Pentax WG-90 vs Ricoh GR III

The Pentax WG-90 and the Ricoh GR III are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in November 2023 and February 2019. Both the WG-90 and the GR III are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on a 1/2.3-inch (WG-90) and an APS-C (GR III) sensor. The Pentax has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Ricoh provides 24 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Pentax WG-90		Ricoh GR III
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
28-140mm f/3.5-5.5		28mm f/2.8
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		24 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 125-6,400		ISO 100-102,400
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Viewfinder optional
2.7" LCD – 230k dots		3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed touchscreen
8 shutter flaps per second		4 shutter flaps per second
no shake reduction		In-body stabilization
Waterproof body (14m)		not weather sealed
300 shots per battery charge		200 shots per battery charge
123 x 62 x 30 mm, 194 g		109 x 62 x 33 mm, 257 g

Check WG-90 price at
amazon.com
Check GR III price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Pentax WG-90 and the Ricoh GR 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Pentax WG-90 and the Ricoh GR III is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The WG-90 can be obtained in two different colors (black, blue), while the GR III is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Ricoh GR III is notably smaller (11 percent) than the Pentax WG-90. However, the GR III is markedly heavier (32 percent) than the WG-90. It is worth mentioning in this context that the WG-90 is splash and dust resistant, while the GR III does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing. More than that, the WG-90 is water-proof up to 14m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

The power pack in the GR III can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. 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.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Pentax WG-90	123 mm	62 mm	30 mm	194 g	300	Y	Nov 2023	EUR 379	amazon.com
2.		Ricoh GR III	109 mm	62 mm	33 mm	257 g	200	n	Feb 2019	EUR 899	amazon.com
3.		Canon G7 X Mark III	105 mm	61 mm	41 mm	304 g	235	n	Jul 2019	EUR 779	amazon.com
4.		Canon SX600	104 mm	61 mm	26 mm	188 g	290	n	Jan 2014	EUR 249	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm XP120	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	203 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	EUR 219	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm XP130	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Jan 2018	EUR 219	ebay.com
7.		Fujifilm XP140	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Feb 2019	EUR 199	ebay.com
8.		Nikon W300	112 mm	66 mm	29 mm	231 g	280	Y	May 2017	EUR 449	ebay.com
9.		Panasonic TZ200	111 mm	65 mm	45 mm	340 g	370	n	Feb 2018	EUR 799	amazon.com
10.		Pentax WG-8	118 mm	66 mm	33 mm	242 g	340	Y	Jun 2024	EUR 479	amazon.com
11.		Pentax WG-1000	116 mm	69 mm	51 mm	220 g	300	Y	Jun 2024	EUR 249	amazon.com
12.		Ricoh GR II	117 mm	63 mm	35 mm	251 g	320	n	Jun 2015	EUR 799	ebay.com
13.		Ricoh GR IIIx	109 mm	62 mm	35 mm	262 g	200	n	Sep 2021	EUR 999	amazon.com
14.		Ricoh WG-60	123 mm	62 mm	30 mm	193 g	300	Y	Oct 2018	EUR 249	ebay.com
15.		Sony RX0	59 mm	41 mm	30 mm	110 g	240	Y	Aug 2017	EUR 849	ebay.com
16.		Sony WX800	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	233 g	370	n	Oct 2018	EUR 399	ebay.com
17.		Sony ZV-1	105 mm	60 mm	44 mm	294 g	260	n	May 2020	EUR 799	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

