Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A77 II: A Thorough Comparison to Guide Your Next Camera Purchase

In the past decade-plus of testing hundreds of cameras, I’ve come across standout performers and quirky oddballs alike. The Ricoh GXR Mount A12 and Sony A77 II both hail from an era when digital camera innovation was accelerating rapidly, yet they target very different photographers and needs. While the GXR A12 leverages an intriguing modular design with a minimalist rangefinder-style mirrorless body, the Sony A77 II is a full-featured mid-size DSLR aimed firmly at enthusiasts craving speed and versatility.

In this detailed comparison, I’ll dissect every technical, ergonomic, and performance aspect that matters - from sensor quality and autofocus to real world usability across photography styles. Along the way, I’ll share insights born from my hands-on experience testing similar systems, spotlight how each body handles specific creative tasks, and help you decide which camera, if either, deserves a spot in your camera bag today.

Seeing Eye to Eye: Physical Design and Ergonomics

Anyone who’s spent long hours shooting knows that the physical feel of a camera isn’t trivial. It shapes your connection to the tool and ultimately your shooting experience. The Ricoh GXR Mount A12 presents a compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless feel in a small package, while the Sony A77 II adopts a heftier SLR-style form factor typical of its class.

Here’s a side-by-side snap of both cameras to appreciate their size differences.

At 120×70×45 mm and just 370 grams, the Ricoh is feather-light and compact - perfect for discreet street shoots or travel where every gram counts. However, it lacks substantial grip, feeling a bit toy-like in larger hands, with minimal physical controls, which can slow down operation in fast-paced scenarios.

Conversely, the Sony A77 II weighs nearly twice as much at 647 grams and offers a deep, molded grip with plenty of well-placed buttons. That weight translates to stability, and the body exudes robust build quality, including weather sealing - a significant plus for shooting in challenging environments.

Looking down from above, the Sony offers a thoughtfully laid-out control scheme with an informative top LCD and multi-function dials ready at your fingertips.

The A77 II’s top plate design gives quick access to key exposure settings and drive modes.

The Ricoh’s minimalist approach means fewer direct controls and no top LCD - a simplification some users may value, but personally, I find the Sony’s more tactile approach preferable for serious shooting, especially under pressure.

This ergonomic divide boils down to intended user and use case. The lightweight, stripped-back Ricoh invites casual, deliberate photography, while the Sony positions itself as an agile, pro-capable tool.

Under the Hood: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

A camera’s sensor is its heart, and here the two diverge sharply in resolution, technology, and dynamic range.

Both cameras use an APS-C sized CMOS sensor, approximately 23.6×15.7 mm for Ricoh and 23.5×15.6 mm for Sony, effectively tied in sensor footprint, but that’s where similarity ends.

The Ricoh GXR Mount A12 features a 12MP sensor designed around the modular unit lens concept. This sensor resolution suffices for casual use and small to moderate print sizes but reveals its limitations in crops or large-scale prints. The Ricoh’s image processor is modest, producing JPEGs with decent color fidelity but lacking the punch and dynamic range most enthusiasts expect today.

In contrast, the Sony A77 II wields a 24MP sensor coupled with Sony’s Bionz X processor. This provides top-tier image quality in its class, delivering crisp, high-resolution files with excellent color depth, impressive low-light performance, and a wide dynamic range. Measurements from DxOmark - while not available for Ricoh - rate the A77 II highly, underscoring its superiority in raw image fidelity.

In practice, the A77 II's files hold up remarkably well from shadows to highlights, enabling more aggressive post-processing without posterization or color shifts. The Ricoh can struggle in high-contrast scenes, especially beyond ISO 800, where noise becomes intrusive.

The Eyes of the Beast: Autofocus and Shooting Speed

Fast, accurate autofocus is the difference between missed opportunities and capturing decisive moments - this is especially true for wildlife, sports, and street photography.

The Ricoh GXR Mount A12 employs a contrast-detection autofocus system, with selective and multi-area focus modes but no face or eye detection and no phase-detection AF. Autofocus speed is moderate, suitable for static subjects or controlled environments, but not ideal when subjects dart unpredictably.

The Sony A77 II, on the other hand, impresses with a 79-point hybrid autofocus system incorporating dedicated phase-detection points (15 cross-type sensors) spread across the frame, backed by contrast detection. This system supports fast, precise locking and features face detection for portraits, keeping subjects sharply in focus even in dynamic scenes.

