In the premium pocket camera class, the Ricoh GR Series really seems to be drowning. Still less popular than its competitors such as Canon, Fujifilm, Sony and Panasonic. In fact, with a compact body design and a capable sensor, this camera is quite attractive in its class. Curious how the performance? Check out our review below.
Pros of Ricoh GR III:
+ Compact and lightweight dimensions
+ Large sensor
+ Easy to use
+ Sharp photo results
+ BW mode is very good
+ Supports charging with a power bank via USB Type-C
Disadvantages of Ricoh GR III:
– The price is relatively expensive
– Video is only Full HD
– Not equipped with flash
– No viewfinder
– WiFi is rather slow
Ricoh GR III specifications:
| Body type | Large sensor compact |
|---|---|
| Max resolution | 6000 x 4000 |
| Effective pixels | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Focal length (equiv.) | 28 mm |
| Max aperture | F2.8–16 |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3 inch |
| Screen dots | 1,037,000 |
| Max shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Storage types | Internal, SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported) |
| USB | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 257 g (0.57 lb / 9.07 oz) |
| Dimensions | 109 x 62 x 33 mm (4.29 x 2.44 x 1.3?) |
| GPS | None |
Compact design that is easy to carry anywhere
Ricoh GR III is not a new camera. This camera was first released in 2019. However, Ricoh is still quite diligent in presenting its special edition versions, such as the GR III Street Edition , GR III Growing Edition , to the newest 2023 GR III Diary Edition . The many variants of this special edition indicate that GR III is still not empty of enthusiasts.
In our opinion, this is one of the attractions of the GR III. The Edition variant in particular only gives a slightly different touch in appearance. The typical compact and lightweight body design of the Ricoh GR series is maintained.
There is no doubt about convenience. The large hand grip attached to the body manages to make this camera very comfortable to hold. Even if used with one hand. Additional dials above the grip also add convenience to navigation. Its weight is also very light. Only 275 grams.
On the back you can find a 3-inch touch LCD screen. The screen response with the touch of a finger is quite good. However, the screen brightness level is a bit low. Quite difficult to see in very bright lighting conditions.
On the side of the screen you can find several buttons. The buttons are quite large and easy to press. Meanwhile, at the top there is a dial for selecting the camera mode and the shutter button.
Wide lens without zoom
GR III carries an 18.3mm lens with an aperture of F/2.8 or the equivalent of a 28mm lens. Focal distance that is ideal for landscape, interior, street photography , to portrait photos.
With a fixed lens, it means that there is no support for the zoom feature in the lens. But, fortunately Ricoh provides a crop mode option with 35mm and 50mm options. When we try the photos with this crop mode there is almost no loss of quality. The photos remain sharp and detailed. Unlike the results of photo quality with the digital zoom feature.
In addition, there is still a macro mode available for photographing subjects at close range. Making it more versatile and reliable for shooting anything.
Satisfying photo results
Ricoh GR III carries a sensor with a resolution of 24.2 megapixels. Apart from taking pictures, this pocket camera can also be relied upon to record videos at Full HD 1080p resolution. The GR III also supports 14-bit RAW photo capture which is perfect for professional photographers. RAW photos can also be edited directly on the camera.
One added value for optimizing shooting without a tripod Ricoh has embedded a 3-axis stabilizer system. Very helpful especially when shooting in dim lighting conditions. Unfortunately, taking photos in dim conditions is not optimal considering that this camera is not equipped with an integrated flash.
The update that is quite noticeable when compared to the previous generation is the startup time , which is now much faster. When the power button is pressed for less than 1 second, the camera is immediately ready for use. To take pictures on the GR III, there are 10 color filter options that can be chosen according to taste. In addition, there is an integrated ND Filter option which is very helpful for shooting in very bright lighting conditions.
Overall we are very satisfied with the photos of the GR III. The sensor without the anti-alias filter it carries is indeed capable of producing very sharp photos. Noise control is quite good. Like the average pocket camera in general, the ISO 1600 setting is still relatively safe.
ISO 3200
ISO 6400
The autofocus system is quite fast and accurate. Especially in bright lighting conditions. In dim lighting conditions the autofocus system does feel a bit slow. Sometimes there is even a back focus or the focus area is captured in the background of the subject.
One thing that amazed us about this camera is the very distinctive BW or black and white filter options. Especially Hi Contrast BW which is capable of producing images with high contrast and very sharp characters. At high ISO the resulting grain effect also looks organic like using a film camera.
To transfer photos from Ricoh cameras provide Bluetooth and WiFi connections. When we tried it, connecting the camera to the smartphone was quite easy. However, the transfer of photos feels a bit slow and sometimes the connection drops.
Battery life is quite good. About 200 photo shots for one refill. You also don’t have to worry when the battery runs out. The reason is, this battery can be recharged with a power bank via the USB-C port.
Conclusion
Ricoh GR III is a pocket camera that is classified as love and hate . Indeed, this pocket camera is almost perfect. However, its limitations such as a lens without zoom, videos that are only in Full HD resolution, and relatively expensive prices are common reasons some people don’t glance at it.
But, for us this camera is a lot of fun. Especially if the focus is to take pictures. A compact design, easy to use and very sharp photos you can rely on to shoot anything in your daily life. Moreover, this camera is also equipped with a BW filter which in our opinion is one of the best in a pocket camera. We highly recommend it, especially for those who exist on social media and like street photography .
This camera was launched in 2019. However, it has proven to be very reliable and able to compete with other premium compact cameras to date. For fans of the Ricoh GR Series, the improvements offered by the GR III make it a must buy. For users who just want to buy a pocket camera, this camera can be considered. With a note if you want to accept all the shortcomings and don’t mind the selling price which is in the range of USD $974.
