Ricoh GR IIIvs A7S
Ricoh
Ricoh GR III (2019)
Starting from £899 new
Best for Street photography & urban reportage
View Ricoh GR III
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.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
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 (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The ricoh gr iii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s is the most affordable; only the a7s is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Ricoh GR III (2019) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £600 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Hybrid contrast/phase-detect AF with subject detection | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | 4-stop IBIS (Shake Reduction) | None |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | 200 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 257g | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 109.4 × 61.9 × 33.2mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | Electronic, 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 (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Ricoh GR III | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Documentary | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history