Cameraegg Compare logoCameraegg

Ricoh

GR

Original APS-C GR with 16MP sensor and 28mm equivalent lens — the pocket street camera that started it all.

$799

Launch price

Released Apr 2013

vs
Alpha 1 II

Sony

Alpha 1 II

50MP stacked flagship with 30fps RAW, 8K video, and Sony's fastest hybrid performance.

$6,499

Launch price

Released Nov 2024

Alpha 1 II is 11.6 years newer.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Wins

2categories

GR

VloggingTravel

Wins

9categories

Alpha 1 II

Sports & ActionVideo & Hybrid

4 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

GR wins 1 categories·Alpha 1 II wins 4 categories
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 49)
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 60 frames)
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher Resolution (50.1 MP vs 16.2 MP)
  • AGR has lower Weight (245 g vs 743 g)
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 15 fps)

Key specs at a glance

GRAlpha 1 II
Resolution16.2 MP50.1 MP
SensorAPS-CFull Frame
ISO max25,60032,000
Burst15 fps30 fps
4K60 fps120 fps
IBIS6-stop8.5-stop
Weight245 g743 g
Battery640 shots520 shots

Size and weight, to scale

GR

117 × 61 × 35 mm

245 g (0.54 lb / 8.64 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

Alpha 1 II front view

Alpha 1 II

136 × 97 × 83 mm

743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)

GR is 19mm narrower, 36mm shorter, and 48mm thinner than Alpha 1 II.

GR is 498 g lighter than Alpha 1 II.

Depth (front-to-back): 35mm GR · 83mm Alpha 1 II

Sensor size, to scale

GR

23.7 × 15.7 mm · APS-C

372 mm² area

Alpha 1 II

35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame

862 mm² area

2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

GR: mount data unavailable

Alpha 1 II

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

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

Use caseGRAlpha 1 II
Portrait
5.5Fair
8.5Excellent✓ wins
Sports & Action
5.5Fair
10.0Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
2.0Limited
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Travel
6.5Good✓ wins
6.0Good
Wildlife
6.5Good
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
7.5Good✓ wins
5.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

GR

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 117, 61, 34.5

  • Weight

    245 g vs 743 g — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Vehicle

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    640 shots vs 520 shots — higher is better

Reasons to choose

Alpha 1 II

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9

  • AF points / zones

    759 vs 49 — higher is better

  • RAW buffer depth

    200 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better

  • Resolution

    50.1 MP vs 16.2 MP — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I

  • AA filter

    Only Alpha 1 II supports it

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Insect, Car/Train, Airplane

  • Burst (electronic)

    30 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Pre-Capture / Pre-ReleaseBoth support pre-capture / pre-release
  • Max video bit rateBoth 150 Mbps
  • In-body stabilization (IBIS)Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

GR

Pros

  • Original GR formula
  • APS-C in pocket
  • 28mm GR lens
  • Snap focus culture

Cons

  • 16MP dated
  • No IBIS
  • Fixed lens

Alpha 1 II

Pros

  • 50MP stacked sensor
  • 30fps blackout-free burst
  • 8K 30p video
  • Best Sony AF

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Complex menus
  • Large files

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the GR and Alpha 1 II at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

GR
Alpha 1 II
Resolution
16.2 MP
50.1 MP3.1× more
Sensor type
APS-C CMOS
Full Frame Stacked Exmor RS CMOS
Sensor size
23.7 × 15.7 mm
35.9 × 24.0 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
GR
Alpha 1 II
Processor
Image processor
BIONZ XR + AI processing unit
GR
Alpha 1 II
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
32,000+0.3 stops
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
GR
Alpha 1 II
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/32000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, GR or Alpha 1 II?

Alpha 1 II scores 9.0/10 versus 2.0/10 for GR — 50.1MP — massive detail for large prints.

What's the resolution difference between the GR and Alpha 1 II?

GR is 16.2 MP and Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the GR and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?

GR has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the GR or the Alpha 1 II?

GR reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the GR and Alpha 1 II?

GR weighs 245 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the GR is 498 g lighter.

Do the GR and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?

GR: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.

Are the GR and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?

GR: No. Alpha 1 II: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the GR and 520 shots for the Alpha 1 II, giving the GR the edge.

How much does each cost?

GR launched at $799 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The GR is $5,700 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way GR vs Alpha 1 II vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.

Product images courtesy of Ricoh and Sony press materials.