Nikon D1H vs Ricoh GR

The Nikon D1H and the Ricoh GR are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2001 and April 2013. The D1H is a DSLR, while the GR is a fixed lens compact. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 2.6 megapixels, whereas the Ricoh provides 16.1 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon D1H		Ricoh GR
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Nikon F mount lenses		28mm f/2.8
2.6 MP – APS-C sensor		16.1 MP – APS-C sensor
no Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 200-800 (200 - 3,200)		ISO 100-25,600
Optical viewfinder		Viewfinder optional
2.0" LCD – 120k dots		3.0" LCD – 1230k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second		4 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
1200 shots per battery charge		290 shots per battery charge
157 x 153 x 85 mm, 1100 g		117 x 61 x 35 mm, 245 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D1H and the Ricoh GR? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon D1H and the Ricoh GR is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions 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 Ricoh GR is considerably smaller (70 percent) than the Nikon D1H. It is worth mentioning in this context that the D1H is splash and dust resistant, while the GR does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the GR has a lens built in, whereas the D1H 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 D1H and their specifications in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the D1H gets 1200 shots out of its Nikon EN-4 battery, while the GR can take 290 images on a single charge of its Ricoh DB-65 power pack. As can be seen in the images above, the D1H has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power. The power pack in the GR can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon D1H	157 mm	153 mm	85 mm	1100 g	1200	Y	Feb 2001	EUR 5 999	ebay.com
2.		Ricoh GR	117 mm	61 mm	35 mm	245 g	290	n	Apr 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
3.		Nikon D1	157 mm	153 mm	85 mm	1100 g	..	Y	Jun 1999	EUR 5 999	ebay.com
4.		Nikon D1X	157 mm	153 mm	85 mm	1100 g	1200	Y	Feb 2001	EUR 7 999	ebay.com
5.		Nikon D2H	158 mm	150 mm	86 mm	1070 g	2900	Y	Jul 2003	EUR 3 999	ebay.com
6.		Nikon D2X	158 mm	150 mm	86 mm	1252 g	3800	Y	Sep 2004	EUR 4 999	ebay.com
7.		Nikon D2Xs	158 mm	150 mm	86 mm	1252 g	3800	Y	Jun 2006	EUR 5 069	ebay.com
8.		Nikon D3	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1300 g	4300	Y	Aug 2007	EUR 4 849	ebay.com
9.		Nikon D3S	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1240 g	4200	Y	Oct 2009	EUR 4 999	ebay.com
10.		Nikon D200	147 mm	113 mm	74 mm	920 g	400	Y	Nov 2005	EUR 1 799	ebay.com
11.		Nikon D300	147 mm	114 mm	74 mm	925 g	1000	Y	Aug 2007	EUR 1 829	ebay.com
12.		Nikon D300S	147 mm	115 mm	81 mm	938 g	950	Y	Jul 2009	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic GM1	99 mm	55 mm	30 mm	204 g	230	n	Oct 2013	EUR 699	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic GM5	99 mm	60 mm	36 mm	211 g	220	n	Sep 2014	EUR 799	ebay.com
15.		Ricoh GR II	117 mm	63 mm	35 mm	251 g	320	n	Jun 2015	EUR 799	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX100 II	102 mm	58 mm	38 mm	281 g	350	n	Jun 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX100 III	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	290 g	320	n	May 2014	EUR 849	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The GR was launched at a lower price than the D1H, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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.

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.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the GR offers a higher resolution of 16.1 megapixels, compared with 2.6 MP of the D1H. This megapixels advantage translates into a 146 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the GR has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.79μm versus 11.93μm for the D1H). However, it should be noted that the GR is much more recent (by 12 years and 2 months) than the D1H, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the GR has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Ricoh GR implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the GR for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 24.6 x 16.3 inches or 62.6 x 41.5 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 19.7 x 13.1 inches or 50.1 x 33.2 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 16.4 x 10.9 inches or 41.7 x 27.6 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D1H are 10 x 6.6 inches or 25.4 x 16.7 cm for good quality, 8 x 5.2 inches or 20.3 x 13.3 cm for very good quality, and 6.7 x 4.4 inches or 16.9 x 11.1 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D1H has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 800, which can be extended to ISO 200-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Ricoh GR are ISO 100 to ISO 25600 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the D1H is build around a CCD sensor, while the GR uses a 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.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon D1H	APS-C	2.6	2000	1312	none	..	..	..	..
2.		Ricoh GR	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.6	13.5	972	78
3.		Nikon D1	APS-C	2.6	2000	1312	none	..	..	..	..
4.		Nikon D1X	APS-C	5.9	3008	1960	none	..	..	..	..
5.		Nikon D2H	APS-C	4.0	2464	1632	none	18.9	10.0	352	40
6.		Nikon D2X	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	none	22.1	10.9	476	59
7.		Nikon D2Xs	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	none	22.2	10.9	489	59
8.		Nikon D3	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	none	23.5	12.2	2290	81
9.		Nikon D3S	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	720/24p	23.5	12.0	3253	82
10.		Nikon D200	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.3	11.5	583	64
11.		Nikon D300	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	none	22.1	12.0	679	67
12.		Nikon D300S	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.5	12.2	787	70
13.		Panasonic GM1	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60i	22.3	11.7	660	66
14.		Panasonic GM5	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	22.1	11.7	721	66
15.		Ricoh GR II	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.6	13.7	1078	80
16.		Sony RX100 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.5	12.4	483	67
17.		Sony RX100 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	12.3	495	67

