GR III Digital Compact Camera, 24mp, 28mm f 2.8 Lens with Touch Screen LCD

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I was initially on the fence about this one, particularly with the increased price over previous models on launch, but due to the readdition of phase-detection (along with the standard contrast-detection) to the new hybrid AF system, I decided to take the plunge. My *only* gripe about the previous two models (GR, and GRII) were the loss of phase-detection; as stellar as they are, the AF isnt as on par as the older, smaller sensor versions, the GRDigitalIII and GRDigitalIV. That has now changed and I can report that though its not as fast as those older model at least in lowlight, it can finally focus in near darkness just like those older models, though it takes it a couple moments to do so. Using the assist-light helps considerably but I never use that merely because no one like to look at a green light pointed at them when its dark and it rather takes away from the nature of these cameras - unobtrusive, quick, stealthy. Ive yet to test wifi features and such and have only played with the camera for the better part of a day. The original 2013 GR is the first camera I ever pre-ordered and I did not regret that decision. It doesnt seem that Ill regret this one either. 5-stars for initial impressions. Ill expand on this review in a few weeks or months after Ive really gotten to know it. I love this camera line. A shooters camera through and through. ________________________ Update (brief) 3/26/2019: Just wanted to ad a couple thoughts though Ive still not had the opportunity to really test this thing. The wireless connectivity is proving fincky at best currently - evidently a major app update is coming from Ricoh in April which should address some issue. I really dont use these features so cannot speak to them well. The IBIS is fantastic and shots Ive taken as high as ISO6400 are ridiculously good IQ, much more than expected. Previously Ive held ISO to 800 (sometimes 1600 subject depending) but that has gone out the window. These cameras have *always* produced high-ISO noise that is far, far more pleasingly and film-grain-like as compared to other digital sensor/lens combinations found on any other camera, but now that is more true than ever. I was looking at 100% crops of images (both RAW and B&W JPG, more on that in a moment) and simply marveling at the natural looking noise - it resembles film grain now more than ever (Im still a film shooter about 90% of the time or more) and not only in B&W JPG files... even RAW color transitions have a look to them that just "works" for me. The JPG filter modes have been expanded further, particularly the B&W styles (4 or 5 different ones now, rather than just 2) and they look great. The touchscreen works great (even though Im not a huge fan of touchscreen) and the added focus options related to it are quite handy. I particularly like the scroll-wheel addition on the former d-pad. Its lovely to use and I can see myself preferring it to the old toggle that has been removed. Overall, whilst going through menus and shooting options thereve been a few times Ive literally said aloud "oh wow - that was a good idea, Ricoh". So yeah, Im enjoying this little beast.

