Ricoh GR IIIx vs Sony A9 III
The Ricoh GR IIIx and the Sony Alpha A9 III are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2021 and November 2023. The GR IIIx is a fixed lens compact, while the A9 III is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (GR IIIx) and a full frame (A9 III) sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Ricoh GR IIIx and the Sony Alpha A9 III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Ricoh GR IIIx and the Sony A9 III. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A9 III is considerably larger (95 percent) than the Ricoh GR IIIx. It is noteworthy in this context that the A9 III is splash and dust-proof, while the GR IIIx does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the GR IIIx has a lens built in, whereas the A9 III is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the A9 III and their specifications in the Sony FE Lens Catalog.
Concerning battery life, the GR IIIx gets 200 shots out of its Ricoh DB-110 battery, while the A9 III can take 530 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FZ100 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.
The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Ricoh GR IIIx | 109 mm | 62 mm | 35 mm | 262 g | 200 | n | Sep 2021 | US$ 999 | amazon.com | |
2. | Sony A9 III | 136 mm | 97 mm | 83 mm | 702 g | 530 | Y | Nov 2023 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
3. | Fujifilm X-E4 | 121 mm | 73 mm | 33 mm | 364 g | 380 | n | Jan 2021 | US$ 849 | amazon.com | |
4. | Fujifilm X-S10 | 126 mm | 85 mm | 65 mm | 465 g | 325 | n | Oct 2020 | US$ 999 | amazon.com | |
5. | Fujifilm XF10 | 113 mm | 64 mm | 41 mm | 279 g | 330 | n | Jul 2018 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
6. | Nikon Z fc | 135 mm | 94 mm | 44 mm | 445 g | 300 | n | Jun 2021 | US$ 959 | amazon.com | |
7. | Ricoh GR II | 117 mm | 63 mm | 35 mm | 251 g | 320 | n | Jun 2015 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
8. | Ricoh GR III | 109 mm | 62 mm | 33 mm | 257 g | 200 | n | Feb 2019 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
9. | Sony A1 | 129 mm | 97 mm | 81 mm | 737 g | 530 | Y | Jan 2021 | US$ 6 499 | amazon.com | |
10. | Sony A7 II | 127 mm | 96 mm | 60 mm | 599 g | 350 | Y | Nov 2014 | US$ 1 999 | ebay.com | |
11. | Sony A7 III | 127 mm | 96 mm | 74 mm | 650 g | 610 | Y | Feb 2018 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
12. | Sony A9 | 127 mm | 96 mm | 63 mm | 673 g | 650 | Y | Apr 2017 | US$ 4 499 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony A9 II | 129 mm | 96 mm | 76 mm | 678 g | 690 | Y | Oct 2019 | US$ 4 499 | amazon.com | |
14. | Sony RX100 V | 102 mm | 58 mm | 41 mm | 299 g | 220 | n | Oct 2016 | US$ 999 | ebay.com | |
15. | Sony RX100 VI | 102 mm | 58 mm | 43 mm | 301 g | 240 | n | Jun 2018 | US$ 1 199 | ebay.com | |
16. | Sony RX100 VII | 102 mm | 58 mm | 43 mm | 302 g | 260 | n | Jul 2019 | US$ 1 199 | amazon.com | |
17. | Sony ZV-1 | 105 mm | 60 mm | 44 mm | 294 g | 260 | n | May 2020 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The GR IIIx was launched at a lower price than the A9 III, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison
The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Ricoh GR IIIx features an APS-C sensor and the Sony A9 III a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A9 III is 131 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.
Even though the A9 III has a larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 24 megapixels. This implies that the A9 III has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 3.91μm for the GR IIIx), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. In addition, the A9 III is much more recent (by 2 years and 1 month) than the GR IIIx, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the GR IIIx has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.
The Ricoh GR IIIx has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 102400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A9 III are ISO 250 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 125-51200.
