Ricoh WG-70 vs Sony RX100 V: A Comprehensive Camera Showdown for Photography Enthusiasts

When it comes to compact cameras, the market often bifurcates into rugged, adventure-ready models and sophisticated large-sensor compacts geared toward image quality and versatility. The Ricoh WG-70 and Sony RX100 V represent these divergent paths nicely: the WG-70 is a durable waterproof compact, built tough to take on the elements, while the RX100 V is a large-sensor compact combining advanced imaging tech and pocket-friendly form. Both target a broad enthusiast audience, yet they answer distinctly different photographic needs.

Over the years, I’ve tested hundreds of cameras with deep dives into sensor circuitry, autofocus mechanics, ergonomics, and image processing pipelines. In this head-to-head, we’ll dissect these models under a wide photography umbrella - from portraits to wildlife, landscapes to night shots, and even video capabilities - tackling technical details alongside hands-on usability. If you’re hunting for a specialized travel companion or an everyday pro-grade pocket camera, buckle up. We’ll help you navigate the strengths and compromises of the WG-70 and RX100 V so you can pick your best photographic partner.

Design and Handling: Built for Rugged Adventures vs Refined Compact Elegance

Let’s start with size, build, and user interface. Handling profoundly influences the photographic experience, especially when your fingers are freezing or the situation demands quick operation.

Ricoh WG-70: This camera weighs just 193 grams and measures 123x62x30 mm, sporting a compact yet rugged body sealed for waterproofing (up to 10 meters), dustproofing, shockproofing, freezeproofing, and even crushproof performance. Its durability credentials are serious business if you’re targeting hiking, snorkeling, or industrial environments where your gear could meet rough handling or wet conditions. Its compact dimensions fit well in jacket pockets or even small bags, but bulkier gloves might challenge the small buttons.

Sony RX100 V: The RX100 V is slightly heavier at 299 grams with a 102x58x41 mm frame. While it’s not weather-sealed or shockproof, it boasts a luxurious large-sensor compact design with premium materials and a solid feel. The slightly more intricate shape, including a protruding lens barrel, impacts pocketability but is still travel-friendly. The camera offers a tilting 3-inch screen, unlike the WG-70’s fixed 2.7-inch display. The RX100 V’s body lacks rugged sealing but rewards you with refined ergonomics and control sophistication.

On top, the WG-70 keeps things simple: modest dials and buttons designed for reliability under water or debris. The RX100 V includes a more extensive control layout with dedicated dials for aperture, shutter, and a custom function button - essential for quick manual shooting adjustments.

For physical control and build, who takes the crown depends on your primary usage: the WG-70 dominates if toughness is the priority, while the RX100 V entices with ergonomic depth and finesse.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensor vs Large 1-inch Sensor – The Battle Zone

The heart of any camera is its sensor, influencing resolution, dynamic range, low-light prowess, and ultimately image quality in every shot.

Ricoh WG-70: Sporting a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 6.17x4.55 mm with 16 megapixels, the WG-70 relies on a tried-and-true compact-camera sensor size. Unfortunately, this sensor size restricts the potential for high dynamic range and low-light performance. Pixel pitch is small, leading to more noise at higher ISO settings. The maximum native ISO tops out at 6400, but practical use beyond ISO 1600 is visibly degraded. The sensor features an antialiasing filter and shoots only JPEG files; no RAW support limits post-processing latitude.

Sony RX100 V: This leader sports a much larger 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 13.2x8.8 mm with 20 megapixels. This sensor delivers substantially better image quality, color depth, and dynamic range - Sony’s sensor achieves a DxO Mark overall score of 70, with color depth of 22.8 bits and dynamic range above 12 stops. Importantly, it supports RAW capture, crucial for professionals and enthusiasts aiming to tweak images in post.

Comparing these sensors side-by-side, the RX100 V’s larger sensor fundamentally elevates the quality potential across all genres, particularly in challenging lighting. Portrait skin tones appear more nuanced, shadows retain texture, and highlight recovery is impressive.

Autofocus and Handling Speed: Contrast Detection vs Hybrid Phase Detection

Responsiveness and focus accuracy can make or break capturing fleeting moments, especially in wildlife or sports.

Ricoh WG-70: Offers contrast-detection autofocus with 9 focus points and face detection, but no phase-detection sensor. It includes continuous AF and tracking modes; however, autofocus speed is modest and can struggle in lower contrast or low-light environments. The fixed lens zoom is an advantage for simplicity but limits reach.

Sony RX100 V: Features a hybrid autofocus system combining 315 phase-detection points with contrast detection, allowing lightning-fast locking times - even down to 0.05 seconds - and seamless subject tracking across the frame. This autofocus prowess shines in fast-paced scenarios like sports or wildlife, reliably following erratically moving subjects. Face detection and selective AF area also boost portrait sharpness and precision.

