Ricoh GXR S10 vs Sony RX100 III: A Veteran’s Take on Two Compact Contenders

In the vast universe of digital cameras, few categories are as fiercely contested or as nuanced as advanced compact and mirrorless offerings with fixed lenses. Today, we pit two such contenders against each other: the Ricoh GXR S10 24-72mm F2.5-4.4 VC, an intriguing but lesser-known rangefinder-style mirrorless from 2010, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III, a well-regarded large sensor compact introduced in 2014 that helped define premium pocketable cameras.

Having scrutinized thousands of cameras in my career - from hefty DSLRs to ultra-tiny pioneers - I can say these two represent fascinating design philosophies and technological eras. While the Ricoh GXR S10 captures some innovative sensor-lens module ambition, the RX100 III refines a sleek, practical formula with top-tier image quality and usability packed into a pocket-friendly body. But which suits your needs best? Let’s dive deep into their real-world performance, technical makeup, and overall value for photographers across genres and skill levels.

A Tale of Two Designs: Size, Handling, and Controls

If first impressions matter, these two reveal their characters immediately through their size and ergonomics. The Ricoh GXR S10 commands a sturdier presence with its rangefinder-style mirrorless body. Measuring 114x70x44 mm and tipping the scales at 355 grams, it feels substantial yet manageable. It’s no desktop brick, but definitely more “serious camera” than “point-and-shoot pocketable.” The fixed 24-72mm equivalent zoom lens adds modest heft, but offers a promising zoom range for those wanting flexibility upfront.

The Sony RX100 III, meanwhile, is a marvel of miniaturization. At just 102x58x41 mm and 290 grams, it is a true pocket rocket, slipping easily into even tight jacket pockets. This portability is part of its charm but also reflects Sony’s mastery in packing advanced technology into compact shells without compromising usability. Its controls feel precise but minimal, clearly aimed at balancing functionality and speed. The Ricoh’s rangefinder-style layout hints at traditionalists looking for something more tactile and deliberate.

From the top view, the Ricoh features a more classic dial-heavy approach with dedicated shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation dials - great for photographers who love direct manual control without diving into menus. Conversely, the Sony’s modern interface streamlines control with fewer dedicated buttons but a well-thought-out ergonomic grip and an intuitive dial for quick aperture and shutter speed adjustments. The RX100 III also features a pop-up electronic viewfinder - a feature Ricoh’s model lacks without an optional add-on - affecting compositional versatility outdoors.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where the cameras’ era gaps and design intentions become more visible. The Ricoh GXR S10 sports a 1/1.7" CCD sensor at 10 megapixels. While CCD sensors have a charming, film-like character, they lag behind in noise performance and dynamic range compared to modern CMOS technology. Its effective sensor area is about 41.5 mm², notably modest by today’s standards. The Japanese brand does include sensor-shift image stabilization - a bonus for handheld shooting in lower light.

The Sony RX100 III, however, boasts a much larger 1" BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 13.2x8.8 mm (approximately 116 mm²) with a generous 20 megapixels. This sensor leap not only elevates resolution but also greatly advances low-light sensitivity and dynamic range - vital parameters for a versatile compact camera. The advanced Bionz X processor further enhances noise reduction and detail preservation.

This difference in sensor tech is palpable in shooting tests. Ricoh’s images have a nostalgic color reproduction and decent sharpness at low ISO (100-200) but struggle past ISO 800 with noise and detail degradation. The Sony, on the other hand, maintains excellent color fidelity, dynamic range (about 12 stops), and usable ISO up to 3200 or beyond - very impressive for a compact.

Portrait photographers, in particular, will notice Sony’s richer tonal gradation and cleaner skin tones. Moreover, its sharper 5472x3648 resolution offers greater cropping flexibility and fine detail capture - a boon for large prints or professional use.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

Autofocus (AF) performance is often make-or-break in real-world use, especially outside studio settings. The Ricoh GXR S10 relies solely on contrast-detection autofocus, with a limited number of selectable focus points but no face or eye detection. It offers single, continuous AF, but no AF tracking, making it better suited for deliberate shooting rather than fast action. Continuous shooting tops out at a sluggish 2 fps.

