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Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37
Ricoh WG-30 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Ricoh WG-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 123 x 62 x 30mm
  • Announced October 2014
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Ricoh WG-30 and Sony A850, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the WG-30 (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the WG-30 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) boast different sensor measurements.

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The WG-30 was revealed 4 years later than the A850 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh WG-30 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a brief summary of how the WG-30 matches up versus the A850 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-30 over the Sony A850

 WG-30 A850 
IntroducedOctober 2014April 2010Fresher by 55 months

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Ricoh WG-30

 A850 WG-30 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh WG-30 and Sony A850

 WG-30 A850 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Ricoh WG-30 provides exterior dimensions of 123mm x 62mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Ricoh WG-30 and Sony A850 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the WG-30 and the A850.

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-30 and A850 is 91 and 54 respectively.

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing specs. The graphic here should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-30 and A850.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The WG-30 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A850 will show greater detail because of its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The younger WG-30 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A850 as a Portrait photography camera
35
MP count good (16MP)
has face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
72
manual focus
MP count high (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh WG-30
Street photography with Sony A850
61
image stabilization (Digital)
environment sealing
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Sports photography info
Sony A850 Sports photography info
45
image stabilization (Digital)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count high (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Travel photography highlights
Sony A850 Travel photography highlights
71
environment sealing
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
55
environment proofing
MP count high (25MP)
missing Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A850 as a Landscape photography camera
43
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Digital)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count high (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
doesn't have liveview
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Vlogging info
Sony A850 Vlogging info
33
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Digital)
has face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
9
can't record video
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Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-30 and Sony A850
 Ricoh WG-30Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh WG-30 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Type Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Announced 2014-10-09 2010-04-15
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 25MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.90 m (Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 192 grams (0.42 lbs) 895 grams (1.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 123 x 62 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 880 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots Single 2
Retail price $428 $0