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Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Comparison

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Canon SX30 IS

14 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon SX30 IS
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Ricoh GR Digital IV

10 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CCD Sensor

Ricoh GR Digital IV
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Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Canon SX30 IS, which was introduced in September 2010 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 14.0MP 1/2.3" sensor whereas Ricoh GR Digital IV, which was introduced in September 2011 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 10.0MP 1/1.7" sensor. There is 12 months difference between SX30 IS and GR Digital IV so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger GR Digital IV, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon SX30 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-09-14
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 601g. 123 x 92 x 108 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Compare

Ricoh GR Digital IV Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-09-15
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 28 mm f1.90 Prime Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 190g. 109 x 59 x 33 mm
  • Replaced Ricoh GR Digital III Compare

Canon SX30 IS was replaced by Canon PowerShot SX40 HS. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Ricoh GR Digital IV

Ricoh GR Digital IV was replaced by Ricoh GR. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Ricoh GR vs Ricoh GR Digital IV
Ricoh GR vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX30 IS over Ricoh GR Digital IV
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Optical (Optional) Better framing and control
Max Sensor Resolution
14 MP vs 10 MP 39% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter
1/3200s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 28mm 4 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 28mm 812 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
35× vs 1× more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage
6.8m vs 3.0m 3.8m longer range
Max Video Resolution
1280 x 720 vs 640 x 480 Higher Resolution Video
Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies


Reasons to choose Ricoh GR Digital IV over Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max ISO
3.200 vs 1.600 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
1.230k dots vs 230k dots 434% higher resolution screen
Weight
190 g vs 601 g 411 g lighter
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Max Aperture - Wide
1.90 vs 2.70 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
1.90 vs 5.80 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
4.16µm2 vs 2.01µm2 106% larger pixel area
Built-in ND Filter
Yes vs No Use larger aperture under strong light

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV
Continuous Shooting
1.0fps vs fps Slow shooting speeds
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing
No vs No Not good for multi-exposure HDR
Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh GR Digital IV: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon SX30 IS has external dimensions of 123 x 92 x 108 mm (4.84 x 3.62 x 4.25″) and weighs 601 g (1.32 lb / 21.20 oz) (including batteries). Ricoh GR Digital IV has external dimensions of 109 x 59 x 33 mm (4.29 x 2.32 x 1.3″) and weighs 190 g (0.42 lb / 6.70 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV. Ricoh GR Digital IV is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 14mm narrower, 33mm shorter and 75mm thinner than Canon SX30 IS.

Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Ricoh GR Digital IV is significantly lighter (411g ) than the Canon SX30 IS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
GR Digital IV
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
GR Digital IV
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot SX30 IS nor Ricoh GR Digital IV provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Ricoh GR Digital IV's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon SX30 IS's 2.7" screen.

On the other hand, Canon SX30 IS sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over the head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. On the other hand, Ricoh GR Digital IV has a fixed type screen which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to SX30 IS.
Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh GR Digital IV: Sensor Comparison

Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Ricoh GR Digital IV has a 10.0MP 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the SX30 IS and GR Digital IV sensor size comparison.

Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV Cameras


As seen above, Ricoh GR Digital IV has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Canon SX30 IS. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX30 IS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens whereas Ricoh GR Digital IV features a 28 mm F1.9 Prime lens.

It is not easy to compare a prime lens with a zoom lens. Canon SX30 IS's zoom lens provides a great flexibility compared to Ricoh GR Digital IV's 28mm fixed focal length lens. On the other hand, GR Digital IV's prime lens makes it a specialized camera. You compromise the flexibility of a zoom in order to enjoy the high image quality and unique rendering of this fast lens. On the tele end, Canon SX30 IS has 812mm longer reach than the Ricoh GR Digital IV. However, with a max aperture of f1.90, Ricoh GR Digital IV is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
GR Digital IV
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
GR Digital IV
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
GR Digital IV
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
GR Digital IV
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon SX30 IS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Ricoh GR Digital IV for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

GOOD

Ricoh GR Digital IV for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.70
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.90
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Ricoh GR Digital IV for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
840 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3200s
No RAW shooting capability
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
28 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Ricoh GR Digital IV for Daily Photography

GOOD
35.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
601g
Body Thickness 108mm
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
190g
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Ricoh GR Digital IV for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh GR Digital IV: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh GR Digital IV scores compare:

Canon SX30 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #69 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #626 out of 1220 in all Cameras
Ricoh GR Digital IV
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #43 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #449 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Ricoh GR Digital IV is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon SX30 IS in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX30 IS
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Ricoh GR Digital IV
Ricoh GR Digital IV
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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Canon SX30 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Ricoh GR Digital IV
Brand Canon Ricoh
Announced 2010-09-14 2011-09-15
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor
Type CCD CCD
Size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 28.07mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Max Resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 9 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-840 mm (35×) 28 mm (1×)
Max Aperture F2.7-5.8 F1.9
Macro Focus Range 0cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fixed type
Size 2.7" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 1,230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/3200s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.80 m 3.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps n/a
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 640 x 480
Video Formats Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 601g 190g
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm 109 x 59 x 33mm
Battery Life n/a 390 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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