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The GR indeed provides for movie recording, while the D1H does not. The highest resolution format that the GR can use is 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the D1H has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the GR relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the GR can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the GV-1. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D1H, the Ricoh GR, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		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.		Nikon D1H	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/16000s	5.0/s	n	n
2.		Ricoh GR	optional	n	3.0 / 1230	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
3.		Nikon D1	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/16000s	4.5/s	n	n
4.		Nikon D1X	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/16000s	3.0/s	n	n
5.		Nikon D2H	optical	Y	2.5 / 211	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0/s	n	n
6.		Nikon D2X	optical	Y	2.5 / 235	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
7.		Nikon D2Xs	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
8.		Nikon D3	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
9.		Nikon D3S	optical	Y	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
10.		Nikon D200	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	n
11.		Nikon D300	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0/s	Y	n
12.		Nikon D300S	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	7.0/s	Y	n
13.		Panasonic GM1	none	n	3.0 / 1036	fixed	Y	1/500s	5.0/s	Y	n
14.		Panasonic GM5	1166	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	Y	1/500s	5.8/s	n	n
15.		Ricoh GR II	optional	n	3.0 / 1230	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
16.		Sony RX100 II	optional	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Sony RX100 III	1440	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the D1H, but is missing on the GR is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The Ricoh GR has 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 D1H writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the GR uses SDXC cards.

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 Nikon D1H and Ricoh GR and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon D1H	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
2.		Ricoh GR	Y	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Nikon D1	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
4.		Nikon D1X	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
5.		Nikon D2H	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Nikon D2X	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Nikon D2Xs	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Nikon D3	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Nikon D3S	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Nikon D200	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Nikon D300	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Nikon D300S	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Panasonic GM1	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
14.		Panasonic GM5	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Ricoh GR II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony RX100 II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX100 III	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D1H (unlike the GR) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the D1H and the GR have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D1H was replaced by the Nikon D2H, while the GR was followed by the Ricoh GR II. Further information on the features and operation of the D1H and GR can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D1H Manual (free pdf) or the online Ricoh GR Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Nikon D1H better than the Ricoh GR or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D1H:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/16000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1200 versus 290) on a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2001).

Arguments in favor of the Ricoh GR:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (16.1 vs 2.6MP), which boosts linear resolution by 147%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/30p video.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1230k vs 120k dots).
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the D1H requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (117x61mm vs 157x153mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the D1H).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 12 years and 2 months of technical progress since the D1H launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the GR emerges as the winner of the match-up (13 : 11 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape 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 Nikon D1H and the Ricoh GR place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the D1H and the GR in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon D1H	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2001	EUR 5 999	ebay.com
2.		Ricoh GR	5/5	..	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
3.		Nikon D1	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jun 1999	EUR 5 999	ebay.com
4.		Nikon D1X	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2001	EUR 7 999	ebay.com
5.		Nikon D2H	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jul 2003	EUR 3 999	ebay.com
6.		Nikon D2X	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2004	EUR 4 999	ebay.com
7.		Nikon D2Xs	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2006	EUR 5 069	ebay.com
8.		Nikon D3	..	..	..	+ +	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	EUR 4 849	ebay.com
9.		Nikon D3S	5/5	..	..	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2009	EUR 4 999	ebay.com
10.		Nikon D200	..	+ +	..	+ +	o	..	Nov 2005	EUR 1 799	ebay.com
11.		Nikon D300	..	+ +	..	+ +	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	EUR 1 829	ebay.com
12.		Nikon D300S	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jul 2009	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic GM1	3/5	+	..	78/100	5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	EUR 699	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic GM5	3.5/5	+	..	77/100	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	EUR 799	ebay.com
15.		Ricoh GR II	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	EUR 799	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX100 II	5/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX100 III	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2014	EUR 849	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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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.

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