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Ricoh WG-4

 
Ricoh WG-4 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2014
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Ricoh WG-4 summary

Ricoh WG-4 is Ricoh's Waterproof camera initially announced on February of 2014. It includes a 16 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The WG-4 is ranked #17 out of 75 in Waterproof cameras & over all #647 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please check our Smart camera finder to see camera rankings based on your customized factors.

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The following is a diagram of different factors used in the rating system.

Ricoh WG-4 family

The Ricoh WG-4 is part of a family of products. You can read the detailed range below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Ricoh-WG-80 front thumbnailRicoh WG-80
WG-4 vs WG-80
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2022
Ricoh-WG-70 front thumbnailRicoh WG-70
WG-4 vs WG-70
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2020
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Ricoh-WG-6 front thumbnailRicoh WG-6
WG-4 vs WG-6
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
20MP1/2.3"2018
Ricoh-WG-50 front thumbnailRicoh WG-50
WG-4 vs WG-50
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2017
Ricoh-WG-5-GPS front thumbnailRicoh WG-5 GPS
WG-4 vs WG-5 GPS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
Ricoh-WG-30W front thumbnailRicoh WG-30W
WG-4 vs WG-30W
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2014
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Ricoh-WG-30 front thumbnailRicoh WG-30
WG-4 vs WG-30
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2014
Ricoh-WG-M1 front thumbnailRicoh WG-M1
WG-4 vs WG-M1
(1×)mm
F2.8
14MP1/2.3"2014
Ricoh-WG-4-GPS front thumbnailRicoh WG-4 GPS
WG-4 vs WG-4 GPS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Ricoh-WG-4 front thumbnailRicoh WG-425-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Ricoh-WG-20 front thumbnailRicoh WG-20
WG-4 vs WG-20
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2014
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Ricoh WG-4 Pros and Cons

Below is a collection of advantages and disadvantages of the Ricoh WG-4 based on features that are typically regarded as necessary in a camera.

environment sealing
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has built in flash
has HDMI socket
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
in built lens has zoom (25-100mm 4.0 x zoom)
relatively wide (25mm)
supports face detect focusing
supports tracking focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
display is not selfie friendly
does not have phase detect AF
does not have RAW format
lack of headphone socket
lack of microphone socket
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
manual mode not available
max zoom aperture not good (f4.9)
no aperture priority mode
no moving screen
not so great battery life (240 per charge)
screen has low resolution (460 k dots)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Ricoh WG-4 Sensor specifications

The size of the sensor in the Ricoh WG-4 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9. The camera has Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Sensor stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter can lead to cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 16MP and features a native ISO range of 125 - 6400. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not saved so you have less margin for error.

The picture below shows the WG-4's sensor dimensions compared to other common sizes. The WG-4 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is pointed out in green.

Ricoh WG-4 sensor size Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Ricoh WG-4 dimensions

Ricoh WG-4 is 0.51 pounds (230 gr or 8.11 oz) & the measurement of the camera is 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3"). The weight of average Waterproof camera is 195 gr so the Ricoh WG-4 is more heavy when compared to various competitors.

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The following is a visual of the Ricoh WG-4 alongside a softdrink so you can get a feel for its scale.

Ricoh WG-4 dimensions scale

The top view here will illustrate the button arrangement on the WG-4.

Ricoh WG-4 topview buttons dials

Ricoh WG-4 Lens specifications

The WG-4 comes with a built-in lens featuring a focal range of 25-100mm making it a 4.0 x zoom which may not be very good however it can be handy in a few scenarios.

At the widest 25mm, the lens has an aperture of f2.0 which will be awesome for low light conditions and getting good bokeh. It would also allow you to choose a much lower ISO to capture more clean files. On the tele end, 100mm comes at f4.9 making it very sluggish and you might need to utilize slow shutter speeds.

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Ricoh WG-4 Connectivity

The WG-4 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that feature NFC or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be used wirelessly with smartphones. You are able to send pictures and at times adjust settings without the hassle of connecting physically to the camera.

A few applications even enable a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI port, it could be hooked up to an external monitor. The majority of cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack through the USB socket.