Continuing the comparison into burst shooting demonstrates the A77 II’s clear advantage - capable of 12 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting versus the Ricoh’s modest 3 fps. This makes the Sony the far superior choice for wildlife or sports photography, where tracking and speed are essential to capture peak action.

User Interface and Display: How You See Your Shots

A camera’s LCD and viewfinder form the visual interface for composing and reviewing images, sharing a major role in the intuitiveness and joy of shooting.

The Ricoh offers a fixed 3-inch LCD with 920k-dot resolution, adequate but relatively dim and lacking touchscreen capabilities. Without a built-in electronic viewfinder, an optional external EVF is needed for eye-level composing, somewhat hampering spontaneous shooting.

In contrast, the Sony A77 II sports a fully articulating 3-inch LCD with a higher 1,229k-dot resolution and a vibrant electronic viewfinder with a 2,359k-dot OLED panel, delivering 100% coverage and a natural 0.73x magnification. This EVF is a highlight for me - bright, lag-free, and detailed - which streamlines framing and focus checking, especially in bright outdoor conditions where LCDs struggle.

While neither camera has touchscreen controls, the Sony’s richer interface and articulated screen flexibly support shooting from difficult angles and quick menu navigation.

Lens Ecosystem: Glass Options and Compatibility

Lens choice can make or break creative potential, and here the Sony A77 II shines due to its compatibility with Sony/Minolta Alpha mount lenses - a mature ecosystem boasting over 140 lens options ranging from blazing-fast telephotos for wildlife to specialty primes for portraits and macro lenses.

The Ricoh GXR Mount A12’s modular concept bundles the sensor and lens as a single interchangeable unit - the “Mount A12” module specifically features an APS-C sensor with a fixed lens mount. However, the Ricoh system itself is limited in interchangeable lens options, with only a few proprietary modules available. This makes it less flexible for photographers wanting to customize their setups.

In my extensive experience, buying into a rich lens ecosystem pays dividends long-term, so Sony’s platform dwarfs Ricoh’s in this respect.

Durability and Weather Sealing: Ready for the Elements?

If you shoot outdoors frequently, build quality and weather resistance are crucial.

The Sony A77 II impresses with a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, giving confidence when shooting in rain or dusty conditions. That reliable build is typical of advanced DSLRs aimed at enthusiasts and professionals.

The Ricoh GXR Mount A12 lacks environmental sealing - it’s plastic-heavy and designed for indoor or fair-weather shooting.

This distinction alone will sway event photographers, landscape shooters, and travelers who demand toughness.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

On long assignments or trips, battery capacity and shooting endurance are important practical considerations.

The Ricoh GXR Mount A12 offers a rated 330 shots per charge using its proprietary DB-90 battery, suitable for casual outings but limiting when shooting through a full day without recharge.

Sony ups the ante with 480 shots per battery cycle via its NP-FM500H pack. This is solid performance, resembling many DSLRs in its class, and supports longer sessions, enhanced by the camera’s lower power consumption sleep modes.

Regarding memory, both models rely primarily on SD and SDHC cards; however, Sony adds Memory Stick support as well, offering flexibility for different media types.

Connectivity and Modern Workflow Features

In a connected world, built-in wireless capabilities can simplify sharing and tethered shooting.

The Ricoh GXR Mount A12 does not include any wireless connectivity - no Wi-Fi, NFC, or Bluetooth - requiring USB or HDMI cables for file transfer or live output.

The Sony A77 II features built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, enabling wireless file transfer to smartphones or PCs and supporting remote control via Sony’s mobile apps - features photographers appreciate for quick sharing or studio work.

Both cameras support USB 2.0 and HDMI output, but the Sony’s inclusion of a microphone input port boosts its usability for video creators.

Video Performance: Beyond Still Images

Neither camera targets video as a core strength, but their capabilities differ notably.

Ricoh’s video options are modest - HD 720p recording at 24 fps using Motion JPEG codec, with no external mic input, limiting sound quality for those who care.

Sony’s A77 II supports Full HD 1080p at up to 60p, in AVCHD, MPEG-4, and XAVC S formats, offering greater flexibility and better image quality. The articulating screen and microphone input make it a more credible hybrid choice.