Sony’s RX100 III, armed with 25 AF points and contrast detection combined with some clever predictive tracking algorithms, improves tracking accuracy notably. It even sports face detection autofocus, helpful for casual portraits and candid shots. While it lacks phase detection AF (more typical in newer models), its AF speed and accuracy are class-leading for its class. Burst shooting at 10 fps is a clear advantage for street, sports, or wildlife photographers trying to catch split-second expressions or movement.

Lens and Stabilization: Optics that Shape Experience

Ricoh’s fixed 24-72mm F2.5-4.4 zoom lens on the GXR S10 is respectable, offering a useful telephoto range and reasonably bright aperture for an advanced camera from 2010. However, the maximum aperture tapers quickly on the tele end compared to Sony’s consistently brighter F1.8-2.8 lens. Wider apertures benefit portraits with smooth bokeh and low-light landscapes or street scenes.

The Ricoh offers sensor-shift stabilization, which, while helpful, often introduces slight cropping or lags behind optical stabilization in certain situations. The Sony RX100 III excels here with its optical image stabilization - tighter, more responsive, and effective in moderating handheld shake. This advantage especially supports handheld macro or low-light shooting. For macro enthusiasts, the Sony’s minimum focus distance at 5 cm enables crisp close-ups, whereas Ricoh extends even closer to 1 cm but with less impressive sharpness given sensor and lens limitations.

The User Interface: Screen and Viewfinder Differences

Display and viewfinder quality affect framing and reviewing shots in bright or tricky lighting conditions. The Ricoh’s fixed 3-inch screen sports a resolution of 920k dots - serviceable but feeling dim and basic by today’s standards. Moreover, it has no liveview autofocus and no touchscreen capabilities - both fairly standard today.

The Sony’s 3-inch LCD screen at 1229k dots brightens and tilts upwards for more compositional flexibility and “selfie-friendly” framing (a nod to modern hybrid shooters). And crucially, it includes a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a crisp 1440k dot resolution at 100% coverage. This finder allows sharp previews in bright daylight, which the Ricoh’s optional EVF lacks as it was not supplied here.

Video Capabilities: Basic vs More Robust

These cameras underscore their focuses - Ricoh being more of a stills camera with modest video, Sony catering more to multimedia progress. The Ricoh offers only VGA (640x480) video at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format - a rudimentary workaround at best, barely suitable for casual clips.

Sony’s RX100 III steps up significantly with full HD 1080p at 60/30 fps, AVCHD and MPEG-4 codecs, and slow-motion capabilities (up to 120 fps at 720p). While no microphone or headphone jacks limit audio options, video enthusiasts will appreciate the RX100 III’s higher resolution capture and more flexible frame rates. Additionally, the RX100 III supports time-lapse via apps, extending creative potentials.

Battery Life and Storage

On paper, Ricoh’s claimed battery life at 410 shots per charge edges out Sony’s 320 shots, but real-world experience tends to equalize them, with the Sony’s efficient BSI sensor and power management. Both cameras use proprietary lithium-ion packs but the Sony’s smaller body may translate into more frequent charging on extended shoots.

Storage-wise, Ricoh sticks with standard SD/SDHC cards plus internal memory, while Sony supports SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick Pro Duo formats, adding flexibility. A single card slot each but that’s normal for compacts in this class.

Durability and Build Quality: Not Rugged but Solid

Neither camera features weather sealing or ruggedization - expected given their designs and market positioning. Both feel solidly built; Ricoh’s rangefinder aesthetic lends a tactile vintage vibe while Sony’s magnesium alloy body feels impressively robust for its size. Neither are shockproof or freeze-proof; handle accordingly.

Price and Value: Where Does Your Dollar Go?

As of writing, the Ricoh GXR S10 retails around $349 while the Sony RX100 III commands approximately $748 - over twice the price. What does that get you?

Sony’s camera delivers a dramatic leap in image quality, versatility, autofocus sophistication, video capabilities, and user interface modernity. Ricoh’s boasts a unique concept of interchangeable sensor-lens modules though this particular model is fixed, and a more classic handling feel. In essence - Ricoh might appeal to collectors or those craving rangefinder controls and simple exposure ergonomics at a budget price. Sony suits enthusiasts and professionals wanting a high-quality pocket cam that punches above its size in technical performance.

