Ricoh GR IIIvs A7S II
Ricoh
Ricoh GR III (2019)
Starting from £899 new
Best for Street photography & urban reportage
View Ricoh GR III
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street Photography & Urban Reportage — Ricoh GR III (2019): The purest street photography compact — APS-C sensor, 28mm perspective, IBIS, and cult-favourite JPEG rendering in a shirt pocket.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market price.
Who should buy what
Ricoh GR III (2019)
- Street photographers who want a classic 28mm perspective in a pocketable body
- Documentary photographers who want a discreet, fast APS-C compact
- GR IIIx buyers who prefer the wider 28mm field of view
- Anyone who wants serious APS-C image quality without carrying a bag
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The ricoh gr iii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable; only the a7s ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Ricoh GR III (2019) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Hybrid contrast/phase-detect AF with subject detection | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | 4-stop IBIS (Shake Reduction) | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | 200 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 257g | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 109.4 × 61.9 × 33.2mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Fixed 28mm-equiv f/2.8 lens | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Ricoh GR III | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Documentary | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Ricoh GR III
Camera family history