In terms of underlying technology, the GR IIIx is build around a CMOS sensor, while the A9 III uses a Stacked CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Ricoh GR IIIx | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.2 | 13.8 | 2146 | 85 | |
2. | Sony A9 III | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/120p | 25.4 | 14.7 | 3243 | 96 | |
3. | Fujifilm X-E4 | APS-C | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.7 | 2085 | 85 | |
4. | Fujifilm X-S10 | APS-C | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.7 | 2057 | 85 | |
5. | Fujifilm XF10 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/15p | 24.0 | 13.4 | 1844 | 83 | |
6. | Nikon Z fc | APS-C | 20.7 | 5568 | 3712 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.8 | 2131 | 85 | |
7. | Ricoh GR II | APS-C | 16.1 | 4928 | 3264 | 1080/30p | 23.6 | 13.7 | 1078 | 80 | |
8. | Ricoh GR III | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.1 | 13.5 | 1897 | 83 | |
9. | Sony A1 | Full Frame | 49.8 | 8640 | 5760 | 8k/30p | 25.9 | 14.5 | 3163 | 98 | |
10. | Sony A7 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.9 | 13.6 | 2449 | 90 | |
11. | Sony A7 III | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 14.7 | 3730 | 96 | |
12. | Sony A9 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.9 | 13.3 | 3517 | 92 | |
13. | Sony A9 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 14.0 | 3434 | 93 | |
14. | Sony RX100 V | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.8 | 12.4 | 586 | 70 | |
15. | Sony RX100 VI | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.1 | 12.3 | 478 | 64 | |
16. | Sony RX100 VII | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 21.8 | 12.4 | 418 | 63 | |
17. | Sony ZV-1 | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.2 | 12.6 | 669 | 66 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the A9 III provides a better video resolution than the GR IIIx. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/120p, while the Ricoh is limited to 1080/60p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A9 III has an electronic viewfinder (9440k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the GR IIIx relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the GR IIIx can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the GV-3. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Ricoh GR IIIx, the Sony A9 III, and comparable cameras.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Ricoh GR IIIx | optional | n | 3.0 / 1037 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 4.0/s | n | Y | |
2. | Sony A9 III | 9440 | n | 3.2 / 2100 | full-flex | Y | 1/80000s | 120.0/s | n | Y | |
3. | Fujifilm X-E4 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1620 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | n | |
4. | Fujifilm X-S10 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Fujifilm XF10 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 6.0/s | Y | n | |
6. | Nikon Z fc | 2360 | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 11.0/s | n | n | |
7. | Ricoh GR II | optional | n | 3.0 / 1230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 4.0/s | Y | n | |
8. | Ricoh GR III | optional | n | 3.0 / 1037 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 4.0/s | n | Y | |
9. | Sony A1 | 9437 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
10. | Sony A7 II | 2400 | n | 3.0 / 1230 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | Y | |
11. | Sony A7 III | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
12. | Sony A9 | 3686 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0/s | n | Y | |
13. | Sony A9 II | 3686 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0/s | n | Y | |
14. | Sony RX100 V | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 1229 | tilting | n | 1/2000s | 24.0/s | Y | Y | |
15. | Sony RX100 VI | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 1229 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 24.0/s | Y | Y | |
16. | Sony RX100 VII | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 921 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 90.0/s | Y | Y | |
17. | Sony ZV-1 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | swivel | Y | 1/2000s | 24.0/s | n | n | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A9 III is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).
The Ricoh GR IIIx and the Sony A9 III both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
The GR IIIx writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A9 III uses CFexpress (type A) or SDXC cards. The A9 III features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the GR IIIx only has one slot. The A9 III supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the GR IIIx can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Ricoh GR IIIx and Sony Alpha A9 III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Ricoh GR IIIx | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | - | 3.0 | Y | - | Y | |
2. | Sony A9 III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
3. | Fujifilm X-E4 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
4. | Fujifilm X-S10 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
5. | Fujifilm XF10 | - | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
6. | Nikon Z fc | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
7. | Ricoh GR II | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
8. | Ricoh GR III | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | - | 3.0 | Y | - | Y | |
9. | Sony A1 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
10. | Sony A7 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
11. | Sony A7 III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
12. | Sony A9 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
13. | Sony A9 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
14. | Sony RX100 V | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
15. | Sony RX100 VI | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
16. | Sony RX100 VII | - | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
17. | Sony ZV-1 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y |
It is notable that the A9 III has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The GR IIIx does not feature such a mic input.
Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A9 III (unlike the GR IIIx) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.
Both the GR IIIx and the A9 III are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The GR IIIx replaced the earlier Ricoh GR II, while the A9 III followed on from the Sony A9 II. Further information on the features and operation of the GR IIIx and A9 III can be found, respectively, in the Ricoh GR IIIx Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A9 III Manual.
Review summary
So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Ricoh GR IIIx and the Sony A9 III? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.
Arguments in favor of the Ricoh GR IIIx:
- Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
- Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the A9 III requires a separate lens.
- More compact: Is smaller (109x62mm vs 136x97mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
- Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the A9 III).
- More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2021).
Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A9 III:
- Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
- Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
- Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
- More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
- Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
- Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/120p vs 1080/60p).
- Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
- Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
- Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
- Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2100k vs 1037k dots).
- More flexible LCD: Has a full-flex screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
- More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/80000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (120 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
- More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
- Longer lasting: Gets more shots (530 versus 200) out of a single battery charge.
- Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
- More solid recording: Has a full-sized HDMI port for a sturdy connection to an external recorder.
- Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
- Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
- Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
- More modern: Reflects 2 years and 1 month of technical progress since the GR IIIx launch.
If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A9 III is the clear winner of the contest (24 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Ricoh GR IIIx and the Sony A9 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Prime Lens Compact Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the GR IIIx or the A9 III. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.
