Ricoh WG-20 vs Zeiss ZX1

Its time to look more closely at the Ricoh WG-20 vs Zeiss ZX1, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Ricoh and Zeiss. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the WG-20 (14MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the WG-20 (1/2.3") and ZX1 (Full frame) provide different sensor size.

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The WG-20 was introduced 5 years earlier than the ZX1 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Ricoh WG-20 being a Compact camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the WG-20 grades against the ZX1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Ricoh WG-20 & Zeiss ZX1. The whole galleries are provided at Ricoh WG-20 Gallery & Zeiss ZX1 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Ricoh WG-20 has exterior measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs) whilst the Zeiss ZX1 has specifications of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Ricoh WG-20 vs Zeiss ZX1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the WG-20 and the ZX1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-20 and ZX1 is 93 and 67 respectively.

More often than not, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor dimensions just by checking specifications. The picture underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-20 and ZX1.

Plainly, both of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The WG-20 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Zeiss ZX1 will resolve more detail using its extra 23MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged WG-20 is going to be behind in sensor technology.