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Ricoh G900 vs Sony A7 Comparison

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Ricoh G900

20 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

Ricoh G900
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Sony A7

24 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony A7
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Ricoh G900 vs Sony A7 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 Sony A7, which was introduced in January 2014 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 24.0MP Full frame sensor. As you can see, A7 is 4 years older than G900. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Ricoh G900 and Sony A7 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

Sony A7 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-01-22
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • Sony E Mount
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 474g. 127 x 94 x 48 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body

Sony A7 was replaced by Sony Alpha A7 II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha A7 II vs Sony Alpha A7
Sony Alpha A7 II vs Ricoh G900

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Ricoh G900 and Sony A7 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Ricoh G900 over Sony Alpha 7
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Internal Storage
6.5GB vs None Extra built-in storage
Weight
247 g vs 474 g 227 g lighter
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs With optional app creative shooting
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Digital video stabilization
Yes vs No Stabilizes your videos in-camera
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 Sony Alpha 7 over Ricoh G900
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Supports FlashAir SD cards Better connectivity
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Sensor Resolution
24 MP vs 20 MP 19% more pixels
Max ISO
25.600 vs 6.400 300% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
117 vs 9 108 more focus points
LCD Resolution
1.230k dots vs 1.040k dots 18% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
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
35.65µm2 vs 1.39µm2 2464% larger pixel area
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±2 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
CHECK A7 PRICE

Common Strengths of Ricoh G900 and Sony Alpha 7
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
20 MP vs 24 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 1.230k dots High resolution screens
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Ricoh G900 and Sony Alpha 7
In-body Image Stabilization
Digital only vs No No Built-in stabilization
Ricoh G900 vs Sony A7: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Ricoh G900 and Sony A7 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). Sony A7 has external dimensions of 127 x 94 x 48 mm (5 x 3.7 x 1.89″) and weighs 474 g (1.04 lb / 16.72 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Ricoh G900 and the Sony A7. Ricoh G900 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 9mm narrower, 28mm shorter and 15mm thinner than Sony A7. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Ricoh G900 has a built-in lens but Sony A7 doesn't. Once you put a lens on A7, its thickness will increase significantly.

Ricoh G900 vs Sony A7 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Ricoh G900 and the Sony A7 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Ricoh G900 and Sony A7.

Ricoh G900 vs Sony A7 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Ricoh G900 and the Sony A7 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Ricoh G900 and Sony A7.
Ricoh G900 vs Sony A7 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Ricoh G900 and the Sony A7 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 (227g ) than the Sony A7 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 A7, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Ricoh G900 and Sony A7's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

On the other hand, Sony A7 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels whereas the Ricoh G900 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to A7.


Ricoh G900 vs Sony A7: 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, Sony A7 has a 24.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor.

Below you can see the G900 and A7 sensor size comparison.

Ricoh G900 vs Sony A7 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Ricoh G900 and Sony A7 Cameras


As seen above, Sony A7 has a 30.5x 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 Sony A7 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Ricoh G900 and Sony A7 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

Sony A7 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 (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

Ricoh G900 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A7 for Street Photography

GOOD
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 (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Street Photography

Ricoh G900 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony A7 for Sports Photography

GOOD
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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Cross Type Focus sensors
117 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

Ricoh G900 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A7 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
247g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
474g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details

Ricoh G900 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony A7 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 (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography

Ricoh G900 vs Sony A7: 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 Sony A7, 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 Sony A7 scores compare:

Ricoh G900
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #71 out of 478 in Compact cameras
Ranked #560 out of 1275 in all Cameras
Sony A7
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #75 out of 117 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #133 out of 1275 in all Cameras

Sony A7 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, Sony A7 is the better camera overall.

Ricoh G900
Ricoh G900
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Sony A7
Sony A7
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Sony A7 vs Ricoh G900 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Ricoh G900 Sony Alpha 7
Brand Ricoh Sony
Announced 2018-02-21 2014-01-22
Body Type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3 Full frame
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 35.8 x 23.9 mm
Area 28.07mm2 855.62mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 25,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 50 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 9 117
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens Sony E
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 Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 2,359k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.71x
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 No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.50 m (with Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting n/a 5.0 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, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Supports FlashAir SD cards Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 247g 474g
Dimensions 118 x 66 x 33mm 127 x 94 x 48mm
Battery Life 340 shots 340 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS Built-in None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 90
DxO Color Depth not tested 24.8
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 14.2
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 2248
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