Canon S90 vs Ricoh GRD III Conclusion (?)

This will seem like an ass-backwards way to discuss these two fine cameras but I want to throw this out first:

Gun to my head, the S90 is the “better” camera.

How and why do I dare make such a sweeping statement? Firstly, I rate both cameras very highly. The S90 is really only marginally better overall. That is why I put the conclusion in the first sentence and hopefully saved some readers the hand-wringing wishy-washy to follow. Secondly, while I can easily balance the pros and cons of the two cameras in my head, I instinctively reach for the S90 over the GRD III 70% of the time.

The S90 is:

• Very fast, as in fast to focus, fast to record, fast to display a RAW.
• Feels nice, as in it feels good in the hand. Even when it’s off, I can’t stop holding it. It’s almost perverted.
• Has a novel and effective control system. The barrel mounted control wheel on the S90 is a good idea well executed.
• Versatile, as in has a zoom lens, has a very bright wide end (f/2.0!) and has image stabilization.
• Surprisingly small.

The GRD III is:

• Quite fast, as in quite fast to focus, quite fast to record and quite fast to display a RAW.
• Feels quite nice, and I do very much like the two dial control system. There is something very satisfying about its heft.
• Optically excellent. The GRD III lens is superb. It’s great all the way to the edges and it is brighter than the sun. (f/1.9 is pretty similar to the sun right?)
• Very nice on screen information layout. Icons are small but clear and information is presented concisely.

See? if you read the points above, you would have a hard time deciding which camera is better, no? Aren’t you glad I put the conclusion first?

[photo above with Canon S90, photo below with Ricoh GRD III]