Ricoh GR IIIx The (almost!) perfect small camera
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
- I used this lovely Ricoh GRIIIx camera for an entire month and here is my full review! Is it the king of tiny cameras? or are there better alternatives?
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chapters:
00:00 Start
00:42 why people love it
01:47 the exposure dial of doom
02:43 built in NDs
03:02 LOW LIGHT performance
03:37 colour profiles
04:27 lens features
05:12 negatives
08:23 bargain hunting & sponsor
09:40 who is this for?
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Here is my next instalment in my “Tiny Camera” series! What would you like to see next? Let me know in the comments! ☺️
Watch this next: “Dear Lumix…” th-cam.com/video/6qOt1McBYtE/w-d-xo.html
Please review the old Lumix GM5. But wait at least 3 months until I find one second hand for myself first, because I was sooooo stupid to sell mine years ago.
Fx150
i buy and sell so many cameras and never had an interest in a GR. But about a month ago I won a 3 (not x) at a decent price on ebay. I have never loved a camera more than this thing. It is a pure joy experience
If you travel much, the Ricoh GR is the perfect gadget to record your adventures. A true one-handed and low profile design enables you to be a tourist without looking like a tourist. The snap focus facility is awesome, I just set it to infinity, which enables me to capture anything and everything in a moment without worrying about focus. A good review. 👍🏻 ❤
I owned a GR IIIx for about six months. While it’s a really good camera, I kept thinking of my GX850 with its tilt up screen, faster autofocus, equal image quality AND the fact I can carry it with the LUMIX 20/1.7 and 14mm/2.5 and have a tiny kit that was pretty much equal to a GR III and GR IIIX. The LUMIX also has better battery life. Love your videos! 😊
You can't slip it into your shirt pocket!
I don't mind about mft (I own GX9 and G9 also) but 16 Mpx vs 24 Mpx.... and about battery, 210 vs 200 don't seem to be that big difference... plus... 20 and 14 that I owned are so far away from Ricoh lenses about quality... in fact I changed them with PanaLeica 15 and 25, that I own, but... much more money, glass, weight and cms
@@Filippo-Parisi is gr iii lens is that much better than lumix 14 and 20 ???
@@murph6547 I use PanaLeica 15 1.7 and 25 1.4, both beautiful and with bigger aperture, but about sharpness and quality image the GRs are... simply incredible
@@Filippo-Parisi GX9 is 20.3 mpx
Thanks Emily, always a pleasure to watch your reviews.
GR camera is mainly having a third focusing method known as snap focus. Fix the focus distance and adjust the depth of field with aperture. Used mainly for street photography. Check that out. Hence why many street photographers go for it
Thank you, by far the best video I have watched on the GR. I am going to get one one day but just have to save up some pennies first. Thanks again loved the honest and well presented video from rural Lincolnshire
I love my GRIIIx. And it focusus very well. And love the beautiful and sharp images
The IBIS just got a buff with firmware 1.71
Hi Emily did you try the Olympus E-pm1 or mk2? That was my first m43 camera, and using it a lot more than the ones I get after, mainly for its pocket size. I believe that is the smallest m43 of all time.
Cheers
Good review! I have this camera and love it but agree with you in basically every way. I've gotten used to focusing with the touch screen and completely ignoring the auto-focus (learned that the hard way).
How did you fit the Peak anchor links for the strap? I found the lugs on the GR too small?
try the snap focus mode, you can fix your focus length so if you just know the distance between you & the subject you can set your focus length quickly & not deal with the autofocus issues
You can see the lens moving out further when you put it in Macro mode, so it definitely is doing more than a simple crop. :)
I found in difficult focus situations, just set the SNAP Focus distance and use that instead. Works great as long as you're doing a center focus!
Alternatively a GX80/GX9 . Smaller sensor but so versatile and the opportunity to use a variety of lenses. What's not to like?
Great review - for me the added functionality comes from the crop modes that provide different effective focal lengths via the sensor crop. Given the 24MP you can get at least one additional usable focal length jump whether using the GR3 28mm @24MP to 35mm @17MP or the GR3X from 40mm @24MP to 50mm @ 15MP
Yes I know what you mean. I love it for weddings when I’m shooting my 85mm and want a bit more punch-in!
