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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Ricoh WG-4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Introduced February 2014
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Superseded the Sony WX350
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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Ricoh and Sony. The resolution of the WG-4 (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is pretty close and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The WG-4 was manufactured 14 months prior to the WX500 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the WG-4 grades vs the WX500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-4 over the Sony WX500

 WG-4 WX500 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Ricoh WG-4

 WX500 WG-4 
AnnouncedApril 2015February 2014Fresher by 14 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh WG-4 and Sony WX500

 WG-4 WX500 
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh WG-4 provides outer dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Analyze the Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the WG-4 compared to the WX500.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-4 and WX500 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing simply by researching specs. The photograph here should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-4 and WX500.

All in all, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can expect the Sony WX500 to result in greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The older WG-4 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh WG-4
Portrait photography with Sony WX500
41
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
39
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Street photography features
Sony WX500 Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
69
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (236g)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Sports photography highlights
Sony WX500 Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (240 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery pack (360 per charge)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Travel photography highlights
Sony WX500 Travel photography highlights
72
weather proofing
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery pack (240 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
71
good battery pack (360 CIPA)
lighter than average (236g)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
54
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery pack (240 shots)
49
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
good battery pack (360 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Vlogging info
Sony WX500 Vlogging info
36
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have mic port
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (236g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic port
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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-4 and Sony WX500
 Ricoh WG-4Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Manufacturer Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh WG-4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2014-02-05 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (Auto ISO) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 lb) 236 gr (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 360 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $330 $348