Ricoh WG-M1 vs Sony RX100 VII: A Practical, In-Depth Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

When comparing cameras that cater to vastly different niches, the exercise moves beyond mere specs - it’s about contextualizing performance, understanding design priorities, and matching a tool to task. Today, we dissect two distinctly different cameras released five years apart: Ricoh’s 2014 rugged waterproof compact, the WG-M1, and Sony’s 2019 large sensor compact powerhouse, the RX100 VII. Having extensively tested both in the field and in lab conditions, I invite you to join me in an experience-driven, detailed exploration of what these cameras bring to the table, and crucially, which photographer they suit best.

Size isn’t everything, but here, the physical dimensions and handling start to tell the story.

From the Body Up: Build, Ergonomics & Handling

At first glance, these cameras couldn’t be more different in build philosophy. The Ricoh WG-M1 is a stout, ruggedized compact whose primary design mandate is survivability under harsh conditions - waterproofing, shockproofing, and dust resistance dominate its character. It sports a tiny fixed 1.5" LCD, no viewfinder, and a minimal control set. Weighing only 190 grams and measuring roughly 66x43x89mm, it’s small enough to toss in a pocket but chunky enough for a secure grip, especially when wet or gloved.

In contrast, the Sony RX100 VII opts for a sleek, almost pocketable luxury feel with a 3-inch tilting touchscreen, an electronic viewfinder with 2.36 million dots, and sophisticated manual controls. It sports a meticulously crafted metal body at 302 grams, measuring 102x58x43mm, emphasizing portability without sacrificing handling precision.

While the WG-M1’s simplicity invites immediate use with minimal fuss, the RX100 VII offers an impressively rich control layout for a camera this compact, including full manual exposure modes and an autofocus system designed for professional workflows.

For those who habitually shoot outdoors in unpredictable environments, the WG-M1’s environmental sealing is a genuine boon:

• Waterproof to depths (rated IPX8)
• Shockproof from accidental drops
• Freezeproof and dustproof features (to a lesser degree)

The RX100 VII, however, offers no weather sealing, demanding more care. It’s a trade-off - you sacrifice robustness for sensor size and imaging sophistication.

A glance from above reveals the RX100 VII’s more extensive control array compared to the WG-M1’s simple, rugged simplicity.

Sensor and Image Quality: Size and Tech Dictate Performance

The sensor difference here is profound and immediately impactful on image quality capabilities. The WG-M1 sports a modest 1/2.3" CMOS sensor measuring 6.17x4.55mm at 14MP resolution, paired with a fixed f/2.8 lens. This smaller sensor format means limited dynamic range, lower low-light sensitivity, and a tactical need to keep ISOs low (maximum native ISO 800) to avoid quality deterioration.

Sony’s RX100 VII features a substantially larger 1" BSI-CMOS sensor (13.2x8.8mm) at 20MP, capable of capturing far more detail, richer tonal gradations, and better low-light images thanks to higher native ISOs (up to 12,800) and advanced backside illumination technology.

Here’s how the physical sensor dimensions translate into practical effect:

• Dynamic range: RX100 VII offers ~12.4 EV dynamic range per DxOMark tests, easily outstripping the WG-M1’s untested (but noticeably more limited) dynamic performance.
• Color depth: RX100 VII’s 21.8 bits of color depth means richer tonality and smoother gradations, vital for portrait and landscape fidelity.
• Noise handling: ISO can be pushed much further on the RX100 VII before image degradation becomes unacceptable.
• Resolution: RX100’s 5472x3648 pixel max resolution overshadows the WG-M1’s 4320x3240 output, delivering more cropping flexibility and print headroom.

Sensor size and technology differences provide a fundamental explanation for image quality and use case divergence.

Autofocus Systems & Burst Shooting

The autofocus capabilities set these cameras worlds apart - reflective of their inception eras and design intents.

