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Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Ricoh WG-4 GPS front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Ricoh WG-4 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 235g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2014
  • Refreshed by Ricoh WG-5 GPS
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Revealed April 2017
  • Updated by Sony A9 II
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Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Ricoh WG-4 GPS versus Sony A9, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Ricoh and Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the WG-4 GPS (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the WG-4 GPS (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) posses different sensor sizes.

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The WG-4 GPS was manufactured 4 years before the A9 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Ricoh WG-4 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the WG-4 GPS matches up versus the A9 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-4 GPS over the Sony A9

 WG-4 GPS A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Ricoh WG-4 GPS

 A9 WG-4 GPS 
RevealedApril 2017February 2014Fresher by 38 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k460kCrisper display (+980k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Ricoh WG-4 GPS and Sony A9

 WG-4 GPS A9 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Ricoh WG-4 GPS comes with physical dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) and the Sony A9 has specifications of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") and a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Check the Ricoh WG-4 GPS versus Sony A9 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the WG-4 GPS versus the A9.

Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-4 GPS and A9 is 90 and 65 respectively.

Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-4 GPS and A9.

As you can see, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The WG-4 GPS because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A9 will offer you greater detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older WG-4 GPS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 GPS Portrait photography details
Sony A9 Portrait photography details
41
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
supports face detection focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
83
focusing manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh WG-4 GPS
Street photography with Sony A9
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than average in class (235g)
79
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
features focus by touch
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 GPS as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
86
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
great battery life (650 per charge)
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 GPS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
69
environment proofing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery pack (240 per charge)
more heavy than average in class (235g)
screen is not selfie friendly
73
great battery life (650 per charge)
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
features focus by touch
MP count good (24 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 GPS Landscape photography info
Sony A9 Landscape photography info
54
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery pack (240 per charge)
85
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
great battery life (650 CIPA)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 GPS Vlogging highlights
Sony A9 Vlogging highlights
34
rather wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (235g)
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
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Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-4 GPS and Sony A9
 Ricoh WG-4 GPSSony Alpha A9
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh WG-4 GPS Sony Alpha A9
Type Waterproof Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-02-05 2017-04-19
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 693
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235 grams (0.52 lbs) 673 grams (1.48 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 92
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 3517
Other
Battery life 240 photos 650 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots 1 Dual
Retail pricing $210 $4,498