh features an external flash hot shoe for flexibility with lighting, absent on Sony. Both have built-in flashes but basic range and modes limiting creative flash use.

Price and Value Analysis

At launch, the Ricoh GXR GR Lens A12 retailed around $566, essentially targeting serious enthusiasts or pros seeking compact high-quality. The Sony T90, priced near $259, catered more toward casual users wanting convenience and modest quality.

Today, on the used market, prices vary widely but Ricoh commands a premium for its APS-C sensor and manual controls, while Sony remains a budget-friendly ultracompact option.

Performance Summary and Ratings

After extensive hands-on testing across multiple shooting scenarios, I compiled an overall performance score assessing image quality, autofocus, build, versatility, and usability:

Unsurprisingly, the Ricoh GXR surpasses the Sony by a wide margin, particularly standing out in image quality and control precision.

Here’s a more nuanced breakdown by photography genre:

This chart underscores the Ricoh’s superiority for portraits, landscapes, and professional uses, while Sony’s compactness gives it a modest edge in travel and ease of use in casual street snapshots.

Sample Image Comparison

To truly see the difference, check out these side-by-side sample shots from both cameras, all shot in identical conditions using base ISO and automatic settings:

Ricoh GXR GR Lens A12 28mm F2.5 screen back Sony T90 front Sony T90 screen back

Details like richer texture rendition, better shadow detail, and more natural skin tones highlight Ricoh’s superior APS-C sensor and optics. The Sony images, while decent, fall short on clarity and noise suppression.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose the Ricoh GXR GR Lens A12 If:

• You want superior image quality and manual exposure controls
• Your priority is portraits, landscapes, or professional output with RAW capability
• You appreciate tactile handling over touchscreen convenience
• You can live with fixed focal length but favor a sharp, fast lens
• Budget allows for a higher investment in a niche mirrorless system

Choose the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90 If:

• You desire a very slim, pocketable camera for everyday snapshots
• Versatility in framing via 4x zoom is important
• You shoot mostly JPEG, casual photos without manual controls
• Price is the primary concern, and portability trumps top-tier quality
• You want a touchscreen on an older compact (rare for 2009)

Final Thoughts: Personal Takeaway

Having tested thousands of cameras over 15 years, it’s refreshing to see how these two - while equally historic - remind us that “camera” encompasses a broad spectrum. The Ricoh GXR GR Lens A12 feels like a finely tuned tool for the enthusiast or professional who values image quality and creative control over convenience, a camera you can rely on for serious artistic work. Sony’s T90, meanwhile, prioritizes portability and ease, satisfying those moments when a phone just won’t do but lugging a bulky setup is out of the question.

If you ask me which one to pick: look to your priorities. For work, art, and quality, Ricoh wins handily. For casual carryaround fun and zoom flexibility, Sony offers a neat package. Either way, you get a piece of camera history illustrating distinct design philosophies that continue to influence today's gear choices.

Dear Sony and Ricoh vintage fans - please keep these gems alive and enjoyable. And for everyone else: I hope this comparison helps you navigate your next gear decision more confidently.

Happy shooting!