CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
    • All Cameras
    • Cameras by Brand
      • Sony Cameras
      • Canon Cameras
      • Nikon Cameras
      • Pentax Cameras
      • Fujifilm Cameras
      • Olympus Cameras
      • OM-System Cameras
      • Panasonic Cameras
      • Leica Cameras
    • Cameras by Body Type
      • Mirrorless Cameras
      • DSLR Cameras
      • Compact Cameras
      • Bridge Cameras
      • Waterproof Cameras
    • Cameras by Lens Mount
      • Sony E Mount Cameras
      • Canon RF Mount Cameras
      • Nikon Z Mount Cameras
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cameras
      • Leica L Mount Cameras
      • Nikon F Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF M Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF S Mount Cameras
      • Pentax KAF Mount Cameras
      • Sony Alpha Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm G Mount Cameras
      • Sigma SA Mount Cameras
      • Nikon 1 Mount Cameras
  • LENSES
    • All Lenses
    • Lenses by Mount
      • Sony E Mount Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF M Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF S Mount Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Lenses
      • Pentax KAF Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm G Mount Lenses
      • Sigma SA Mount Lenses
      • Sony Alpha Mount Lenses
    • Teleconverters
    • Cinema Lenses
      • Sony E Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Cine Lenses
      • ARRI PL Mount Cine Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cine Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cine Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Cine Lenses
  • TOOLS
    • Cameras
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Lenses
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
  • BLOG

Sony A7R III vs Ricoh CX2 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Sony A7R III

42 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony A7R III
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Ricoh CX2

9 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Ricoh CX2
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Sony A7R III vs Ricoh CX2 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Sony A7R III, which was introduced in October 2017 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 42.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Ricoh CX2, which was introduced in August 2009 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 9.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, CX2 is 8 years older than A7R III. 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 Sony A7R III and Ricoh CX2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A7R III Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-10-25
  • 42MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 32000 ( expands to 50 - 102400)
  • Sony E Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 3686k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 657g. 127 x 96 x 74 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony Alpha A7R II Compare

Ricoh CX2 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-08-20
  • 9MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 185g. 102 x 58 x 29 mm

Sony A7R III was replaced by Sony Alpha A7R IV. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha A7R IV vs Sony Alpha A7R III
Sony Alpha A7R IV vs Ricoh CX2

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Sony A7R III and Ricoh CX2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


Related Blog Posts

Sony A7R V Firmware Update v2.0 adds support for Creators App
What is the Auto Framing Mode on the Sony ZV-E1?
Sony ZV-E1 Full Frame VLog Camera Officially Announced
Top 10 Lightest Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras in 2023
The Most Rented Compact Cameras in 2022
New Sony Camera Coming on March 29th
DPReview to Close
Daily Deals: Sirui Anamorphic Lens, Apple MacBook Air and more


**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 Sony Alpha A7R III over Ricoh CX2
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution
42 MP vs 9 MP 366% more pixels
Max ISO
32.000 vs 1.600 1900% higher Max ISO
LCD Resolution
1.440k dots vs 920k dots 56% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/2000s 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
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Sensor Pixel Area
20.43µm2 vs 3.13µm2 552% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 640 x 480 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (169. 6) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
USB Version
USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject
CHECK A7R III PRICE


Reasons to choose Ricoh CX2 over Sony Alpha A7R III
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Internal Storage
88 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Weight
185 g vs 657 g 472 g lighter
CHECK CX2 PRICE

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7R III and Ricoh CX2
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7R III and Ricoh CX2
Sony A7R III vs Ricoh CX2: 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 Sony A7R III and Ricoh CX2 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A7R III has external dimensions of 127 x 96 x 74 mm (5 x 3.78 x 2.91″) and weighs 657 g (1.45 lb / 23.17 oz) (including batteries). Ricoh CX2 has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 29 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 1.14″) and weighs 185 g (0.41 lb / 6.53 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Sony A7R III and the Ricoh CX2. Ricoh CX2 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 25mm narrower, 38mm shorter and 45mm thinner than Sony A7R III. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Ricoh CX2 has a built-in lens but Sony A7R III doesn't. Once you put a lens on A7R III, its thickness will increase significantly.

Sony A7R III vs Ricoh CX2 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Sony A7R III and the Ricoh CX2 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony A7R III and Ricoh CX2.
Sony A7R III vs Ricoh CX2 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Sony A7R III and the the Ricoh CX2 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Ricoh CX2 is significantly lighter (472g ) than the Sony A7R III 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 A7R III, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

With its weather-sealed body, we believe that the A7R III has a big advantage over the CX2 which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony A7R III and Ricoh CX2's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

On the other hand, Sony A7R III 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 CX2 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to A7R III.


Sony A7R III vs Ricoh CX2: Sensor Comparison

Sony A7R III has a 42.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Ricoh CX2 has a 9.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor.

Sony A7R III's sensor provides 33MP more than Ricoh CX2'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.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Sony A7R III's sensor lacks 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 moiré occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the A7R III and CX2 sensor size comparison.

Sony A7R III vs Ricoh CX2 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A7R III and Ricoh CX2 Cameras


As seen above, Sony A7R III has a 30.7x Larger sensor area than Ricoh CX2. 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 Sony A7R III and Ricoh CX2 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7R III and Ricoh CX2 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.

Sony A7R III for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Ricoh CX2 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 9.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony A7R III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Ricoh CX2 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Sony A7R III for Sports Photography

GOOD

Ricoh CX2 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
425 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 650 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details
Image Stabilization
300 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details

Sony A7R III for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Ricoh CX2 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
657g
Body Thickness 74mm
Read the details
Compact Body
185g
10.7X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Sony A7R III for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Ricoh CX2 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 9.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony A7R III vs Ricoh CX2: 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 Sony A7R III and Ricoh CX2, 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 Sony A7R III and Ricoh CX2 scores compare:

Sony A7R III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #12 out of 111 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #13 out of 1260 in all Cameras
Ricoh CX2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #265 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #905 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Sony A7R III is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Ricoh CX2 in all criteria except one: Portability. Ricoh CX2 is significantly smaller than Sony A7R III. If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Ricoh CX2. Otherwise, Sony A7R III is the better camera overall.

Sony A7R III
Sony A7R III
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Ricoh CX2
Ricoh CX2
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony A7R III Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A7R III Ricoh CX2
Brand Sony Ricoh
Announced 2017-10-25 2009-08-20
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 35.9 x 24 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 861.60mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 42 megapixels 9 megapixels
Max Resolution 7952 x 5304 3456 x 2592
Max Native Light sensitivity 32,000 ISO 1,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 102400 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 80 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 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 425 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens Focal Range no lens 28-300 mm (10.7×)
Max Aperture no lens F3.5-5.6
Macro Focus Range no lens 1cm
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,440k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder Resolution 3,686k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash 3.00 m (ISO 400)
Max Flash Sync n/a s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps n/a
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 640 x 480
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 657g 185g
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 74mm 102 x 58 x 29mm
Battery Life 650 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 100 not tested
DxO Color Depth 26.0 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 14.7 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 3523 not tested
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Sony A7 IV
33 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7R IV
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R3
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon M50 II
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon EF-M Mount
Nikon Z9
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Fujifilm X-T30 II
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Fujifilm GFX 100
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Nikon Z5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Latest Cameras
Sony ZV-E1
12 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R50
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon R8
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Panasonic S5 II X
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Panasonic S5 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Pentax KF
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Fujifilm X-T5
40 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R6 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Copyright © 2023 by CameraDecision
Privacy About Contact Us SpeakerDecision

Report a Correction