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Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
44
Overall
42
Ricoh WG-5 GPS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Ricoh WG-5 GPS
(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
  • 236g - 125 x 65 x 32mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Succeeded the Ricoh WG-4 GPS
  • Refreshed by Ricoh WG-6
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Ricoh WG-5 GPS versus Sony S980, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Ricoh and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the WG-5 GPS (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The WG-5 GPS was announced 6 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the WG-5 GPS grades versus the S980 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-5 GPS over the Sony S980

 WG-5 GPS S980 
IntroducedFebruary 2015February 2009More recent by 73 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Ricoh WG-5 GPS

 S980 WG-5 GPS 

Common features in the Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sony S980

 WG-5 GPS S980 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Ricoh WG-5 GPS provides external measurements of 125mm x 65mm x 32mm (4.9" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sony S980 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Ricoh WG-5 GPS versus Sony S980 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the WG-5 GPS against the S980.

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-5 GPS and S980 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing technical specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-5 GPS and S980.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Ricoh WG-5 GPS to produce greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher WG-5 GPS is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S980 as a Portrait photography camera
41
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
27
focusing manually
no manual control
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh WG-5 GPS
Street photography with Sony S980
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (236 grams)
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS Sports photography factors
Sony S980 Sports photography factors
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
17
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS Travel photography info
Sony S980 Travel photography info
69
environment sealing
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery power (240 per charge)
more heavy than competitors in class (236 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS Landscape photography advice
Sony S980 Landscape photography advice
54
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery power (240 shots)
27
focusing manually
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS Vlogging info
Sony S980 Vlogging info
34
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (236 grams)
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
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Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sony S980
 Ricoh WG-5 GPSSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh WG-5 GPS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2015-02-10 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 14.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.40 m (at Auto ISO) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 236 grams (0.52 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 65 x 32mm (4.9" x 2.6" x 1.3") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $500 $300