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Those interested in the Ricoh GR series of cameras know of its place in the industry. Its not your choice to shoot professional sports, its not your choice to film cinematic video, its not your choice when you want ultra high ISO performance, and its not your choice if you need pinpoint tracking. Lets get that out of the way. Lets also get the fact that it doesnt have a flash, the battery life is subpar, and that it doesnt have TAv, doesnt have the exposure comp rocker. For all it doesnt do/cant do, it has a lot going for it. Its a super small package, has a fantastic APS-C sensor, and the layout and button placement is top notch. The touch screen is pretty nicely implemented, not as good as the Canon/Panasonic touch screen implementation, but better than Olympus and Sony. Im a long time fan of the GR series, had the original GR (released in 2013) on 3 separate occasions. Each time I sold it because I thought it was unnecessary, but kept on going back to it. Skipped the GRII because it wasnt that much better than the III (thought I did buy it two weeks ago to hold me over for the III). The AF is definitely improved over the original and the II, but still not what I would call a speed demon. And Ricoh knows this and you should too. The inclusion of phase detect has made it slightly better, but because of the layout and the lens moves back and forth to acquire auto focus, its not the fastest out there. But other fixed lens cameras share similar tendencies such as the X100 series, the X70, and others. Snap focus is the highlight of the GR cameras and the inclusion of the touch to focus makes it much easier to use. Being able to choose touch to move AF, touch to move focus points and also AF, and also touch to move focus points, AF, and fire is a good touch. The GRIIIs attention to detail and features eliminates most of the "Why doesnt this work in this mode?" that other cameras suffer from. Yes the battery life stinks. Rated at 200 shots, after you cycle a few times, youll get that number if you shoot normally (take a few shots, power off, power on, take a few shots, power off, etc). After consistent use the body will heat up more than the old one, you could tell that its a power hungry beast. Ive gotten as few as 110 shots/clips and as many as 320. But there are lots of generics that are compatible, much like the older GR/GRII which you could use several different branded batteries, just look up for GRIII compatible batteries (I believe ones made for the Olympus TG Tracker are compatible). The lens is super sharp. Macro mode is improved to as close as 6cm. Sharp at 2.8, gets better at f4, but I have no issues shooting at 2.8. The X100/X70 at macro range is soft, and doesnt get sharp until 5.6 or so, but the GR is fine at 2.8. Video quality isnt the best, but itll do in a pinch. IBIS helps with video greatly over the II. Certainly not my first choice since it only does 1080/60 not 4k, and no mic/headphone jacks, but again, itll do for casual clips of my kids. Anything more serious Ill use my a7III. Picture profiles are really nice, not as well known as the Fuji film simulations, but useable. Like the fact that it outputs DNG natively. The fact that you could have such a powerful little camera in a small package allows me to carry it around in small bag, use the wrist strap, and not worry about carrying a heavy bag. As long as you know the limitations that it has going into it, youll be more than happy with the end result. Do I wish it was cheaper? Who wouldnt. But I could see this being my daily carry and use. It is improved over the GRII in most ways. Startup is faster, AF point movement is faster, the use of face detect in standard shooting mode and not just auto mode is great. It doesnt have a flash (which I never used), it doesnt have TAv, it doesnt have a exposure comp rocker (which I never used and accidentally hit a lot of times). I have the A7III but Ive used it less and less and have used the GR series more and more lately. No, this isnt the camera to rule them all. But for what it does, in the size that it does it in, its a great option.

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If you are reading this, then you are probably very familiar with the GR -2, or you are considering this vs all the 4/3rds out there. So, let me get to the FYIs. Regarding this camera vs the IQ of the recent Pany G8 or the LX100-2....and Leica D-Lux 7 Honestly, all 3 are very similar. The Leica D-Lux 7 is the closest to the GR3, regarding IQ. Of the 3, the GR3 handles the best. The reality is this.....If you are looking to buy your 1st GR series, then get this one, as the IS makes it a no brainer at this price and according to it value, overall. Its true that not having any type of movable screen or EV is unfortunate, but, these will eventually show up in time, as they were left off this model so that later on they could be added for...$$$$$$ Till then, this is a fine camera, handles well, feels well crafted. Downsides?..... The AF is not great in general, and even less in low light. Most surprising feature is that the Macro mode works really well. Bottom line : would be a perfect shooter for all seasons if it had a Tilt screen and an EVF. Till then, its a very nice camera, the price is not a gouge and youll have a lot of fun with it. Its a fun camera overall that takes very nice photos. Mine is set to "P" Auto ISO, "Vivid", ND-on, all noise filtering set to "off", and upper ISOA1600....Sharpness on (2), Contrast and Saturation on "2", Touchscreen is "off", and Focus is on "center". One photo i posted is of the end of a branch that was cut. The size of the branch is about the size of your thump. The other is a 1x2" glass figurine, bright fluorescent light, "auto" ISO. This is a powerful tool that has a few solvable issues (EV and Tilt-Screen, Slow AF in dim light), but otherwise youll enjoy it a lot. IQ is very good. Its a fun camera, easy to hold, and is very satisfying.