Hi! I’ve had and still have a lot of different cameras including the Ricoh GR3, which I’ve had for a few months and it
has been one of the best focusing cameras I’ve ever had and with very good low light performance, in short an amazing little camera, with splendid colors, maybe a little over contrasting but overall is capable of producing great photos! But I agree I also really don’t like the placement of the little lever right by the thumb that can change so many settings, that was perhaps a little optimistic
I did some street photography with my Fuji X-E1 Fuji 27mm f2.8 slow auto focus not bad but not super fast. I would focus from my waste to the side walk and then stop the lens down to f5.6 or f8 and set my shutter speed and use auto ISO. Worked out very good with everything in focus.
Nice review. I've had the first version of the 28mm equivalent GR since 2013 (wow, that went fast) and most of what you said applies equally to that. The build is great, the haptics are spot on. The exposure comp is a bit different (there's a dedicated rocker switch, that I really like), and while I've not held the mk III I'm not sure I'd be a fan of the new approach. But yeah, basically, you could have been describing the original model.
I think Pentax and Ricoh do great menus/software. The JPEG profiles are all pretty tasteful, and you can dial the strength of them up/down to suit your preferences. The in camera B&W support is particularly nice.
The original GR is 16 MP, and comfortably beats the IQ of my M4/3 cameras (a GX-7 and a GX-8). There's plenty of headroom in the RAW files, and they're particularly good for B&W conversion in post. And they're in DNG format, so they work in all editors.
The Achilles heel of the original is the potential for specs of dust to get in through the lens and make their way onto the sensor. I've been very careful with mine (never put it in my pocket, for example) but have a dust spot on the sensor. It's re-touchable in post, and is only visible if it's on an area of solid colour. It's just a bit annoying. I don't think they really improved on that in the mk II, not sure if they've sorted it in the mk III.
I wonder if the IIIx supports long exposure auto shift? Have a look at this review of the original and then search for "long exposure" and "auto shift" (it's a pretty neat long exposure feature): www.thewsreviews.com/2013/10/ricoh-gr-buttons.html
For 40mm I think I'll be sticking with my Lumix 20mm and an M4/3 body, though the IIIx would make a perfect adventure cycling camera… hmmm
What is the best answer if you want weather sealing? Nice to see some local images - Hope Valley etc!
Is it compatible to E-P7 + 20mm F1.7 ?
A great choice. Only aps-c camera that fits in your pocket. Great Image quality and probably the most underrated camera there is
So underrated. It’s so simple really, but does the job so so well. I particularly enjoyed how clean the low light shots were with a slower shutter speed. Really fun camera to use!
Interesting that the autofocus wasn't working well in what seemed to be decent lighting conditions. I've been using DOF Deep priority and snap focus to mitigate this issue as much as possible. Also if your other hand is free it's much easier to just tap in a focus point on the screen so the camera knows what to focus on from the start. Try not to let it decide things for you as the face detection isn't great either
Did you try Snap focus? This is what going to give you the fastest focus than any autofocus system. As soon as you learn how to doo it, it's very intuitive and excellent way to work. The Snap focus capability is very extensive in this camera.
Love my lumix tz200 for ease of use and pocketable with great results
Hi Emily, a good, well balanced review - thanks. To fully appreciate the GR cameras you need to embrace Snap Focus and utilise the U2 / U2 / U3 settings - for example, my U3 Setting is for Infinity focus (amongst other parameters) so no chance of the wind affecting landscape shots from the top of a hill :- ) Regards - Peter
Yeah - the snap focus is a great feature. I definitely use that regularly
Absolutely. The best setting is probably to have it on tracking focus but with full press snap activated. Thus if you're in a hurry you just press the release all the way through immediately, without holding halfway for autofocus, and you automatically get your snap focus setting.
Hi there. Ricoh GR 3 or Ricoh GR 3x for traveling?
Pretty sure the macro feature is not cropping in at all. What you've described is just focus breathing where lenses appear to zoom in/out depending on focal plane. Macro lenses seem to have lots of focus breathing usually.
When will the next gr6 be released?
I may be purchasing the Ricoh GRiiiX.
