Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sony ZV-1

Following is a complete overview of the Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sony ZV-1, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Ricoh and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WG-5 GPS (16MP) and the ZV-1 (20MP) is relatively close but the WG-5 GPS (1/2.3") and ZV-1 (1") provide different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The WG-5 GPS was manufactured 6 years prior to the ZV-1 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Ricoh WG-5 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sony ZV-1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the WG-5 GPS scores vs the ZV-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sony ZV-1. The entire galleries are viewable at Ricoh WG-5 GPS Gallery and Sony ZV-1 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Ricoh WG-5 GPS features outside dimensions of 125mm x 65mm x 32mm (4.9" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Sony ZV-1 has proportions of 105mm x 60mm x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7") with a weight of 294 grams (0.65 lbs).

Look at the Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sony ZV-1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the WG-5 GPS versus the ZV-1.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-5 GPS and ZV-1 is 90 and 88 respectively.

More often than not, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through a spec sheet. The picture here will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-5 GPS and ZV-1.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The WG-5 GPS due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony ZV-1 will result in extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged WG-5 GPS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.