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UPDATE, 4/23/2019: My original review is below, however I wanted to change my initial assessment from four to five stars due to a couple of considerations. One, I have found battery life to be fairly consistently better than the 200 shots advertised, unless I spend a lot of time editing RAW files or similar processor-intensive activity. Second, and more important, Ricoh released their first firmware update on 4/22, a month after the US release date, and it includes two things: support for the updated Image Sync app, allowing the cameras Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection to smartphones, and an improvement to the cameras low light focusing speed and accuracy. Thank goodness for that last addition! Im impressed with Ricoh for getting something out so fast to address the biggest downfall with the camera, and it does indeed improve things. Focus speed in very low light is still a lot slower than my Panasonic GX85 (but keep in mind, I am testing that camera with lenses that have wider maximum apertures than the GR III) but it is much faster and hunts a lot less than it did pre-update. This improvement applies directly to the main reason that I didnt initially rate this camera at five stars, so I am happy to be able to address that with a positive improvement. I know there are still forthcoming firmware updates, since the camera still has a "Grain" setting on some JPEG modes that is not fully functioning, and that future update is actually mentioned in the camera literature. END OF UPDATE, ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW. The Ricoh GR III has been long awaited by Ricoh users now, since the original APS-C GR was released in 2013 and used 2013 technology, and the GR II really only added connectivity to the same camera. Sensor, processor etc. have been from that era for six years now, so it was high time for an update. I was lucky enough to be one of the first batch of Amazon stock, so I’ve had some time to get to know the camera. Now, if you don’t know what the Ricoh GR series is about, watch some videos or read some of the reviews for earlier models; the recipe hasn’t changed. It’s a truly pocket-sized camera that, unlike other pocket cameras, has excellent ergonomics, is designed for quick and effective operation, even one-handed, and delivers unique and powerful images with high quality and fidelity. I’m coming from using the Ricoh GR II for almost a year, and the GR III came at the right time (close to my birthday) so I was able to sell my previous model with little wear and tear and try the new model. I’ve used APS-C and Micro Four Thirds in the past, with a Panasonic GX85 being my main camera at present, but the Ricoh GR series has always been a unique spin on a camera, and one that complements another system quite well. I loved the GR II but always worried about developing dust on the sensor (the first one I bought had dust from the factory, even, so I exchanged it), and the dust removal system of the new model was icing on the cake for me along with all of the other updated features. Rather than give a lengthy review which most people won’t read (I tend to like to ramble on), I’m going to give some bullet points on what I think this camera offers over the previous models, and similar cameras among the competition. Everything else you can get from a spec sheet or a review in a lengthier format. • Image quality is absolutely fantastic. I love it. High ISO looks great, the feel of images is just incredible. GRs are tuned to be... different, in a good way. This one preserves that, while dialing up the IQ at the same time. Now, if you really liked the effect filters from the GR II, they are here except for cross process (sadly... firmware update? Ricoh is very good about improving and developing on their cameras post-launch, and they listen to users better than most, which not going so far as to compromise what they see as the core concept of the GR cameras) but they have a slightly different feel. There are a lot more parameters to change, but the GR II felt expertly tuned from default. So, what about Fuji JPEG colors? Personally, I’ve always felt that Fuji’s colors were only special in an era when most manufacturers’ JPEGs were bad. Everyone has gotten better, but Fuji can’t iterate because they’ve already given their film simulations fancy names, and people know what to expect. I think Ricoh’s Positive Film style bests Fuji’s Classic Chrome, personally. And the contrasty B&W options Ricoh makes are a lot different than the more subtle ones Fuji makes, so it’s not much of a comparison. • The touchscreen is awesome, Ricoh really got it right. It feels almost like a Panasonic, sadly without a screen to access all the main functions via touch on the same screen, like Panasonic or Olympus. But surprisingly, touch to focus and shoot is a fantastic addition to the repertoire of a GR. I can even shoot with the camera in my left hand! Anyone who has ever juggled a drink and a camera should appreciate being able to compose and shoot with either hand! Unlike the cheaper Fuji XF10, there’s no lag or jankiness to the touch functions, they just work. • Image stabilization works super well! In such a tiny camera, shake is harder to eliminate, as Im sure youve noticed with the GR II. This is a welcome addition. Some people said that wide angle lenses don’t need image stabilization, but some things come from experience, not spec sheets: it’s much harder to avoid shake on a small camera body that is very light, so anything to aid in getting stable photos is good. Plus, being able to handhold down to half a second or longer, with care, allows for very cool light trail and movement blur effects handheld which you just couldn’t do with previous GRs, or any of the small Fujis. • The added resolution makes 35mm crop a lot more viable. Macro function is improved, and very sharp. 50mm crop combined with macro can be quite surprising. On a camera which is limited to a single, wide angle focal length, resolution enough to allow for fairly heavy cropping is a great thing. On top of this, the lens is so sharp that crops don’t suffer from a noticeable drop in resolution. The previous GR lens was super sharp, this one is even sharper if you believe the specs and tests, and my experience backs these up. • There are a few flaws. No camera is perfect, and not every previous flaw in the GR’s design was thoroughly fixed. Battery life is sure not great, but you can eke a lot more than the rated 200 shots out of it by switching the camera off when youre not taking photos. AF is the big bugbear. Fortunately, it’s not as bad as they say. Its very similar to the GR II, except noticeably faster in good light, and possibly worse in very bad light. My GX85 eats it for lunch in very low light, but I hold that the AF only completely falls on its face in lighting you probably wouldnt think to get photos in. Low, indoor artificial light is the main culprit. Even in low twilight outside, I got focus to lock pretty consistently. It’s a significant disappointment even so, and the biggest reason I couldn’t give this camera five stars out of the gate, because the lackluster AF in the previous model has been talked about so much, Ricoh knew it would be a big deal to users in the new model. And they tried. The camera now has phase detect and contrast AF in hybrid form, which theoretically should cut way back on hunting and racking focus. In good light, it does. But in bad light, it still really needs work. Ricoh has pointed out that the design of the lens requires that a larger group of elements, instead of a single lens element, need to move around to focus the camera. This allows for the high image quality. But it shouldn’t make the camera hunt as much as it does in bad light. I do expect things to get somewhat better in firmware updates, and I may even add a star. Heres the thing: the GR III is definitely a worthy upgrade over the GR II, and rockets the GR back into a premium option. But the GR II is special in its own right, and you could miss the recipe that that camera was made of, including the grainy, dirty high ISO look and the long and slim body style. And the flash. Im not sorry I replaced mine, though. Because the GR III is special.

