Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Sony HX100V: Which Compact Superzoom Suits Your Photography Best?

Choosing a camera always comes down to your specific needs, style, and budget. Today, I’m diving deep into two very different beasts in the realm of compact, fixed-lens cameras: the rugged Ricoh WG-4 GPS, launched in 2014 with a hardcore waterproof, shockproof design, and the versatile Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V from 2011, a bridge-style superzoom champion with a massive focal range. Having logged hundreds of hours shooting real-world scenarios with both, I’m here to help you parse out which one deserves a spot in your gear bag.

Spoiler: These cameras cater to radically different shooters despite their shared sensor size and resolution.

Form Factor & Handling: Compact “Rugged” vs. Bridge Zoom

First impressions matter, and the Ricoh WG-4 GPS clearly shouts “go anywhere, break nothing.” With dimensions of 124 x 64 x 33 mm and a featherweight 235g, it’s slim, pocket-friendly, and built like a tank - boasting waterproofing up to 14 meters, shockproof, crushproof, and freezeproof capabilities. If your photography adventures include swimming, hiking, or cold-weather conditions, this is a huge plus.

The Sony HX100V is a totally different creature. At 122 x 87 x 93 mm and 577g, its SLR-like bridge design feels substantial in your hands. It’s not ruggedized, so worry about weather and physical abuse, but that big grip and extensive control layout reward you with traditional dials and buttons that professional shooters often crave for quick adjustments.

The one-two punch of the Ricoh's tank-like build versus the Sony’s classic DSLR-like ergonomics means your choice here depends largely on where and how you shoot.

Controls and User Interface: Simple vs. Sophisticated

The WG-4’s control scheme is thoughtfully minimalistic - there's no touch screen, no EVF, and a fixed 3-inch 460k-dot TFT LCD. It offers basic manual focus and shutter priority mode, but lacks aperture priority or full manual exposure. This simplicity will appeal to photographers who want to focus on their shots without fiddling through menus. The camera also has a built-in GPS and timelapse functionality, unique for a rugged compact in this price range.

Sony HX100V ups the ante with a tilting 3-inch 921k-dot XtraFine LCD and a bright electronic viewfinder (EVF) - a definite bonus for bright outdoor shooting. It provides full manual exposure control, aperture priority, shutter priority, and exposure compensation, giving much more creative freedom and precision. The physical controls are intuitive for those accustomed to DSLRs and bridge cameras, and Sony’s BIONZ processor makes menus snappy.

If you want a simple point-and-shoot you can beat up or toss in your wetsuit, Ricoh wins on rugged ease. If you prefer a more traditional camera experience with full manual control, the Sony’s more complex interface will serve better.

Sensor and Image Quality: Similar Chips, Different Execution

Both cameras share very similar sensor technology - a 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor with 16 megapixels of resolution (4608 x 3456 pixels). This sensor size is typical for compact superzooms, balancing cost, zoom capability, and image quality.

That said, image quality is not identical. The Sony HX100V has a slightly lower maximum native ISO (3200 vs Ricoh’s 6400), but its wider base ISO range (100 vs. 125) means cleaner shots in daylight. In my testing, the Sony produces slightly cleaner images at low to mid ISOs with better dynamic range, partly due to its superior image processing pipeline backed by the BIONZ engine.

The Ricoh can push ISO higher but noise and softness creep in sooner, understandable given its rugged sealing and compact lens design.

Both cameras use an anti-aliasing filter, balancing sharpness and moiré suppression. Neither supports RAW capture, limiting advanced post-processing for professionals, but JPEG output quality is solid and user-friendly.

Bottom line: For pure image quality, Sony edges out Ricoh, especially in good light. But Ricoh’s sensor punch is respectable considering it pairs with a tough lens and weatherproof body.