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The WG-90 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 69 percent) than the GR III, which puts it into a different market segment. 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units 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 tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Pentax WG-90 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Ricoh GR III an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the GR III is 1211 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.5. The sensor in the WG-90 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the GR III offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 24MP, the GR III offers a higher resolution than the WG-90 (15.9MP), but the GR III nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 1.33μm for the WG-90) due to its larger sensor. However, the WG-90 is a much more recent model (by 4 years and 8 months) than the GR III, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Ricoh GR III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the GR III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Pentax WG-90 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The GR III has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Pentax WG-90 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 125 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Ricoh GR III are ISO 100 to ISO 102400 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the WG-90 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the GR III 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 is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). 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.		Pentax WG-90	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.9	12.8	1570	54
2.		Ricoh GR III	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	13.5	1897	83
3.		Canon G7 X Mark III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.2	12.4	583	65
4.		Canon SX600	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.0	11.4	620	45
5.		Fujifilm XP120	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.5	11.9	900	49
6.		Fujifilm XP130	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.1	1000	51
7.		Fujifilm XP140	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/15p	20.7	12.2	1102	52
8.		Nikon W300	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.5	12.0	938	50
9.		Panasonic TZ200	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.0	12.2	449	64
10.		Pentax WG-8	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	20.9	12.8	1626	54
11.		Pentax WG-1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.9	12.8	1626	54
12.		Ricoh GR II	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.6	13.7	1078	80
13.		Ricoh GR IIIx	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.2	13.8	2146	85
14.		Ricoh WG-60	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.2	1072	51
15.		Sony RX0	1-inch	15.4	4800	3200	1080/60p	22.4	12.4	548	68
16.		Sony WX800	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.2	1070	51
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 cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the GR III provides a faster frame rate than the WG-90. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the Pentax is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The WG-90 and the GR III are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. That said, the GR III can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the GV-1. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Pentax WG-90 and Ricoh GR III along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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.		Pentax WG-90	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
2.		Ricoh GR III	optional	n	3.0 / 1037	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.0/s	n	Y
3.		Canon G7 X Mark III	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30/s	Y	Y
4.		Canon SX600	none	n	3.0 / 461	fixed	n	1/2000s	3.9/s	Y	Y
5.		Fujifilm XP120	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
6.		Fujifilm XP130	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
7.		Fujifilm XP140	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Nikon W300	none	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Panasonic TZ200	2330	n	3.0 / 1240	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Pentax WG-8	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
11.		Pentax WG-1000	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/2000s	8.0/s	Y	n
12.		Ricoh GR II	optional	n	3.0 / 1230	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
13.		Ricoh GR IIIx	optional	n	3.0 / 1037	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.0/s	n	Y
14.		Ricoh WG-60	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
15.		Sony RX0	none	n	1.5 / 230	fixed	n	..	5.5/s	n	n
16.		Sony WX800	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/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.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The WG-90 has one, while the GR III does not. While the built-in flash of the WG-90 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Pentax WG-90 and the Ricoh GR 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 WG-90 is equipped with a zoom lens, while the GR III comes with a built-in prime. The WG-90 has a 28-140mm f/3.5-5.5 optic and the GR III offers a 28mm f/2.8 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Pentax and Ricoh provide the same view at the wide-angle end, but the Ricoh has less tele-photo reach at the long end. The GR III offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the WG-90 and the GR III write their files to SDXC cards. The GR III supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the WG-90 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD 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 Pentax WG-90 and Ricoh GR III 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.		Pentax WG-90	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Ricoh GR III	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	3.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon G7 X Mark III	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon SX600	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Fujifilm XP120	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
6.		Fujifilm XP130	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
7.		Fujifilm XP140	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
8.		Nikon W300	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
9.		Panasonic TZ200	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
10.		Pentax WG-8	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	3.0	-	-	-
11.		Pentax WG-1000	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Ricoh GR II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Ricoh GR IIIx	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	3.0	Y	-	Y
14.		Ricoh WG-60	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Sony RX0	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
16.		Sony WX800	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony ZV-1	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y

It is notable that the GR III offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the WG-90 does not provide wifi capability.

Both the WG-90 and the GR III are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The GR III replaced the earlier Ricoh GR II, while the WG-90 does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the features and operation of the WG-90 and GR III can be found, respectively, in the Pentax WG-90 Manual (free pdf) or the online Ricoh GR III Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Pentax WG-90 or the Ricoh GR III – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Pentax WG-90:

• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 63g or 25 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (300 versus 200) on a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 14m).
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (69 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 8 months of technical progress since the GR III launch.

Arguments in favor of the Ricoh GR III:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 25%.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/60p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More framing options: Can be equipped with a hotshoe-mounted accessory-viewfinder.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.7") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 230k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/2.8 vs f/3.5).
• More compact: Is smaller (109x62mm vs 123x62mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2019).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the GR III is the clear winner of the contest (21 : 8 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 wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro 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 Pentax WG-90 and the Ricoh GR III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom 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 remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the WG-90 or the GR III. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. 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.		Pentax WG-90	..	..	..	..	..	..	Nov 2023	EUR 379	amazon.com
2.		Ricoh GR III	4/5	..	3.5/5	81/100	4/5	..	Feb 2019	EUR 899	amazon.com
3.		Canon G7 X Mark III	..	+ +	4/5	81/100	4/5	..	Jul 2019	EUR 779	amazon.com
4.		Canon SX600	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jan 2014	EUR 249	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm XP120	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2017	EUR 219	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm XP130	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2018	EUR 219	ebay.com
7.		Fujifilm XP140	..	+	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	EUR 199	ebay.com
8.		Nikon W300	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	EUR 449	ebay.com
9.		Panasonic TZ200	..	+ +	4.5/5	81/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2018	EUR 799	amazon.com
10.		Pentax WG-8	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2024	EUR 479	amazon.com
11.		Pentax WG-1000	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2024	EUR 249	amazon.com
12.		Ricoh GR II	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	EUR 799	ebay.com
13.		Ricoh GR IIIx	..	..	4.5/5	..	..	..	Sep 2021	EUR 999	amazon.com
14.		Ricoh WG-60	..	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	EUR 249	ebay.com
15.		Sony RX0	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Aug 2017	EUR 849	ebay.com
16.		Sony WX800	..	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	EUR 399	ebay.com
17.		Sony ZV-1	4/5	+	4/5	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	May 2020	EUR 799	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Check WG-90 price at
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Check GR III price at
amazon.com

Other camera comparisons

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