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too many problem, poor autofocus, poor battery, the left side it becomes very hot 2 minutes after switching on. this is a raw product sold prematurely. absolutely not recommended.

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This was probably the most exciting announcement of 2018 and I was super excited when this camera was released. Unfortunately the camera has some major issues that are inexcusable for its price range. The Good: Great Central Sharpness (Equal to the Leica Q) with decent mid frame to corner sharpness. Small, Light, Stealth Body, looks like an old point and shoot. Battery Life isnt terrible for a tiny battery. Easy to hold. Very Good dynamic range. Menus are good. Stabilization works very well. The Bad: 1. Camera doesnt ship with charger. You have to buy a spare charger separately for $50. The spare charge DOES NOT come with the cable or USB power adapter to use it. You have to buy that separately too! Thats completely ridiculous as everyone will order at least one spare battery for it which is another $40. How they sell you a spare charger without the cable and USB power to use it beyond me. Real cost over the Camera is over $1,025 not $899. 2. For a camera that has no viewfinder the LCD has to be good. It should be great on a $1,000 camera. Well its terrible. Its extremely hard to use in direct sunlight and nearly impossible to accurately compose shots. Even with max brightness its bad. The Canon M100 has a similar screen for $399. Ironically the areas where the autofocus works the best which is bright direct sunlight, you cant see the screen...lol (What were they thinking?) 3. Low Light autofocus is bad and inaccurate even with Firmware 1.1. Camera refuses to focus very often. At times the camera will confirm focus only to find out later on my computer the shot was out of focus. Worst autofocus camera of 2019 for $1,000 4. Lens vignetting is Terrible! Even with all the corrections in camera and photoshop you cant completely remove it. Now, I personally like vignetting on some of my images, but as a creative choice. Here, all your images will have it. Forget about putting a subject in the mid to corner areas of the frame. 5. After having the camera for 2 weeks I already see dust spots inside the lens. Obviously this is impossible to clean and just imagine in 1 to 2 years how bad it will get. Another issue is cleaning the front element is extremely challenging because theres a huge gap around it. Its basically open around it. So if you use a blower, youll blow the dust INSIDE the lens. Terrible design. $1,025 for a camera with all these issues is inexcusable. If the camera was $549-$599 with the charger included it would a fair price. (I dont understand how the price doubled from the GRII) The Canon M100 for $399 has much better autofocus, equal image quality with 22mm prime, a similar quality LCD that tilts (both are poor but the Canon isnt over $1,000), and better jpgs. Yet the Canon for $399 gets you a charger in the box.