The auto focus may be a negative but one of the features street photographers love is the snap focus. It is simply zone focus and you get almost instant focus. The big negative for me is the lack of an EVF. I like framing my images using a viewfinder. Ricoh has an add on viewfinder that isn’t an EVF and is expensive. I may just buy a cheap Chinese plastic viewfinder.
One feature this body has is its small size. It is the smallest APSC sensor camera. Many use this as their every day carry camera. Small, light, and pocket size. I use a GX 85 and the GR is smaller.
I agree with your X choice. For me, the iii’s 28mm equivalent FOV is too wide. Unless I’m working a crowd I am forced to get too close for my comfort to get my shot. The V’s 40mm is between the 35 and 50mm equivalent focal lengths I like.
There are a lot of GR enthusiasts. I love my GX85 with the Panny 15mm lens for street photography. I’d love to try the Fuji X100V. It is unavailable and there is a premium over the MSRP for new or used bodies if you can find one. I’ll wait for the X100VI instead.
Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
No flash no viewfinder dust in lens good luck
Hi, I had a Ricoh GR for years and most of my portfolio is comprised of photos from this camera (the original GR and the GR II). However, over the years I grew out of it for a couple of reasons. #1 as you mention is cost. I think Ricoh ought to reduce the price. The battery is terrible and the fixed lens collapsible thing-a-ma-bob fails over time. My old Ricoh for example no longer collapses the lens back down. I got tired of carrying 3 batteries with me all the time and when shopping for a new GRIIIx I just couldn't justify the price.
I went with Fuji and never looked back. Sure, I miss Ricoh's compact form and the unique image quality, but in the end, I'm enjoying my Fuji cameras and the look of the images better, so no regrets here! FYI - when surveying my best photos over the years, Ricoh was up there in the rankings but even over all the years of camera upgrades and wonderful lenses, the Olympus e-p2 still gave me some of the best images I ever took! Wish I never sold that little gem and its 17mm pancake lens :).
Love those arcade shots, Emily.
Thank you! Ya know it was SO dark in there I am really pleased with the results of those!
It's a shame that Lumix doesn't go after that market considering how expensive the GRs are. The two Lumix pancake primes are good approximations of both current GR offerings with the added benefit of being able to clean the sensor!
What is the Speed of this camera, how fast it can shoot?
I really liked your video and your humor.
my thoughts are : Considering the number of apsc compacts on the market, its price is not so high for this image quality.
Unstable autofocus: we can try manual focus with the dial, as for macro mode.
And above all: beware of dust, a problem with all GR. the storage pocket must be kept clean (personal experience).
I use my pentax Q-S1 exclusively with the 40mm equivalent standard prime lens. I had been for the longest been meaning to get this IIIx version of the GR, but the price is a bit out there. Still, I've been saving towards it because I know for a fact that is the focal length I can shoot with as my only one.
I had the original gr3 28mm and I totally agree with you on the better 40mm and the pants autofocus. 40mm is definitely better for people shots and landscapes with mountains in the distance (which aren’t distorted into a small size). For me, the reason why people get the gr is because of the aps-c sensor size 😜 so image quality… but the build quality , weather sealing and ergonomics is atrocious imo. I would not get this camera used. The small form factor is brilliant for putting in your pocket though. It has got ibis in a smaller package than a m4/3 camera.
As a lot of others have stated, the GRIIIx is fantastic, but you end up selling it. I shot an entire travel book with one, but it just lacked....something. The LCD is unusable, so it was like shooting film - I didn't know what I had til I was home. It's replacement? A GX85 with the Leica 9mm. Occasionally a 17mm.
Great video Emily , the Ricoh GR ii was my favourite camera ,but it died on me years ago , I had planned on getting the gr iii but the high price and low battery life has stopped me so far , hopefully one day
They’re so fun. I found I used it a LOT in the time I’ve had with it. It just wants to be picked up and used it’s so convenient! Hope you find a nice bargain soon with one! 😁
@@MicroFourNerds I'll keep searching , picked up a Ricoh GR digital from 2005 off eBay for now , 8.1 megapixels ,2.5 in screen and terrible autofocus , only takes 1gb cards ,but a lot of fun to shoot with
@@markturner7910 I did the same, picked up a GRDiv, used it for a trip to Mexico recently and left my phone in the apartment. Rekindled my interest in photography! Great little camera despite some limitations. Was considering the GRiiix, but might just keep using the GRD for that form factor and maybe go with something different.
