Ricoh WG-70 vs Sony a1

Here, we will be looking at the Ricoh WG-70 vs Sony a1, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Ricoh and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the WG-70 (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the WG-70 (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The WG-70 was unveiled 11 months prior to the a1 which means that they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh WG-70 being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a short overview of how the WG-70 grades vs the a1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Ricoh WG-70 and Sony Alpha a1. The full galleries are provided at Ricoh WG-70 Gallery and Sony a1 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera often, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Ricoh WG-70 provides external measurements of 123mm x 62mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has measurements of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Take a look at the Ricoh WG-70 vs Sony a1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the WG-70 compared to the a1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-70 and a1 is 91 and 61 respectively.

Sometimes, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading technical specs. The graphic underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-70 and a1.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The WG-70 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony a1 will offer more detail having an extra 34 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older WG-70 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.