Expert reviews
This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Ricoh GR IIIx | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | .. | Sep 2021 | US$ 999 | amazon.com | |
2. | Sony A9 III | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Nov 2023 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
3. | Fujifilm X-E4 | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Jan 2021 | US$ 849 | amazon.com | |
4. | Fujifilm X-S10 | 5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 86/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2020 | US$ 999 | amazon.com | |
5. | Fujifilm XF10 | .. | .. | 4/5 | 75/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2018 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
6. | Nikon Z fc | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 86/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2021 | US$ 959 | amazon.com | |
7. | Ricoh GR II | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2015 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
8. | Ricoh GR III | 4/5 | .. | 3.5/5 | 81/100 | 4/5 | .. | Feb 2019 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
9. | Sony A1 | 5/5 | o | 4.5/5 | 93/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2021 | US$ 6 499 | amazon.com | |
10. | Sony A7 II | 5/5 | + | 4/5 | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Nov 2014 | US$ 1 999 | ebay.com | |
11. | Sony A7 III | .. | + + | 4.5/5 | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2018 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
12. | Sony A9 | 5/5 | + + | 4.8/5 | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2017 | US$ 4 499 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony A9 II | .. | .. | 5/5 | 90/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2019 | US$ 4 499 | amazon.com | |
14. | Sony RX100 V | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 83/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2016 | US$ 999 | ebay.com | |
15. | Sony RX100 VI | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 83/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2018 | US$ 1 199 | ebay.com | |
16. | Sony RX100 VII | 4.5/5 | .. | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2019 | US$ 1 199 | amazon.com | |
17. | Sony ZV-1 | 4/5 | + | 4/5 | 85/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | May 2020 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon G5 X Mark II vs Ricoh GR IIIx
- Canon M6 Mark II vs Sony A9 III
- Canon R10 vs Sony A9 III
- Fujifilm X-Pro1 vs Sony A9 III
- Leica D-LUX 7 vs Ricoh GR IIIx
- Leica X2 vs Sony A9 III
- Nikon B600 vs Ricoh GR IIIx
- Nikon Z6 vs Ricoh GR IIIx
- Panasonic GM5 vs Ricoh GR IIIx
- Panasonic S1 vs Sony A9 III
- Pentax K-1 II vs Ricoh GR IIIx
- Sony A7C II vs Sony A9 III
Specifications: Ricoh GR IIIx vs Sony A9 III
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Ricoh GR IIIx | Sony A9 III |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | Mirrorless system camera |
Camera Lens | 40mm f/2.8 | Sony E mount lenses |
Launch Date | September 2021 | November 2023 |
Launch Price | USD 999 | USD 5,999 |
Sensor Specs | Ricoh GR IIIx | Sony A9 III |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | Stacked CMOS |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | Full Frame Sensor |
Sensor Size | 23.5 x 15.6 mm | 35.6 x 23.8 mm |
Sensor Area | 366.6 mm2 | 847.28 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 28.2 mm | 42.8 mm |
Crop Factor | 1.5x | 1.0x |
Sensor Resolution | 24 Megapixels | 24 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 6000 x 4000 pixels | 6000 x 4000 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 3.91 μm | 5.94 μm |
Pixel Density | 6.55 MP/cm2 | 2.83 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | no AA filter | Anti-Alias filter |
Movie Capability | 1080/60p Video | 4K/120p Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 102,400 ISO | 250 - 25,600 ISO |
ISO Boost | no Enhancement | 125 - 51,200 ISO |
Image Processor | GR Engine VI | Dual BIONZ XR |
Screen Specs | Ricoh GR IIIx | Sony A9 III |
Viewfinder Type | Viewfinder optional | Electronic viewfinder |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.9x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 9440k dots | |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.2inch |
LCD Resolution | 1037k dots | 2100k dots |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | Fully flexible screen |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
Shooting Specs | Ricoh GR IIIx | Sony A9 III |
Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | On-Sensor Phase-detect |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | Focus Peaking |
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/4000s | 1/80000s |
Continuous Shooting | 4 shutter flaps/s | 120 shutter flaps/s |
Electronic Shutter | no E-Shutter | up to 1/80000s |
Time-Lapse Photography | Intervalometer built-in | Intervalometer built-in |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | In-body stabilization |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | no On-Board Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | CFexA or SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Dual card slots |
UHS card support | UHS-I | UHS-II |
Connectivity Specs | Ricoh GR IIIx | Sony A9 III |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
Studio Flash | no PC Sync | PC Sync socket |
USB Connector | USB 3.0 | USB 3.2 |
HDMI Port | no HDMI | full HDMI |
Microphone Port | no MIC socket | External MIC port |
Headphone Socket | no Headphone port | Headphone port |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | Wifi built-in |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | Bluetooth built-in |
Body Specs | Ricoh GR IIIx | Sony A9 III |
Environmental Sealing | not weather sealed | Weathersealed body |
Battery Type | Ricoh DB-110 | Sony NP-FZ100 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 200 shots per charge | 530 shots per charge |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | USB charging |
Body Dimensions |
109 x 62 x 35 mm (4.3 x 2.4 x 1.4 in) |
136 x 97 x 83 mm (5.4 x 3.8 x 3.3 in) |
Camera Weight | 262 g (9.2 oz) | 702 g (24.8 oz) |
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