Thanks. Think that’s me finally decided on buying one after watching about a million reviews,
Good review. I’ve a GRII. Nice pics but sucks in dust like a hoover. Been thinking about selling it and just using a GF6 or GX880 with the 14mm lens. If you have that set up handy, a comparison would be nice.
The B camera table shot in this video was shot with the 14mm lens! Such a surprisingly good lens I think!
I posted a comment on here, I moved back to a Panasonic gm1 from the ricoh gr3. The gf7 or gx880 will be way better than the gr2, slightly less pocketable, but at least you can clean the sensor, change lenses, flip up screen, decent video, better autofocus etc. Build quality on the gf7 or gx880 is way better too. Color science is better on the ricoh but you can work around this with lightroom presets.
My god. I’ve watched HOURS of crooning “vibe” videos about this camera. Finally someone just talks flippin straight, and tells me what I need to hear.
I need a small take along camera. But the fixed lens doesn't excite me at 40mm equivalent. I know they have a 28mm version which I would prefer. But I'm thinking that the GX85 (US model) might be more interesting. With a 12, 14, or 17mm prime instead of the zoom.
Love this, keep it coming!
Yeah I totally agree with you, these Ricoh’s are lovely but I much prefer the versatility of a small interchangeable lens camera 😁📸
Thanks for the video. About noise (3:30mns), let me say that Topaz Lab Noise AI does a great job on noise.
I bought the GX85 & 20mm f1.7 to be my Ricoh GR.
I heard the jpegs from Ricoh are really good. My aunts old boyfriend was from Japan and he worked for Ricoh and he gave my grandfather a Ricoh 126 camera.
My Grandfather was in the US Army and in the pacific ocean and in WW2. When the Red Sox had home games at Fenway Park my Grandfather and my aunts Japanese boyfriend would go to the baseball games together.
Some people say the Ricoh old 50mm lens has some of the best bokeh.
Emily, I think you hearted a commend that may have been written by ChatGPT or something similar.
@@weisserth Wrong
The leaf shutter 👍
I guess I shall be sticking with my GX9 then!
I do like the look of this camera but didn't have the spare £900 for one! Instead Bought a like new 20mm F1.7 from MPB for my GX80 and it does pretty much the same job. I have also got the 14 mm so covers the other version of the camera as well.
Yesssss you’re speaking my language! That’s a great combo!
This might sound silly, but what about taking an Olympus tough with you on the street. It doesn’t have shutterspeed control but it offers the common aperture’s and in normal light it could perform competitive.
Ya know, I had the TG1 agessss ago and absolutely loved it! That’s a good idea!
No comparison in image quality.
please compare gr iii to iphone 14 pro 48mp raw ......
I used to own the original GRd, and there is something very special & unique about shooting with a GRd, feels like an extension of your hand, as the cliché goes. Does the latest version really have IBIS?? And they are a bit renowned/rumoured for failing after a few years use I've heard. The LX100 is very nearly the Lumix GRd...?
It does indeed, 3 axis ibis. It isn’t quite as good as the 5 axis we see in some (larger!) m43 cameras but it’s great for handheld long exposures 😊
I had a grd3 but I couldn't get to love it. Some of the images were very cool and gritty but wasn't always getting the results I wanted. Lx100 is a way different camera, grd has a compact camera sensor, lx100 a micro four thirds sensor. The only thing they have in common is that they are both dust magnets.
I like the .dng files from ricoh and Pentax. Waiting for a monochrome version
I had the Ricoh GR 3 had it for a year and sold it, I don’t get the hype but whatever makes people happy.
Awesome, Emily. The GR3X simply is the best😀 Thanks for sharing.
Loved your recent video on the Ricohs!
This is completely off topic, my apologies, but I'm hoping you have some first hand knowledge of a field monitor, around 5 inch screen size, that will work with my LUMIX GH5M2, that has a touch screen, with camera control.
I am having a heck of a time finding a definitive answer and I don't want to shell out the money only to find it doesnt function how I need it to. I've recently started photographing and filming as a volunteer for roller derby, and physical limitations make it so I cant squat or kneel to get the lower perspective shots I want. And, the game play can be quite quick, and difficult to follow and focus with a tiny screen. I'm trying to outfit my camera with a cage, handle, and screen so I can see what I'm doing if I hold it low, which is, of course, well away from my face.
