Ricoh
GR IV
Latest GR with 25.74MP APS-C sensor, 28mm equivalent lens, 5-axis SR, 53GB internal memory, and pocket street-camera handling.
$1,499
Released Jan 2026
Sony
Alpha 9 III
Global shutter sports flagship with 120fps and zero rolling shutter for pro action.
$5,999
Released Jan 2024
GR IV is 1.9 years newer.
Wins
GR IV
Wins
Alpha 9 III
TL;DR — Key differences
- AGR IV has higher Burst (mechanical) (4 fps vs 0 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 4 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 49)
- AGR IV has higher ISO max (native) (204,800 vs 25,600)
- AGR IV has lower Weight (262 g vs 703 g)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
GR IV
109 × 61 × 33 mm
262 g (0.58 lb / 9.24 oz)
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 × 83 mm
703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
GR IV is 27mm narrower, 36mm shorter, and 50mm thinner than Alpha 9 III.
GR IV is 441 g lighter than Alpha 9 III.
Depth (front-to-back): 33mm GR IV · 83mm Alpha 9 III
Sensor size, to scale
GR IV
23.3 × 15.5 mm · APS-C
361 mm² area
Alpha 9 III
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
GR IV: mount data unavailable
Alpha 9 III
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
GR IV
Subject recognition
Adds Face, Eye
Burst (mechanical)
4 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MOV
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 109.4, 61.1, 32.7
Card types
Adds microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC UHS-I
ISO max (native)
204,800 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
262 g vs 703 g — lower is better
ISO min (native)
100 vs 250 — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 9 III
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 4 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
759 vs 49 — higher is better
AA filter
Only Alpha 9 III supports it
Animal / bird AF
Only Alpha 9 III supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
GR IV
Pros
- ✓25.74MP APS-C sensor
- ✓5-axis sensor-shift SR
- ✓53GB internal memory
- ✓Pocketable 28mm GR lens
Cons
- –Fixed lens
- –No built-in EVF
- –Full HD video only
Alpha 9 III
Pros
- ✓Global shutter 120fps
- ✓Zero rolling shutter
- ✓Pro sports AF
- ✓Pre-capture buffer
Cons
- –24.6MP only
- –Premium price
- –Battery drain at max speed
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, GR IV or Alpha 9 III?
Alpha 9 III scores 9.0/10 versus 0.5/10 for GR IV — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the GR IV and Alpha 9 III?
GR IV is 25.74 MP and Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP, so the GR IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the GR IV and Alpha 9 III have in-body image stabilization?
GR IV has in-body image stabilization, while alpha 9 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the GR IV or the Alpha 9 III?
GR IV reaches 4 fps electronic. Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the GR IV and Alpha 9 III?
GR IV weighs 262 g and Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g, so the GR IV is 441 g lighter.
Do the GR IV and Alpha 9 III record 4K video?
GR IV: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p.
Are the GR IV and Alpha 9 III weather sealed?
GR IV: No. Alpha 9 III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 250 shots (CIPA) for the GR IV and 400 shots for the Alpha 9 III, giving the Alpha 9 III the edge.
How much does each cost?
GR IV launched at $1,499 and Alpha 9 III at $5,999. The GR IV is $4,500 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.