While neither model delivers 4K or advanced video features popular today, the Sony clearly caters better to serious video users.

Real-World Photography Across Genres

Let’s put these cameras through their paces across common photography specialisms, reflecting the variety of shooting situations enthusiasts and pros face.

Portrait Photography

The Sony’s higher resolution, face detection AF, and eye-tracking significantly improve portrait capture - skin tones render naturally with rich detail, and bokeh from fast Alpha lenses adds beautiful separation.

The Ricoh can handle portraits but lacks advanced autofocus and resolution, resulting in softer focus and less nuanced skin rendition. Its limited lens system constrains creative choices.

Landscape Photography

For landscapes, dynamic range, detail, and weather sealing matter most.

Sony’s 24MP sensor captures vast tonal gradation and texture, while weather sealing lets you brave windy, damp conditions safely.

Ricoh’s 12MP sensor struggles to maintain shadow detail, and the absence of sealing limits its outdoor usability, though its compactness appeals to hikers carrying light loads.

Wildlife and Sports

Burst speed, autofocus tracking, and telephoto lens options are vital.

Sony offers 12 fps shot rates, 79-point AF with tracking, and compatibility with dozens of supertele lenses.

Ricoh’s 3 fps and basic AF suit static subjects but can’t keep up with action.

Street Photography

Here, compact size and discretion are prized.

The Ricoh shines with petite form and quiet shutter.

Sony’s DSLR size and louder shutter sound are more clunky, though the articulating screen aids shooting from the hip.

Macro Photography

Precise focusing and stabilization prove critical.

Sony’s sensor stabilization aids hand-held macro shots; Ricoh lacks stabilization.

Both depend heavily on specific lenses, but Sony’s ecosystem offers more macro-specific optics.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO performance and low noise dominate.

Sony’s ISO 25600 capability and solid low-light scores make it quite capable.

Ricoh’s ISO top is 3200, noisy at that level, limiting practical use in near-darkness.

Travel Photography

A balance of versatility, battery life, and size weighs in.

Ricoh’s light weight and compactness appeal for minimalist travel kits.

Sony’s larger body and heavier weight trade portability for higher image quality and flexibility.

Battery life favors Sony for longer expeditions.

Professional Use

File format support, reliability, and advanced controls define the pro experience.

Sony offers full raw support, robust build, extensive controls, and proven workflow integration.

Ricoh’s limited controls and weaker specs constrain its pro credentials.

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 front Ricoh GXR Mount A12 screen back Sony A77 II front Sony A77 II screen back

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose the Ricoh GXR Mount A12 if…

• You value compactness and minimalism above all else
• Your photographic needs are casual - vacations, street shots, snapshots
• Budget is tight and you don’t require high resolution or fast autofocus
• You prefer a lightweight, portable system not intended for professional use

Opt for the Sony A77 II if…

• You pursue photography seriously or professionally across multiple genres
• You need speed, precise autofocus, high image quality, and weather-sealing
• You want a versatile platform with abundant lenses and accessories
• Video capabilities and connectivity features matter to you
• You’re comfortable with a larger, heavier camera in exchange for capability

Final Thoughts: A Tale of Two Cameras from Two Worlds

Testing the Ricoh GXR Mount A12 alongside the Sony A77 II is like comparing a trusty compact hatchback with a fully loaded performance sedan. The Ricoh embodies a niche concept from its era - modular sensor/lens units packaged in a compact body, appealing to a photographer wanting simplicity and portability. It accomplishes this with modest specs reflecting its entry-level position, which limits its appeal for more demanding shooters.

The Sony A77 II, meanwhile, is a richly equipped DSLR hybrid showcasing mature sensor technology, an advanced autofocus system, weather-sealed robustness, and an extensive lens array that have kept it relevant for enthusiasts and professionals alike years after launch.

From my years of camera testing, I can attest that the Sony’s strengths translate into more satisfying outcomes and greater versatility in the field across nearly every photo discipline. However, if minimal size and budget are your primary considerations and you’re primarily making casual images, the Ricoh remains an interesting proposition but one that has since been eclipsed by modern mirrorless alternatives with better autofocus and sensor performance.

I hope this comparison has shed light on both cameras’ characteristics to help you make an informed decision tailored to your photography style. As always, whenever possible, I recommend trying cameras in hand before purchase - the tactile experience often reveals what specs alone cannot.

Happy shooting!