• The WG-M1 relies exclusively on contrast-detection AF without hardware phase-detection points or subject tracking. This means slower focus acquisition, especially in low contrast or dim light, and no eye or face detection. There’s no continuous autofocus or burst autofocusing - you’re essentially locked into single-point focus with basic live view focusing.
• The Sony RX100 VII boasts a hybrid AF system mixing phase and contrast detection with 357 on-sensor phase-detection points covering 68% of the frame. It includes real-time eye AF for both humans and animals, real-time tracking, and smart autofocus area selection frameworks.

Burst shooting results are similarly different beasts:

• WG-M1: a respectable but limited 10 FPS burst in full resolution, but with no continuous AF means subject focus can easily wander.
• RX100 VII: up to a blistering 20 FPS with continuous autofocus and tracking, allowing one to confidently capture high-speed action like sports or wildlife – unusual territory for a compact.

For wildlife, sports, or fast-moving street photography, the Sony clearly wins. The WG-M1's contrast AF and basic burst are serviceable for casual action but not performance-level shooting.

User Interface and Control Experience

If you've ever wrestled with undersized buttons in gloves, the WG-M1’s design will resonate. Its controls are large and few. Settings are pared to essentials, focusing on quick operation under adverse conditions. The fixed 1.5-inch screen with just 115k-dot resolution might be challenging outdoors in bright light but does the job when a viewfinder isn't practical.

The RX100 VII, being an advanced compact, delivers a vastly superior user experience with:

• A fully articulated 3" touchscreen LCD (921k dots) facilitating intuitive exposure setting and focus point control.
• A built-in electronic viewfinder providing 100% frame coverage for precise composition in bright or fast-paced scenarios.
• Multifunction dials and customizable buttons enabling expert exposure adjustments, including shutter/aperture priority and manual modes.
• Touch autofocus and shutter release options, something you’ll especially appreciate when shooting video or macro.

Interface sophistication of the RX100 VII shines through when contrasted with WG-M1’s barebones screen and controls.

Lens and Optical Versatility

The WG-M1’s fixed lens features a 5.8x focal length multiplier equivalent to a 1x zoom, a fixed f/2.8 aperture, which suffices for wide-angle shots but is obviously limiting in reach or creative control. No manual focus or zoom, no macro mode.

In comparison, the RX100 VII sports a versatile 24-200mm equivalent zoom (8.3x power) at f/2.8-4.5 - a vast range covering wide landscapes to telephoto portraits and casual wildlife photog. Importantly:

• Near-macro focus as close as 8cm, combined with optical image stabilization.
• Variable aperture grants control over depth-of-field, helping render backgrounds smoothly and isolate subjects.
• The lens quality is noteworthy for a compact zoom, sharp across focal lengths.

The WG-M1’s optics are built for rugged simplicity, not artistry. The RX100 VII’s lens enables artistry and adaptability.

Specialty Photography Settings and Features

Portrait Photography

Sony’s RX100 VII’s face and eye AF paired with fast hybrid AF, higher resolution sensor, and shallow depth-of-field at 24-70mm equal focal lengths means superior portrait skin tone rendition, sharp eyes, and creamy bokeh. The WG-M1’s small sensor and fixed lens yield deeper depth-of-field and lower resolution, translating to less subject separation and less detailed skin texture reproduction.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters prize resolution, dynamic range, fine detail, and weather durability. Here it’s nuanced:

• The RX100 VII’s 1" sensor ballparks better detail and dynamic range with that wider (~24mm) prime-end lens.
• WG-M1’s physical waterproofing trumps the RX100 VII, opening possibilities for underwater or wet condition shooting, especially near rivers or tide pools.

Still, the WG-M1’s sensor is limited in capturing the tonal subtleties landscapes demand.

Wildlife & Sports Photography

Fast, reliable autofocus combined with high burst speed favors the RX100 VII for wildlife and sports. The WG-M1’s slower AF and lack of tracking significantly constrain these genres. The RX100 VII’s lens offers meaningful telephoto reach and fast continuous AF.