Photography Glossary

Ricoh WG-4 Video specifications

The highest possible video resolution in the Ricoh WG-4 is 1920 x 1080 and you can shoot in H.264 format. 1080p resolution provides a good balance for quality vs file sizes but 1080p will not give you any room to downsample. The camera does not offer a microphone or headphone socket so you get little control over the sound. It is probably best to get a different camera should you need better sound for your video clips.

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Ricoh WG-4 Weather Sealing

Ricoh WG-4 has got environment proofing which makes it a fantastic option for use for challenging climates. This is particularly valuable in case you are not sure about the elements you may face for outdoor photography.

Ricoh WG-4 Display and Viewfinder

The Ricoh WG-4 includes a 3" fixed screen supporting a resolution of 460k dots.

Unfortunately the screen is not a touch screen.

Ricoh WG-4 screen and viewfinder Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The View Finder details for Ricoh WG-4 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

For bright outdoor situations which make the camera displays washed out and tough to see, viewfinders will be very useful.

Ricoh WG-4 Shutter specifications

Ricoh WG-4 is able to shoot continuously at 2.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/4000s.

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Ricoh WG-4 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Ricoh WG-4 has only inbuilt flash lacking external flash support.

Ricoh WG-4 Autofocus specifications

Ricoh WG-4 has just Contrast Based Autofocus & lacks Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot snappier and precise when compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera includes Face detect which makes it valuable for portraits.

It includes 9 focus points to pick from. It also includes Tracking Autofocus for moving subjects. Ricoh WG-4 has the ability to use manual focusing in case it is required for low light scenarios or you want to have more precise control on focusing.

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Ricoh WG-4 Battery life

The battery life (D-LI92) on the Ricoh WG-4 is designed to last for 240 images with respect to the CIPA measurements which is less when compared to it's rivals. The average Waterproof camera battery life is 275. Olympus TG-4 features the best (380) battery life for this group of cameras.

Listed below is a listing of Waterproof cameras that come with the highest battery life:

Ricoh WG-4 for different kinds of photography

The following graph shows a rundown of the Ricoh WG-4 for different kinds of photography. To learn more, have a look at the specific section below.

Ricoh WG-4 Portrait photography factors

The Ricoh WG-4 gets a rating of 41 which is lousy, meaning that it is just not acceptable to use for portraits. Taking portrait images favors heavily to sensor resolution, support for RAW files in addition to the potential to use off-camera flash.

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focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes face detection focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support

Street photography with Ricoh WG-4

Getting a very good points total of 61, the Ricoh WG-4 is a fine choice to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera offers a good balance of image quality plus portability.

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image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files

Sports photography with Ricoh WG-4

A lousy sports photography points tally of 45 means the Ricoh WG-4 is just not acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera really should have very good focusing and shutter speeds for sports photography.

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image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF

Ricoh WG-4 Travel photography info

Weight is pretty important in getting a camera for travel. All round, the Ricoh WG-4 gets a nice 72 for a travel camera which makes it a fine pick to take on your vacations.

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environment proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
low battery life (240 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly

Ricoh WG-4 Landscape photography factors

For those who are planning to choose a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most important factor will no doubt be image quality. The Ricoh WG-4 and it's reasonable grade of 54 as a landscape camera is reasonably appropriate in the current marketplace.

Photography Glossary
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery power (240 per charge)

Vlogging with Ricoh WG-4

A camera for vlogging really should come with a articulating display screen, microphone port and if possible IBIS. Considering all things, the Ricoh WG-4 is just not acceptable for vlogging as it comes to a lousy score of 36.

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quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no mic jack

Ricoh WG-4 Alternatives

If you want alternatives to the WG-4, here is a range of the top scored cameras which fall under the family of Waterproof.

The diagram below offers you a bird's eye view of the WG-4 compared to it's top scored competitors listed above.

Here are a few more cameras you might look into as alternative options. To see a full comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Ricoh
Model type
Ricoh WG-4
Class
Waterproof
Announced
2014-02-05
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW files
Max native ISO
6400
Minimum native ISO
125
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points
9
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display size
3 inches
Resolution of display
460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech
TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
4 secs
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate
2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance
10.00 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings
Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
230 grams (0.51 lb)
Dimensions
124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
Other
Battery life
240 photographs
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery ID
D-LI92
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal
Card slots
1
Retail cost
$330