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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Ricoh WG-4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550 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 W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Ricoh WG-4 and Sony W550, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-4 (16MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The WG-4 was announced 2 years after the W550 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh WG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the WG-4 matches up against the W550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-4 over the Sony W550

 WG-4 W550 
ReleasedFebruary 2014July 2011More modern by 31 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Ricoh WG-4

 W550 WG-4 

Common features in the Ricoh WG-4 and Sony W550

 WG-4 W550 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Ricoh WG-4 features physical dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Contrast the Ricoh WG-4 and Sony W550 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the WG-4 and the W550.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-4 and W550 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by checking specifications. The picture below will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-4 and W550.

Plainly, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Ricoh WG-4 to resolve extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The more recent WG-4 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Portrait photography advice
Sony W550 Portrait photography advice
41
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
28
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Street photography details
Sony W550 Street photography details
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Sports photography info
Sony W550 Sports photography info
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
low fps (2.0 fps)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
72
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery pack (240 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
65
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
54
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
42
really wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
36
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic support
29
really wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-4 and Sony W550
 Ricoh WG-4Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Manufacturer Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh WG-4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Class Waterproof Ultracompact
Revealed 2014-02-05 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (Auto ISO) 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230g (0.51 pounds) 110g (0.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 240 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 -
Price at launch $330 $119