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I have only had the camera for a day now but have found it to be super sharp and easy to use. If I could only have one camera Im not sure this would be it; I might go with something that has zoom. For what it is, however, this camera is a joy to use and I can imagine Ill keep it with me all of the time given its small form factor. Pros: - Tiny form factor, especially for an APS-C sensor - Sharp images - Starts up really fast, less than a second - Controls and menus are intuitive - Can be charged via USB-C - Responsive touch screen Cons: - Slow autofocus in low light - Macro mode is good but not great - Short battery life (although it charges very quickly) - No viewfinder, only LCD screen

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Not there yet. Focus is still slow and not accurate if you compare it to the competition. Battery sucks if you are and about only last 2 hours tops. Also it gets hot, not to mention the keys on the back pad Feels loose. Images are good ! nothing to deny there .Honestly Price is too high for what it is ... perhaps worth $699 not more. I’ll keep using my Ricoh GR ii instead.

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I needed a light travel camera as I was getting g tired of lugging around my D800 and after reading all of the glowing reviews of this camera I really, really wanted to like this camera but the overheating issue which seems to be a known issue prevents me from recommending this camera and infact I’m not sure I’ll be keeping it. I received this (first) camera few weeks ago and immediately I noticed the camera got hot to touch near the “Fn” button within 5 min of normal use. When I took the battery out I noticed the battery was very hot. Amazon support sent me a replacement Ricoh battery but the new battery behaved the same and made no difference. Amazon support then sent me a replacement camera but again it made no difference- within 5 minutes of use it still got hot - exactly the same as the first camera. Looking at YouTube videos and DP Review forums it appears this is a known issue and firmware v 1.10 is supposed to address some of the heating issue but the very first thing I had done when I received both cameras was to upgrade the firmware to v 1.10 so obviously firmware didn’t resolve the overheating issue- it did fix low light focusing issue. The picture quality is fantastic so I’m trying to see if I use it for for mins and turn it off right away will I learn to live with it ? But then what will the reliability be of this camera with the heating issue? I had written to Ricoh about my concern but haven’t gotten any response other than acknowledging receiving my email and they will get back to me. Again, great picture quality and compactness is awesome so I really want to like and even love this camera but the heating issue maybe a dealbreaker ☹️ Update: I decided to return the camera as the heating issue was just not acceptable.

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This is my first Ricoh camera, and I love it. Over the years, Ive bought Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Olympus, etc., but this new Ricoh GR III is the most user-friendly and best designed camera Ive ever owned. And it takes beautiful pictures. The layout of buttons and dials and the ability to assign preferred functions to them, is quite smart. I like that the camera preserves the mode you were in, e.g. macro, when you turn the camera off, so that it starts up again in that same mode. I hadnt expected the macro mode to be so good, with quite nice bokeh. Battery life is fine for me. Im not a professional photographer, so 200 shots on a charge is fine for me - mostly family events. I like that DNG is the RAW format. Autofocus plus snap shooting is brilliant. Press the shutter release button half-way to engage autofocus, or quickly all the way for a snap shot. So smart. I like the small things too - that I dont have to take a lens cap on and off, and that it easily fits in my shirt pocket. On and on... I like everything about the new GR III. Its a keeper. 5 big stars. Well done Ricoh.

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