When it comes to autofocus, the RX100 V’s system reflects Sony’s top-tier compact tech, providing a significant edge for those chasing action or requiring pinpoint focus.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Zoom Range vs Bright Optics

Lens quality and zoom versatility are integral when deciding on a compact camera.

Ricoh WG-70: Equipped with a fixed 28-140 mm equivalent zoom (5x optical), with an aperture range from F3.5 to F5.5. The lens extends reasonably for casual outdoor shooting and close macro focus as near as 1 cm, which supports stunning extreme close-ups. This emphasis on macro and waterproof capability makes it unique for adventure photographers who want to shoot underwater subjects or tiny details in all settings.

Sony RX100 V: Features a high-quality 24-70 mm equivalent zoom (2.9x optical), faster aperture ranging from F1.8 to F2.8 across the zoom. The lens is sharper edge-to-edge with notably better control of chromatic aberration and flare - typical of a premium Zeiss-branded optical design. While the zoom reach is not as long as the WG-70, the faster aperture enables more creative aperture control, better low light capabilities, and shallower depth-of-field for artistic portraits.

If your photographic interest leans toward landscape detail, portraits with bokeh, or low-light indoor shots, the RX100 V’s lens setup is favored. But for rugged versatility and macro exploits, WG-70’s zoom breadth and close focusing is more useful.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Portraiture demands smooth tonal transitions, pleasing defocus, and reliable focus locks on eyes for lifelike images.

The WG-70, utilizing a smaller sensor and slower lens, produces acceptable portraits in bright daylight but struggles to create a subject isolate effect due to deep depth of field and frontal flash autos. Skin tones are passable thanks to its standard JPEG processing but lack subtle gradation.

In contrast, the RX100 V’s 1-inch sensor and fast lens yield beautifully rendered facial textures and a creamy bokeh that softens backgrounds naturally, aiding subject separation. Adobe Lightroom workflows benefit from the RAW files, allowing nuanced skin retouching without quality loss. The advanced autofocus eye detection - though more rudimentary than modern mirrorless competitors - still outpaces the WG-70.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range, Resolution, and Weather Sealing

For wide vistas and nature landscapes, resolution and atmospheric detail reign supreme, alongside robust build quality for outdoor conditions.

The WG-70’s 16 MP sensor can capture good detail in well-lit landscape scenes, but noise creeps in with shadows and skies, limiting large prints. Its waterproofing is a major advantage, allowing shooting without concern for rain or splashes. But the 28mm wide-angle lens on the WG-70 is only average and can show distortion at edges.

The RX100 V offers higher resolution (20 MP) and superior dynamic range which pulls back blown highlights and recovers shadows in raw files, crucial for sunrise/sunset or cloudscape shots. The 24 mm wide end provides slightly wider framing than the WG-70. However, it lacks weather sealing, so caution is needed during inclement weather.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus Speed, Burst Rate, and Telephoto Performance

Capturing wildlife or fast sport action demands quick focus, rapid frame rates, and telephoto reach.

Here the WG-70’s 5x zoom out to 140 mm gives a slight edge over the RX100 V’s 2.9x zoom, but remember the slower lens aperture and primitive AF system mitigate this.

The RX100 V shines with an astonishing 24 fps burst shooting (albeit with some blackout) and lightning-focus lock. Its 315 phase detection points easily track moving animals or players, increasing keeper rates. The WG-70 lacks continuous burst shooting specifications and autofocus tracking sophistication.

For serious wildlife or sports shooting, the RX100 V clearly eclipses the WG-70, despite the latter’s extended zoom and ruggedness.

Street and Travel Photography: Discreteness, Size, and Versatility

Street photography demands a camera that’s quiet, unobtrusive, lightweight, and quick to use.

WG-70’s rugged exterior can attract attention - plus the flash and operational sounds are more pronounced underwater or outdoors. However, its simple controls make it accessible.

The RX100 V, though slightly larger, remains pocketable with a sleek design. Its tilting screen aids low-angle shots common in street scenes, and silent electronic shutter helps remain discreet.

On travels, the WG-70’s waterproof, shockproof credentials make it worry-free for adventure travel, beach days, or hiking in rough weather. Battery life is 300 shots, enough for light excursions. The RX100 V is better for urban tourism and casual shoot-anything versatility but requires thoughtful protection against elements and offers less battery endurance (~220 shots).

Macro and Close-up Photography: Magnification and Focusing Precision

The WG-70’s standout is its close-focus ability at 1 cm, paired with the digital image stabilization system. For macro enthusiasts or underwater photography highlighting fine textures on flora and fauna, this is a unique selling point. The macro focusing is straightforward but manual focus is basic.

The RX100 V offers respectable close focus at 5 cm, providing finely detailed captures aided by its larger sensor and lens quality, but it’s not optimized as a macro rig. Focus peaking and magnification help manual focus precision, making it fairly capable though not specialized.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO and Exposure Flexibility

The smaller sensor of WG-70 struggles in low light; ISO is limited to 6400 native, but noise is intrusive beyond ISO 800 to 1600. Long exposure capabilities max at 4 seconds, limiting star trail or astro shots. It has interval shooting for timelapse, but overall its low-light credentials are basic.

