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Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Ricoh WG-5 GPS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230 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
  • Announced February 2015
  • Succeeded the Ricoh WG-4 GPS
  • Replacement is Ricoh WG-6
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sony W230, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Ricoh and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the WG-5 GPS (16MP) and W230 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The WG-5 GPS was launched 6 years after the W230 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the WG-5 GPS matches up vs the W230 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-5 GPS over the Sony W230

 WG-5 GPS W230 
RevealedFebruary 2015February 2009More modern by 73 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Ricoh WG-5 GPS

 W230 WG-5 GPS 

Common features in the Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sony W230

 WG-5 GPS W230 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Ricoh WG-5 GPS has got external dimensions of 125mm x 65mm x 32mm (4.9" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Sony W230 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sony W230 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the WG-5 GPS against the W230.

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-5 GPS and W230 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes purely by seeing specifications. The image underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-5 GPS and W230.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Ricoh WG-5 GPS to provide more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more modern WG-5 GPS provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS Portrait photography information
Sony W230 Portrait photography information
41
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
27
manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS Street photography details
Sony W230 Street photography details
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than others (236 grams)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS Sports photography highlights
Sony W230 Sports photography highlights
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 shots)
no phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh WG-5 GPS
Travel photography with Sony W230
69
weather sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
more heavy than others (236g)
display isn't selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh WG-5 GPS
Landscape photography with Sony W230
54
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
weather sealing
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
36
manual focus
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-5 GPS Vlogging information
Sony W230 Vlogging information
34
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
more heavy than others (236 grams)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
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Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sony W230
 Ricoh WG-5 GPSSony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh WG-5 GPS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2015-02-10 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
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) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 14.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.40 m (at Auto ISO) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 236 grams (0.52 lbs) 156 grams (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 65 x 32mm (4.9" x 2.6" x 1.3") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $500 $180