I would be very appreciative of any info you have, if you have some time. No worries if you don't, I'll keep searching. :)
I just can’t decide between the GRiii or the GRiiix. How did you find the 40mm equivalent?
I’d recommend going out with a stock lens or similar, and only using it either at the 28mm or 40mm focal lengths, and see which one you like best.
For me, I love 40mm as it’s almost how the human eye sees (around 35mm) and it isn’t so wide that people start to look distorted. But it’s totally personal preference! I think both are great!
The 28mm works better with snap (zone) focussing due to the greater DoF. 40mm is a more flexible focal length as a do everything camera. I got fed up with dust and now use a lumix gx880 with 40mm and 14mm primes as a pocket solution (from MPB) but I do miss those lush positive film jpgs.
I use both. It all depends on your own preferences. Bear always in mind, that the GR 28mm and 40mm do not act like the same FL on a camera with viewfinder, because you hold the Ricohs closer to your subject.
Owned the GR3 for over 2 years, it’s nearly the perfect camera in my book.
@@Lennymcgra Did you have any issues with dust ?
I have Ricoh gr2 and gr3x. I had to buy gr3 when I think about my photography style... Anyway I absolutely love gr3x and don't look a7m3 anymore
The price is the only thing that stops me
You didn't mention the miserable battery life. That was a deal breaker for me. I loved images I got out of the GRII, the 28mm (eqv) lens, and the size, but the blip of battery life and the absence of a viewfinder were loud negatives against the admitted positives.
What is the red thing hanging off of the camera?
It's a peak design clip that can attach to any peak design wrist strap or accessory 😊
@@MicroFourNerds thank you!
I love my GRIIIx but not having a viewfinder is starting to get tiresome...
I prefer my Olympus EPL7 with the Lumix 20mm or the Lumix 14mm. Adjustable screen and possibility of adapting an electronic viewer. And the LCD screen on the old Olympus looks better than the Ricoh one. Plus the EPL7 has a good image stabilizer and good focus...😁 all for much less money
Great photos, and I think quite a fun little camera🥳 it’s very expensive for what it is tho 🤣
Fanks Josh! And thanks for being my out of focus model 😂📸
What are the other APSC alternatives? There are not too many...
Fuji X100 series
Nikon Coolpix A
Canon M series + 22mm f2 lens
@@cocteaufan to me the coolpix A is way nicer, slower autofocus but the build quality is like a tank
Maybe a x100v is a better, all be it bigger / more expensive option
This is not a video camera, but if you look on the left edge of the camera that is where the video button would be (I re assigned mine - as this is not a video camera!)
Autofocus isn't the best but that's why most people use snap focus
I have gr3,I sold my Leica q2 after using my GR
Sold my gr3, and super regret it. Plan on buying another soon.
The macro on the 28mm version is better
I´m just somewhere in grip and handling part... Either your hands are really small or you have bigger GR then the rest :D
PS I have just subscribed and liked the video :)
What most people do not get: You will not find a APS-C sensor camera with such a good APS-C lens on it. There is no lens from Nikon, Canon, Fuji, which comes close to the 28mm and 40mm in these Ricoh GR 3 and GR3x.
You get a Leica quality lens and the body is for free. The price is a bargain for this image quality. A Leica Q costs 3x of that and the other brands even do not have such a lens that can compete with the Ricoh GR lenses.
Top quality always with you!
By the way, I do not have AF issues at all. You have to learn how the AF is used best as with all cameras. The GR is not for shooting car racings, so it is not the fastest. But very reliable, if you pay attention to how and on what you focus.
I agree the lens is outstanding but i'd rather invest in glass that isn't permanently attached to a camera that will become obsolete (if not filled with dust)😀. Having an integrated lens does allow them to have elements internally which reduces the size considerably. Everything is a compromise, we choose which ones we're willing to accept.
@@bitsandblocks7826 Agreed, and I have to say I have never understood, and will never understand, the appeal of fixed fixed focal length cameras like the Fuji X100 series and Nikon A etc.
