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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Ricoh WG-4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
57
Overall
64

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Ricoh WG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2014
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Released February 2013
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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Ricoh WG-4 and Sony RX1, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Ricoh and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the WG-4 (16MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the WG-4 (1/2.3") and RX1 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The WG-4 was manufactured 12 months later than the RX1 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh WG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the WG-4 grades against the RX1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-4 over the Sony RX1

 WG-4 RX1 
ReleasedFebruary 2014February 2013More recent by 12 months

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Ricoh WG-4

 RX1 WG-4 
Screen resolution1229k460kSharper screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh WG-4 and Sony RX1

 WG-4 RX1 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh WG-4 enjoys physical dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony RX1 has dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

See the Ricoh WG-4 and Sony RX1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the WG-4 compared to the RX1.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-4 and RX1 is 90 and 79 respectively.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor measurements merely by going through specs. The graphic here will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-4 and RX1.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The WG-4 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony RX1 will show extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more modern WG-4 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Portrait photography information
Sony RX1 Portrait photography information
41
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features face detection focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
81
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/4,000s)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Street photography information
Sony RX1 Street photography information
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
very good ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
53
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking focus
can't change focal length (35mm)
low fps (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Travel photography features
Sony RX1 Travel photography features
72
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery power (240 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
more heavy than average in class (482 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
54
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery power (240 shots)
64
you can focus manually
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX1 as a Vlogging camera
36
rather wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic jack
34
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone port
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (482g)
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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-4 and Sony RX1
 Ricoh WG-4Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh WG-4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Class Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-02-05 2013-02-19
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.0-22.0
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (Auto ISO) 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/4000 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lbs) 482 gr (1.06 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 93
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 2534
Other
Battery life 240 shots 270 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $330 $2,798