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Ricoh G900 vs Pentax K-1 Comparison

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Ricoh G900

20 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

Ricoh G900
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Pentax K-1

36 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Pentax K-1
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Ricoh G900 vs Pentax K-1 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Ricoh G900, which was introduced in February 2018 is a Waterproof camera with a 20.0MP 1/2.3 sensor whereas Pentax K-1, which was introduced in February 2016 is a Advanced DSLR camera with a 36.0MP Full frame sensor. As you can see, K-1 is 2 years older than G900. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing a DSLR camera to a Fixed Lens camera is not an easy task but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Ricoh G900 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2018-02-21
  • 20MP - 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 247g. 118 x 66 x 33 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Pentax K-1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-02-17
  • 36MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.20" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 4.4fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 1010g. 137 x 110 x 86 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Pentax K-1 was replaced by Pentax K-1 Mark II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Pentax K-1 Mark II vs Pentax K-1
Pentax K-1 Mark II vs Ricoh G900

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Ricoh G900 over Pentax K-1
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Internal Storage
6.5GB vs None Extra built-in storage
Weight
247 g vs 1010 g 763 g lighter
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
USB Version
USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
CHECK G900 PRICE


Reasons to choose Pentax K-1 over Ricoh G900
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Supports FlashAir SD cards Better connectivity
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Optical vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Sensor Resolution
36 MP vs 20 MP 80% more pixels
Max ISO
204.800 vs 6.400 3100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
33 vs 9 24 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3.2" vs 3 0.2 inches larger display
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
760 shots vs 340 shots 420 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Sensor Pixel Area
23.83µm2 vs 1.39µm2 1614% larger pixel area
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±2 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
Anti Alias Filter Simulator
Yes vs No Turn on Anti Alias filter effect to minimise Moire
Astrotracer Mode
Yes vs No Great for Astrophotography
Operation Assist Lights
Yes vs No LED lights on the body to illuminate in dark conditions
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
CHECK K-1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
20 MP vs 36 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size
3.20" vs 3.20" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 1.037k dots High resolution screens
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1
Ricoh G900 vs Pentax K-1: 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 Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Ricoh G900 has external dimensions of 118 x 66 x 33 mm (4.65 x 2.6 x 1.3″) and weighs 247 g (0.54 lb / 8.71 oz) (including batteries). Pentax K-1 has external dimensions of 137 x 110 x 86 mm (5.39 x 4.33 x 3.39″) and weighs 1010 g (2.23 lb / 35.63 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1. Ricoh G900 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 19mm narrower, 44mm shorter and 53mm thinner than Pentax K-1. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Ricoh G900 has a built-in lens but Pentax K-1 doesn't. Once you put a lens on K-1, its thickness will increase significantly.

Ricoh G900 vs Pentax K-1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1.

Ricoh G900 vs Pentax K-1 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1.
Ricoh G900 vs Pentax K-1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Ricoh G900 is significantly lighter (763g ) than the Pentax K-1 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on K-1, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Pentax K-1's 3.20" LCD screen is slightly larger than Ricoh G900's 3 screen.

Moreover, Pentax K-1 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 G900 has a fixed type screen which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to K-1.
Ricoh G900 vs Pentax K-1: Sensor Comparison

Ricoh G900 has a 20.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Pentax K-1 has a 36.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Pentax K-1's sensor provides 16MP more than Ricoh G900's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

One other difference between these two cameras that is worth mentioning is that Pentax K-1's sensor doesn't have an anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the G900 and K-1 sensor size comparison.

Ricoh G900 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1 Cameras


As seen above, Pentax K-1 has a 30.7x Larger sensor area than Ricoh G900. 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.

What types of Photography are Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1 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.

Ricoh G900 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Pentax K-1 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 36.0MP
Image Stabilization
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Ricoh G900 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax K-1 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Large Body
Read the details

Ricoh G900 for Sports Photography

POOR

Pentax K-1 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
140 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
9 Focus Points
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Cross Type Focus sensors
33 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 760 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.4fps
Read the details

Ricoh G900 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax K-1 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
247g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1010g
Body Thickness 86mm
Read the details

Ricoh G900 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Pentax K-1 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 36.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Built-in GPS
Read the details

Ricoh G900 vs Pentax K-1: 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 Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 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 Ricoh G900 and Pentax K-1 scores compare:

Ricoh G900
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #66 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #540 out of 1257 in all Cameras
Pentax K-1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #4 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #47 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Pentax K-1 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Ricoh G900 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Ricoh G900. Otherwise, Pentax K-1 is the better camera overall.

Ricoh G900
Ricoh G900
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Pentax K-1
Pentax K-1
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Pentax K-1 vs Ricoh G900 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Ricoh G900 Pentax K-1
Brand Ricoh Pentax
Announced 2018-02-21 2016-02-17
Body Type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3 Full frame
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 35.9 x 24 mm
Area 28.07mm2 861.60mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 36 megapixels
Max Resolution 5184 x 3888 7360 x 4912
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 204,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 100 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 33
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens Focal Range 28-140 mm (5x) no lens
Max Aperture F3.5-5.5 no lens
Macro Focus Range 1cm no lens
Screen
Type Fixed type Fully Articulated
Size 3.00" 3.20"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,037k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.7x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Digital only Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.50 m (with Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/200s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting n/a 4.4 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Supports FlashAir SD cards Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 247g 1010g
Dimensions 118 x 66 x 33mm 137 x 110 x 86mm
Battery Life 340 shots 760 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 96
DxO Color Depth not tested 25.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 14.6
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 3280
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