The RX100 V supports ISO up to 12,800 natively with clean output, extended to 25,600 with boosting (although noisier). Its min shutter speed extends to 30 seconds with electronic shutter speeds possibly as fast as 1/32000s, allowing very creative exposure options. Combined with RAW support and strong dynamic range, astrophotography results are markedly superior. The RX100 V’s silent shutter mode is ideal for minimizing vibrations on a tripod.

Video Capabilities: Resolutions, Formats, and Stabilization

Video is another field where these cameras differ sharply.

WG-70 shoots Full HD 1080p at 30 fps, plus HD at 120 and 60 fps for slow-motion clips, using MPEG-4 H.264 with Linear PCM audio. There’s no 4K option or external mic input, and video stabilization is digital, less effective in handheld conditions.

Sony RX100 V steps up the game offering 4K UHD (3840x2160) at 30p, plus XAVC S codec support for higher quality and efficient compression. It lacks microphone or headphone jacks, but optical steady shot image stabilization dramatically improves handheld footage. Slow-motion HD video at 120fps also is available. The RX100 V’s video flex makes it attractive for hybrid shooters.

Connectivity, Battery Life, and Storage

Both cameras support SD card storage but the WG-70 includes internal memory as a fallback; the RX100 V accepts a wider variety of cards including Memory Stick Pro Duo.

Wireless connectivity on the WG-70 is limited to Wi-Fi; the RX100 V has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for faster camera-to-device transfer and remote control via apps. This integration is a plus for on-the-go sharing.

Battery endurance favors the WG-70’s 300-shot count over the RX100 V’s approximate 220 shots, reflecting the RX100 V’s more power-hungry sensor and features.

What About Price and Value?

The WG-70 comes in at around $280 USD, while the RX100 V commands nearly $1,000. This price jump aligns with sensor size, image quality, and feature set differences.

From a value perspective, the WG-70 delivers rugged compactness at a very attractive price, excellent for adventurers, outdoor hobbyists, and those wanting basic versatile imaging in challenging environments.

The RX100 V is an investment in image quality, responsiveness, and video capability for serious enthusiasts and professionals needing a portable powerhouse. While pricier, its performance justifies the extra outlay if these needs align.

Testing Insights: Real-World Verdicts Across Photography Genres

I conducted field tests spanning diverse conditions with both cameras. Here are key takeaways illustrated with sample shots:

Ricoh WG 70 front Ricoh WG 70 screen back Sony RX100 V front Sony RX100 V screen back

• Portraits: RX100 V’s large sensor and sharp optics yielded superior skin rendering and background separation. WG-70 handled quick snapshots well in bright daylight but struggled indoors.

• Landscapes: RX100 V’s dynamic range and sharpness captured nuanced skies and textures. WG-70’s weather sealing allowed shooting in rain without worry.

• Wildlife/Sports: RX100 V managed fast autofocus and burst sequences smoothly. WG-70’s zoom range was longer but less forgiving with focus speed.

• Street/Travel: RX100 V’s discreet operation and selfie-ready screen edged out WG-70, which benefits when rough conditions are expected.

• Macro: WG-70’s 1cm focusing ability impressed for close-up nature shots; RX100 V showed better detail but needs longer working distance.

• Night/Astro: RX100 V’s longer exposures and cleaner high ISO performance were unmatched.

• Video: RX100 V’s 4K recording and optical stabilization provided superior footage.

For an at-a-glance comparison of genre scores:

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Both the Ricoh WG-70 and Sony RX100 V carve out strong, distinct niches in the compact camera spectrum.

• Choose the Ricoh WG-70 if you need:

  • A rugged, waterproof, shockproof camera that can endure adventure travel and active outdoor lifestyles
  • Decent image quality for casual use with impressive macro close-up capability
  • Affordable, durable imaging with simple controls and long battery life

• Opt for the Sony RX100 V if you want:

  • High image quality owed to a large 1-inch sensor and advanced autofocus
  • Versatile zoom combined with speed for sports, wildlife, portraits, and low-light shooting
  • Pro-grade video features with 4K capture and steady shot
  • Compact yet sophisticated interface and advanced shooting modes

Both cameras fill important roles. As seasoned testers, we appreciate the WG-70's no-nonsense durability and macro possibilities, and the RX100 V’s balance of portability and professional-grade imaging.

If budget permits, the RX100 V is the better all-around imaging tool for serious hobbyists and pros. But for rugged environments and casual snapshots, the WG-70 remains a trusted water-ready workhorse.

In the end, your photographic ambitions, environment, and budget will guide the right choice. I hope this detailed evaluation clears the blur and helps you shoot your best images yet.

Happy shooting!