Lens and Zooms: Balanced Wide-Angle vs Superzoom Stretch

The Ricoh WG-4 GPS sports a 25-100mm (4x zoom) lens with a bright f/2.0–4.9 aperture range, ideal for wide-angle environmental shots and mid-range telephoto. Notably, the Ricoh excels in macro photography, thanks to a minimum focusing distance of just 1cm - brilliant for detailed close-ups of flowers, insects, or textures.

Sony HX100V, on the other hand, offers an imposing 27-810mm equivalent zoom (30x). This massive zoom range opens up almost every photographic possibility from wide landscapes to distant wildlife or sports action. The aperture ranges from f/2.8 to f/5.6, wider on the telephoto end than many bridge cameras from that era.

However, super-long zooms invariably introduce issues with sharpness and stabilization at maximum reach; the HX100V employs optical image stabilization to address this. The Ricoh relies on sensor-shift stabilization and given its shorter zoom range, it maintains crisper images across its focal length.

If you crave pocketable ruggedness with macro and decent zoom reach, Ricoh rocks. Need that extreme zoom for wildlife or sports from afar? Sony is your superzoom champion.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Chase Action or Steady Shots?

Sony's CX100V offers 9 contrast-detection focus points and continuous autofocus mode, but lacks phase detection, which is expected given its sensor class. Tack on a continuous shooting speed of 10 fps, quite impressive for a camera of this vintage and class, and you have a camera more suited to capturing fast action - think kids playing or sports.

Ricoh WG-4 GPS also incorporates 9 focus points, including face detection, animal eye AF is missing though. Its continuous shooting is capped at about 2 fps, much slower and not ideal for action photography. On the plus side, Ricoh supports focus tracking and offers manual focus override, lending some control to enthusiasts.

I observed the Sony AF to be snappier and more reliable for moving subjects, owing partly to its wider zoom and processing power. Ricoh’s autofocus can occasionally hunt in low light or close macro but is generally accurate in outdoor conditions.

For wildlife or sports shooters needing to track fast subjects, Sony holds the advantage here.

Display and Viewfinder: Screen Clarity and Framing Options

The state-of-the-art Sony display with XtraFine technology and tilt functionality is a treat that I found indispensable for shooting unconventional angles or reviewing images outdoors. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is a major asset for composing in bright sunlight, an area where LCDs notoriously struggle.

The Ricoh’s fixed 3-inch TFT LCD is less sharp (460k dots), inflexible, and can be challenging to see in bright conditions, but good enough if you plan mostly casual shooting or underwater use.

No EVF on the Ricoh means eyeball framing is out, but it’s an expected tradeoff for keeping weight down and body waterproof.

Build Quality & Environmental Protection: Ruggedness vs. Versatility

To circle back on toughness - the Ricoh WG-4 commands respect for its IPX8 waterproofing, shockproof to 2 meters, freezeproof to -10°C, and crushproof specs (over 100kgf). If you’re a diver, hiker, or extreme sports fan, this gives peace of mind. The Ricoh also includes GPS logging, handy for tracking photo location on adventures.

The Sony HX100V is a consumer-grade bridge camera with no environmental sealing. While robust, it’s vulnerable to dust, water, and impacts without special care. Ideal for indoor, controlled, or travel environments, but not tough terrain or underwater.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered and Saving Shots

Ricoh’s D-LI92 Rechargeable Battery offers about 240 shots on a charge - modest by today’s standards, but the fully-sealed design means no battery swaps underwater or mid-hike without precautions.

Sony uses NP-FH50 batteries, delivering longer life (Sony quotes ~300-350 shots), though exact battery rating in the specs isn’t given. The HX100V supports a wider array of storage media, including SD and Memory Stick formats, giving users added flexibility.

Keep in mind both cameras only have one memory card slot, limiting redundancy - an important point for pros who can’t risk lost data.

Connectivity: Limited, but Functional

Both cameras have built-in GPS, a welcome feature for tagging photos on the go.

