Leica D-LUX
4
 vs
Ricoh
GR Digital III

Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Leica D-LUX 4 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV

Leica D-LUX 4

Reasons to buy the Leica D-LUX 4

Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
24 mm
Size
 Really small
Compact 109x56x27 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Thickness
 Thin
1.1"
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Ricoh GR Digital III

Reasons to buy the Ricoh GR Digital III

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Size
 Really small
Compact 109x59x26 mm
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Thickness
 Thin
1"
Weight
 Light-weight
208 g
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting

differences

Advantages of the Leica D-LUX 4
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.9x5.8mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
 More than 10% better wide angle
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Movie format Higher resolution movies 720p @ 24fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video but at a lower frame rate
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D-LUX 4's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 1s
Help
 60x longer exposures
Leica D-LUX 4 Learn more about
the Leica D-LUX 4

Advantages of the Ricoh GR Digital III
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Aperture Slightly wider aperture f/1.9 vs f/2.0
Help
 At its widest zoom, the GR Digital III's lens captures marginally more light (0.1 f-stops)
Weight Lighter 208 g vs 248 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Thickness Slightly thinner 1" vs 1.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Ricoh GR Digital III Learn more about
the Ricoh GR Digital III
vs

recommendations

Snapsort can't make a recommendation (yet) because it doesn't have enough data yet about either the Leica D-LUX 4 or the Ricoh GR Digital III.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Leica D-LUX 4 or the Ricoh GR Digital III,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
0
votes
by Isaac-Ekblad last month
Leica D-LUX 4 vs Fujifilm X10

I'm not planning on using all the fancy features. I just want a very high quality build and cons...

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Very wide aperture Help
D-LUX 4:f/2.0
GR Digital III:f/1.9
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D-LUX 4:1/1.7" 7.9x5.8mm
GR Digital III:1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Weight Heavy Help
D-LUX 4:248 g
GR Digital III:208 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Size Large Help
D-LUX 4:109x56x27 mm
GR Digital III:109x59x26 mm
Movie format Poor movies Help
D-LUX 4:720p @ 24fps
GR Digital III:480p @ 30fps
Zoom Poor zoom Help
D-LUX 4:2.5x
GR Digital III:1x

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Very small Help
D-LUX 4:109x56x27 mm
GR Digital III:109x59x26 mm
Thickness Very thin Help
D-LUX 4:1.1"
GR Digital III:1"
Weight Very light Help
D-LUX 4:248 g
GR Digital III:208 g
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/2000 of a second
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
10 MP
Screen type No OLED screens Help
LCD

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Leica D-LUX 5

Leica D-LUX 5

Pro digicam

$799
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D-LUX 5 vs the D-LUX 4
Compare the D-LUX 5 vs the GR Digital III
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the D-LUX 4
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the GR Digital III
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the D-LUX 4
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the GR Digital III
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the D-LUX 4
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the GR Digital III
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Pro digicam

$573
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX3 vs the D-LUX 4
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX3 vs the GR Digital III
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the D-LUX 4
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the GR Digital III
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the D-LUX 4
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the GR Digital III

Leica D-LUX 4 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Leica X1

Leica X1

Boutique

$2,242
Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Compare the X1 vs the D-LUX 4
Leica D-LUX 3

Leica D-LUX 3

Pro digicam

$836
Size Slightly smaller
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Compare the D-LUX 3 vs the D-LUX 4

Ricoh GR Digital III Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Ricoh GR Digital IV

Ricoh GR Digital IV

Pro digicam

$665 - $759
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Sensor size Smaller sensor
Size Larger
Compare the GR Digital IV vs the GR Digital III
Ricoh Caplio GX200

Ricoh Caplio GX200

Pro digicam

$742
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the Caplio GX200 vs the GR Digital III

appearance

Leica D-LUX 4 Ricoh GR Digital III
Leica D-LUX 4 Ricoh GR Digital III
Leica D-LUX 4 Ricoh GR Digital III

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:40 PM, September 09, 2011)
Hi Moxo, I think we said that 24mm is 'better wide angle' than 28mm :)

Thanks for pointing out the sensor size discrepancy on the Leica, we'll double check that and fix it up.
 
Moxo (1:45 PM, September 09, 2011)
The cameras are too different to compare. One is a fixed focal length the other a zoom. 

Who is to say that 24mm is 'better' then 28mm?Your Leica sensor spec if wrong. It is 7.89mm x 5.81mm. That is no where near 20% larger than the GRD. It is 5% larger.