Ricoh GR IIIxvs A7S II
Ricoh
Ricoh GR IIIx (2021)
Starting from £999 new
Best for Street portraits & reportage
View Ricoh GR IIIx
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 Portraits & Reportage — Ricoh GR IIIx (2021): APS-C in a shirt pocket with a 40mm perspective — the GR IIIx is the ideal street portrait compact for photographers who want a slightly tighter frame.
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 IIIx (2021)
- Street photographers who want the most pocketable APS-C camera available
- Ricoh GR III owners who prefer a 40mm equivalent over 28mm
- Travel photographers who want one discreet camera that fits anywhere
- Photographers who want a pocketable backup to a larger mirrorless system
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 iiix 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 IIIx (2021) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £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 | 262g | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 111.2 × 61.4 × 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 40mm-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 IIIx | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Documentary | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Ricoh GR IIIx
Camera family history