@dirks.3797 " There is no lens from Nikon, Canon, Fuji, which comes close " - Any of the Canon M cameras (maybe not the original M) plus the 22m f2 lens
you really think the lens is Leica-quality? Wow. That would make the GR a legit Leica successor (in terms of a small, unobtrusive and inconspicuous camera that enables you to take excellent photos)
Canon N for tiny camera.
It's perfect if you like dust on your sensor 😀
Yes! I’ve seen a few complaints about that, such a shame! I think there’s always a risk with these retractable lenses. I think the Lumix LX100 has the same issue
I use GR3 and 3x for a long time and never had dust issues. It always depends on how you treat your cameras ;)
@@MicroFourNerds i have heaps of spots on my LX 100 - almost becoming unusable... but i push through and just clone them out
@@owenrodgers8020 i have LX100 also with dust, had it cleaned once. Not as bad as my GRii as typically shooting f2-4 vs often f8 for street on APS-C GR, so the dust is more visible.
@@MicroFourNerds Yeah, the LX100 has a very bad rep for it :(
9:50 the Ricoh GRs do have really good photo profiles. There are some good sources to use some Ricoh recipes, as well.
Those profiles do a good job compared to Fuji.
Definitely a cool and interesting camera, but it literally costs as much as my S5 (without a lens tho), soooo yeah, too expensive 😅
Haha yes when you think of it in those terms omg 👀
You can not take a picture with the S5 without a lens. If you try to buy a 28mm or 40mm for the S5 with the same image quality, you have to spend at least 600€ for a lens that good.
Cute chanel!
I wish I had a dollar for every time I accidentally activated the exposure compensation toggle.
Ricoh GR users are not into auto-focus, it's all about speed which means - SNAP mode is all what these cameras about
With those negatives you highlighted.... it's not almost perfect... maybe somewhat ok of a camera.
Still prefer my EM10 and my LX7!
Girl, there is literally a special feature called "snap focus", which many Street and landscape photographers really love about the Ricohs, which would have solved your AF problem with that particular landscape photo. There really is 0 reason to be using AF for landscapes with this camera.
Snap focus is the fastest autofocus there is 👌
I agree
I have a poor man's gr, it's a canon s95
erganomic only if you right handed
Which one will you pick as EDC? - Ricoh GR3X
- Lumix LX100 Mk2
- Lumix GX9 + 20mm f1.7
I own the first one, but sometimes I think that other options could be better.
Thanks.
Emily, with auto-focus you may be running into two issues:
* not understanding the design concept around its focus system, in particular the zone focus based snap focus and how this camera is intended to be used
* based on the above and what settings you have, you may have snap focus on full press enabled by accident, setting the focus distance to the preset snap focus distance (you have to set and change), snap focus on full shutter button press with take precedent over actually focusing using contract detect - that would explain your out of focus shots
The GR series is meant to be used with zone focus based snap focus for fast action. You set the aperture, based on focal length/aperture you end up with DoF zones you set the snap focus distance to, then you can just simply point and shoot and everything in your zone will be in focus.
The actual contrast detect autofocus in the GR is a bit lackluster, especially in lower light. The GR is not a low light camera, in spite of the larger sensor and reasonable fast lens.
Yes I’ve been playing around with the snap focus recently, it’s an alien concept to me I must admit! I’ll give it a go 😁
@@MicroFourNerds The key to success is to either embrace it and leverage it or disable it in the settings, so you only use the contrast detect auto-focus.
Make sure you got the latest firmware on the GRIIIx as they've added more distance settings on the x to account for 26mm having shallower depth of field than the 18mm on the GRIII.
If you need the f2.8 aperture more than a deep DoF, the GRIIIx is not really a great camera, I've found that a small MFT body with either the 20mm f1.7 or the 17mm f1.8 is the better option. Something like a Pen E-PM2 with the 17mm f1.8 wins all day (and night) long against the GRIIIx for image quality, auto-focus at shallow depth of field shots.
@@weisserth Although I really love my MFT system, you only can get shallowee DOF with MFT, if you get closer to the subject as with a GR3x. By physics there is no way that MFT has less DOF with the 20/1.7 etc.if you have the same distance to the subject.
I find image quality of both GR3/GR3x better than my Lumix GX9. Even if I use the Leica 15/1.7.
