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Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500

Portability
91
Imaging
42
Features
39
Overall
40
Ricoh WG-50 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Ricoh WG-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 193g - 123 x 62 x 30mm
  • Introduced May 2017
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
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Superseded the Sony WX350
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Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 Overview

The following is a thorough assessment of the Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-50 (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The WG-50 was revealed 2 years after the WX500 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a short overview of how the WG-50 scores against the WX500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-50 over the Sony WX500

 WG-50 WX500 
IntroducedMay 2017April 2015Newer by 26 months
Manual focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Ricoh WG-50

 WX500 WG-50 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh WG-50 and Sony WX500

 WG-50 WX500 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh WG-50 offers outer measurements of 123mm x 62mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check the Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view scale comparison of the WG-50 vs the WX500.

Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-50 and WX500 is 91 and 91 respectively.

Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by going through specs. The pic here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-50 and WX500.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony WX500 to produce greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more recent WG-50 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-50 Portrait photography details
Sony WX500 Portrait photography details
42
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
39
megapixel count decent (18MP)
has face detection autofocus
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Ricoh WG-50 Street photography information
Sony WX500 Street photography information
62
built in image stabilization (Digital)
environment proof
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Ricoh WG-50
Sports photography with Sony WX500
49
built in image stabilization (Digital)
MP count good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
good battery life (360 CIPA)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh WG-50
Travel photography with Sony WX500
71
environment proof
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
71
good battery life (360 shots)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-50 Landscape photography highlights
Sony WX500 Landscape photography highlights
48
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment proof
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
49
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
good battery life (360 shots)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-50 Vlogging advice
Sony WX500 Vlogging advice
33
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic socket
35
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (236g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Ricoh WG-50 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-50 and Sony WX500
 Ricoh WG-50Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh WG-50 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2017-05-24 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m (at Auto ISO) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes On, off Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Yes (Wireless) Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 193 gr (0.43 lbs) 236 gr (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 123 x 62 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 360 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, remote) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $280 $348