Ricoh GXR S10 24 72mm F2.5 4.4 VC front Ricoh GXR S10 24 72mm F2.5 4.4 VC screen back Sony RX100 III front Sony RX100 III screen back

Who Shines in Which Photography Discipline?

Let’s map out these cameras’ performance across popular genres to identify the best user matches. This analysis is distilled from hands-on use and controlled testing.

Portrait Photography

The RX100 III is the clear winner here thanks to its larger sensor, superior optics, and face/eye detection autofocus. It renders skin tones beautifully and crafts a more enticing bokeh from its fast F1.8 aperture. Ricoh can manage casual portraits but its narrow ISO range and slower AF leave it trailing.

Landscape Photography

Sony’s higher resolution and wider dynamic range capture more detail in shadows and highlights, crucial for expansive vistas. Ricoh’s limited sensor area and older CCD tech diminish image quality in demanding lighting, though stabilized zoom helps moderate camera shake.

Wildlife Photography

Rapid AF tracking and 10 fps burst favor the RX100 III for modest wildlife hunting, while Ricoh’s slow 2 fps plus no AF tracking make it less viable. However, neither camera offers strong telephoto reach for serious wildlife photography.

Sports Photography

Again, Sony rules with quick frame rates and tracking autofocus. Ricoh’s 2 fps and lack of continuous focus tracking limit capturing fast action.

Street Photography

This is a closer call. Ricoh’s more substantial body and classic manual dials suit deliberate, thoughtful shooting, while Sony’s smaller size, discreet lens speed, and quick shooting capabilities benefit spontaneous street capture. I lean toward Sony for versatility and portability.

Macro Photography

Ricoh’s surprisingly close 1 cm macro focusing tip is impressive for niche close-ups, but image quality softens. Sony’s 5 cm minimum focus and higher sensor quality deliver sharper macro results overall with handheld stabilization assistance.

Night and Astro Photography

Sony’s higher max ISO (12800 vs 3200) and better noise control make it far more suitable for low-light and astrophotography. Ricoh’s CCD sensor and crop limit possibilities here.

Video Work

No contest - the RX100 III’s Full HD video with multiple codecs makes it semi-professional ready. Ricoh is a snapshot-only device for motion.

Travel Photography

Sony’s compact form factor, built-in EVF, and better battery life argue for a superior travel companion. Ricoh might appeal to those who prefer classic-operated cameras and don’t mind size.

Professional Reliability and Workflow

The RX100 III supports RAW shooting and has excellent file compatibility in major editing apps, essential for professional workflows. Ricoh also supports RAW but offers fewer connectivity options and slower file transfer speeds (USB 2.0 for both). Sony’s integrated wireless and NFC facilitate fast sharing or remote control.

Final Verdict: Which One Deserves a Place in Your Bag?

After extensive testing - shooting side-by-side for weeks in multiple scenarios - I can confidently endorse the Sony RX100 III as the superior all-rounder for most photography enthusiasts and many professionals seeking a compact yet powerful option. It delivers a better sensor, faster AF, superior video, and a more ergonomic user experience for diverse shooting situations.

That said, the Ricoh GXR S10 24-72mm holds niche appeal for those who prioritize tactile manual controls, a vintage rangefinder feel, and who shoot primarily stills in controlled environments favoring lower ISOs. Its image stabilization and close macro are intriguing bonuses at a budget price, but its limitations in autofocus, burst speed, and video hold it back from broader use.

Recommendations at a Glance:

• Buy Ricoh GXR S10 if:

  • You want a classic rangefinder-style compact with manual dials.
  • Your shoots favor deliberate still photography with minimal action.
  • Budget is a serious constraint but you want stabilized zoom.
  • Macro close focusing intrigues you more than video or low light.

• Buy Sony RX100 III if:

  • You need a premium all-around pocket camera for photo and video.
  • Fast autofocus, face detection, and high ISO performance matter.
  • You want tilt screens, EVF, and app-enhanced timelapse/video.
  • Portability and everyday versatility are paramount.

In photography, as in life, there’s no one-size-fits-all - these two cameras are built for different journeys. I’m pleased to have had the chance to explore both deeply - and I hope this insight helps you pick the camera that will best capture your creative vision.

Happy shooting, dear reader. And remember - technology changes fast, but great photography still relies on you behind the lens.