While the snap focus feature is kind of innovative and understandably appealing to some photographers, I felt like it was not an excuse for lackluster AF. The GRs have PDAF plus CDAF, yet I was still frustrated about 10-20% of the time by my GR IIIx struggling to focus in less than bright light. All of my Panasonic cameras have better AF, from the GM1 to the G9. The GRs are unique, special cameras, but overhyped IMHO.
@@scottfineshriber5051 Than the GRs are just not for you. There is nowadays no bad camera anymore. Just a matter of preferences. I prefer to have the best image quality available in APSC in a extremely compact camera and a not class leading AF in low light than the other way around ;)
The GR is cult since it was introduced decades ago as film camera, because it could do things already in the analogue time, which no other camera was able to do. And at that tine there was a lot more competition. Leica Minilux, Leica Minilux Zoom, Minolta TC1 etc.. All these analogue compact cameras did cost 2x-4x than the old analogue Ricoh GRs of the same time.
There is a difference between cult and hype. The Fuji X100 is hyped. It has a 35/2.0 (in FF), APSC sensor. The lens is clearly worse than the lens in both GR3, it costs new 1599€ and is sold second hand (!) currently for over 2000€ (!), because Fuji can not keep up with the demand.
GR3 and GR3x are compared this a bargain. Kind of Leica lens with a lens cap which happens to have a 24MP sensor inside :)
A
The real problem I found with all Ricoh GR cameras is the lack of serious purpose, especially considering the price tag. Let me explain: for a small and light alternative to a normal camera, for pros or enthusiasts is very limited. No MF, no exposure triangle dials, no EVF (built in) and moderate aperture for low light. This camera can’t replace my Sony a6000 or the A7C. But the X100V or the Leica Q2 can (though I don’t like both for different reasons). To the contrary this is a camera that can (almost) easily replace the smartphone for a beginner or someone that wants just a point and shoot with great image quality. But again, the price makes it tough to recommend.
I was considering buying a small camera for every day carry for years and I was between the GRIII and the X100V… after intense research and thought I decided to convert my old a6000 to such a camera! I just paired it with a TTArtisan 23mm f1.4.
You're not the target demographic. Clearly compactness/weight isn't your *main* consideration. On the other hand I can stick the griii in my cycling bib, trail running vest or just keep in my pocket and hardly if ever notice it. Can't do any of that with an interchangeable system nor the x100 line.
This camera, price included is farrrrrrrrr superior to any average smartphone camera these days, it's not even comparable. I'd wager there are few who buy this as an upgrade from a smartphone vs a lateral movement or (more likely) downgrade from more professional gear.
I also have a small interchangeable setup. The x-t20 with several smaller primes. It sits on the shelf 90% of the time meanwhile the ricoh's in my pocket while I'm grocery shopping.. Different cameras for different people.
@@obomasinladen That demographic seems very limited... Obviously, is not sensible to pay 999$ for a camera that can't replace your smartphone while you are shopping. For that money though i expect a camera that can replace my bigger cameras in usability and image quality when i want to go light and my smartphone just can't make it. And Ricoh is also too underenginnered for my needs. In my region we have bright sunlight 300 days a year. Without EVF you can't shoot. The 2.8 aperture makes low light shooting a pain (is an f/4 equivalent). The limited controls is also a pain for an advanced photographer (i only shoot Manual on all of my cameras). Am i a different demographic? No. This is not an entry level or mainstream camera after all... Ricoh's target group historically was photographers not the average smartphone user. For 999$, at least give us the options...
The gr3 has a record button on the side for video, the same one to connect to wifi. I had one briefly but decided to sell it. I went back to my GM1 with 20mm and 45mm Olympus lens. Slightly less pocketable, but gives me way better results. Color science besides dynamic monochrome is way better on the Ricoh, but that's why lightroom presets exist.
The build quality feels like one of the worst cameras on the market... all the horror stories about dust getting inside the lens didn't warm me up either.... and it being the camera model with the most build quality and technical issues didn't aspire any confidence to hold on to this thing long end. I live in Brazil, this thing costs about 6 minimum wages. Autofocus is an absolute joke.
if it was made in Japan it would be a Leica beater Ricoh is cheating us with Vietnam build
Get a Sony a6000 series camera with a pancake lens - FE 40mm f2.5 - problem solved
The too overrated Ricoh GR cameras are too expensive.