Sony HX100V supports Eye-Fi cards (Wi-Fi via SD card) to facilitate wireless transfers, a useful feature for instant social media sharing back in the early 2010s era. Ricoh lacks any wireless or Bluetooth options - a gap, but understandable given its rugged focus and vintage.

Neither camera offers microphone or headphone jacks, limiting video vlog or high-fidelity audio capture.

Video Capabilities: Basic HD, No 4K in Either

The Ricoh WG-4 records Full HD 1080p video at 30fps and 720p at 60fps, using an H.264 codec. Nothing cutting-edge, but perfectly passable for casual clips.

Sony HX100V boasts 1080p at a smoother 60fps and supports AVCHD format, making it slightly better suited for enthusiasts looking to make simple edits. The wider zoom also gives more creative framing options in video.

Neither supports 4K or 6K photo modes that are common on newer cameras.

Real-World Use Cases: Matching Cameras to Your Photography Type

Let’s see how they stack up across photography genres.

Ricoh WG 4 GPS front Ricoh WG 4 GPS screen back Sony HX100V front Sony HX100V screen back

The Sony HX100V comes out ahead in sheer flexibility and creative control. However, the Ricoh WG-4 GPS is invaluable in extreme environments or underwater, where most bridge cameras fear to tread.

Performance Scores & Value: Cost vs. Capability

• Ricoh WG-4 GPS: Scores high in durability and macro capability, mid-range for image and video quality.
• Sony HX100V: Strong in zoom, control, AF speed, and video, but falls short in ruggedness.

At prices around $210 (Ricoh) and $430 (Sony) on the used market today, the WG-4 GPS is a cheapskate’s dream for adventure seekers, while HX100V appeals to enthusiast photographers wanting a one-lens do-it-all with some manual control.

Pros and Cons Recap

Ricoh WG-4 GPS – Pros

• True ruggedness: waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof, crushproof
• Excellent macro capability (1 cm minimum focus)
• Lightweight and compact for tough environments
• Built-in GPS and timelapse modes
• Simple and reliable interface, good for beginners

Ricoh WG-4 GPS – Cons

• Limited zoom range (4x)
• No RAW support or full manual exposure modes
• Slower autofocus and burst shooting
• Screen not very sharp or tiltable
• No wireless connectivity

Sony HX100V – Pros

• Massive 30x zoom (27-810mm eq.)
• Fast burst shooting (10 fps)
• Full manual exposure and aperture priority modes
• Tilting high-res LCD and electronic viewfinder
• Better image quality in good light
• Supports Eye-Fi wireless transfers
• More versatile video options

Sony HX100V – Cons

• No rugged sealing; heavier and bulkier
• Maximum ISO limited to 3200
• No RAW capture
• Less ideal for macro
• Older battery technology, shorter battery life in practice

Final Verdict: Which Camera Should You Buy?

Both cameras offer compelling packages for specific niches.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, adventurer, or underwater photographer on a budget, the Ricoh WG-4 GPS is the clear winner. Its build toughness and macro strength make it a perfect companion in rough conditions where you don’t want to baby your gear.

If you prioritize versatility, zoom range, manual control, and faster shooting - for wildlife, sports, travel, or street photography - and don’t mind the larger size or caring for your camera carefully, the Sony HX100V still punches above its weight despite its age.

A Personal Note (Because I’ve Been There)

Having taken the Ricoh WG-4 GPS kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking in rainforests, I appreciate not worrying about rain or accidental drops - that peace of mind alone is priceless for casual shooters and pros alike. Meanwhile, the Sony HX100V has been my trusty bridge camera on urban trips and family outings where creative framing and zoom reach mattered much more than getting wet.

Bottom line: Your usage scenario determines the champ here. Neither is perfect, but both bring solid, unique strengths in their niches.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you zero in on your next camera without the usual headache and browser tab chaos. If you want advice tailoring this further to your budget or photography goals, don’t hesitate to ask - I’m always happy to help fellow photographers get the right tool for the job!