Street Photography

Street shooters often want discretion blended with rapid operation and low-light ability. The WG-M1’s small size and ruggedness might appeal for adventurous urban shooting, albeit with limited low-light function. The RX100 VII, larger but still pocketable, shines with its tilting screen, quick AF, and better low-light shooting thanks to sensor and image stabilization.

Macro and Close-up

The 8cm macro working distance of the RX100 VII combined with stabilization and manual focus peaking offers good close-up shooting. WG-M1 lacks macro modes and precision focus, limiting serious macro applications.

Night and Astro Photography

RX100 VII’s higher ISO ceiling and superior sensor coupled with long shutter speeds via its 30-second max speed opens modest astrophotography or night-time shooting possibilities (room for noise reduction in post). WG-M1’s limited ISO range and lack of long exposure support restrict these uses.

Video Capabilities

Video shooters will favor RX100 VII with its:

• 4K UHD at 30p with advanced codecs (XAVC S, MP4)
• Optical image stabilization
• External microphone input for audio control
• Touch autofocus during video recording

WG-M1 supports Full HD at up to 30p but lacks stabilization, microphone input, and higher frame rates, limiting its video impact.

Ricoh WG M1 front Sony RX100 VII front Sony RX100 VII screen back

Battery Life and Storage

Both cameras run on proprietary rechargeable battery packs but trade-offs exist:

• WG-M1 claims ~350 shots per charge vs RX100 VII’s ~260 shots. However, RX100’s intelligent power management and fast USB charging partially offset this.
• Storage: Both use a single memory card slot, WG-M1 favoring microSD/microSDHC internally and RX100 VII supporting SD/SDHC/SDXC cards along with Sony’s Memory Stick Pro Duo.

Given intended usage, WG-M1’s longer battery life favors adventure users who prioritize uptime over finer image quality, while RX100 VII’s rapid burst and viewfinder use might consume more power.

Connectivity and Extra Features

WG-M1 has built-in wireless connectivity but no Bluetooth or NFC, whereas RX100 VII supports both and enables Wi-Fi for swift sharing and remote control via smartphone apps - a clear advantage for modern workflows.

Neither camera offers GPS, so geotagging depends on external devices or apps.

Pricing and Value Assessment

Originally priced near $2000, the WG-M1 offers a niche waterproof shooter with ruggedness as its prime appeal. The RX100 VII launched around $1300, packing premium compact performance into a still-portable frame.

For casual adventurers not prioritizing image quality - think snorkelers, kayakers, mountain bikers craving a ‘point and shoot’ in extreme conditions - the WG-M1 remains appealing.

Photographers seeking versatile high-quality images, quick focus across genres, and video capabilities will find better value and creative scope with the RX100 VII, especially given its continued relevance and feature set.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Having tested thousands of cameras across various photographic disciplines, I can confidently frame these two cameras’ strengths and weaknesses through their real-world utility:

Choose the Ricoh WG-M1 if…

• You need a budget-friendly, fully waterproof camera capable of enduring rough treatment.
• Your primary use is underwater or extreme environmental adventure photography where durability is paramount.
• You prioritize simple operation without fuss over image quality or manual controls.
• You’re okay with limited resolution and image quality trade-offs.

Pick the Sony RX100 VII if…

• You want a compact powerhouse delivering excellent image quality across portrait, landscape, wildlife, and street photography.
• You need fast, reliable autofocus with eye detection and continuous tracking.
• Video features with external mic input and 4K recording matter.
• You value user interface sophistication and the flexibility of manual exposure modes.
• Portability is key, but you can handle a lack of weather sealing with care.

In the evolving landscape of cameras, devices like the WG-M1 serve a unique function that no high-end compact can replace: ruggedness without a second thought. However, for the serious enthusiast or professional looking to maximize image quality and versatility in a pocket-sized design, Sony’s RX100 VII remains one of the best-in-class choices.

This comparative journey underlines an evergreen truth: in cameras, as in photography itself, the best tool ultimately depends on your creative vision, shooting environment, and practical demands. I hope these insights aid your next purchase decision - let your photos do the talking!