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

Those who are familiar with the Ricoh GR camera series are aware of its importance in the industry. It's not your choice to shoot professional sports, cinematic video, or ultra-high ISO performance, and it's not your choice if pinpoint tracking is required. Let's just get that out of the way right now. Let's not forget about the lack of a flash, the poor battery life, the lack of TAv, and the lack of an exposure compensation rocker. br>br>Despite everything it doesn't/can't do, it has a lot to offer. It's a tiny package with an incredible APS-C sensor. The layout and button placement are excellent, and the C sensor is also excellent. The touch screen is well-designed; it isn't as good as Canon/Panasonic's, but it is superior to Olympus and Sony's. I've been a long-time fan of the GR series, having owned three copies of the original GR (released in 2013). Every time I thought it was unnecessary, I sold it, but I kept coming back to it. I didn't bother with the GRII because it wasn't that much better than the III (though I did buy it two weeks ago to tide me over until the III came out). br>br>The autofocus is noticeably better than the original and II, but it's still not a speed demon in my opinion. Ricoh is well aware of this, as should you be. The addition of phase detect has improved it slightly, but due to the layout and the fact that the lens moves back and forth to acquire auto focus, it isn't the fastest. However, other fixed lens cameras, such as the X100 series, the X70, and others, have similar tendencies. The GR cameras are known for their snap focus, and the addition of touch to focus makes it even easier to use. It's a nice touch to have the option of touching to move AF, touching to move focus points and also AF, and also touching to move focus points, AF, and fire. Because of the GRIII's attention to detail and features, most of the "Why doesn't this work in this mode?" questions are answered. ", which is a problem with other cameras. Yes, the battery life is abysmal. br>br> If you shoot normally (take a few shots, power off, power on, take a few shots, power off, etc. ), you'll get the 200-shot rating after a few cycles. The new body heats up faster than the old one, indicating that it's a power hungry beast; I've gotten as few as 110 shots/clips as well as as many as 320. However, much like the older GR/GRII batteries, which could be used with a variety of different brands, there are many generics that are compatible; simply search for GRIII compatible batteries (I believe those made for the Olympus TG Tracker are compatible). The lens is exceptionally sharp. br>br> Macro mode has been improved to a distance of up to 6cm. At two o'clock, the clock strikes two. I don't mind shooting at 2, and it gets better at f4. At macro range, the X100/X70 is soft, and it isn't sharp until 5 o'clock. The GR is fine at 2, but it's around 6 or so. br>br>The video quality isn't great, but it'll suffice in an emergency. Over the II, IBIS is a huge help with video. It's not my first choice because it only records in 1080/60, not 4k, and there are no mic/headphone jacks, but it'll suffice for casual footage of my children. I'll use my a7III for anything more serious. br>br>Picture profiles are very nice; they're not as well-known as Fuji film simulations, but they're still usable. Its native DNG output is one of my favorite features. br>br>Because you can have such a powerful little camera in such a small package, I can carry it around in a small bag, use the wrist strap, and not have to worry about carrying a heavy bag. You'll be more than satisfied with the end result if you understand the limitations going in. Do I wish it were cheaper? Who wouldn't be interested in that? However, I see myself carrying and using this on a regular basis. In almost every way, it surpasses the GRII. The camera starts up faster, the AF points move faster, and the use of face detect in standard shooting mode rather than just auto mode is fantastic. It lacks a flash (which I never used), TAv, and an exposure compensation rocker (which I never used and frequently hit by accident). I own an A7III, but I've been using the GR series more than the A7III in recent months. This isn't the one-camera-to-rule-them-all type of camera. But it's a fantastic option for what it does and in the size it does it in.

Tripp Lawson

| Sep 11, 2021

I was on the fence about this one at first, especially given the higher price tag at launch compared to previous models, but thanks to the reintroduction of phase-change technology, I decided to give it another chance. I decided to give the new hybrid AF system a try after adding detection (along with standard contrast detection). The loss of phase-shifting in the previous two models (GR and GRII) was my *only* complaint about them. the detection of The AF isn't as good as the older, smaller sensor versions, the GRDigitalIII and GRDigitalIV, despite how good they are. That has now changed, and I can report that, while it isn't as fast as the older models in low light, it can now focus in near darkness just like the older models, albeit with a few moments delay. The assist-light is very useful, but I never use it because no one likes to look at a green light pointed at them in the dark, and it detracts from the nature of these cameras - unobtrusive, swift, and stealthy br>br>I haven't had a chance to test the camera's wifi capabilities or other features, and I've only had a day to play with it. The original GR from 2013 was the first camera I ever pre-ordered. I'm glad I ordered it because I'm glad I did. This one does not appear to be one I will regret. Initial impressions are given five stars. After I've had a chance to get to know it better, I'll expand on this review in a few weeks or months. This camera line is one of my favorites; it's a true shooter's camera. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ br>I just wanted to add a couple of observations, despite the fact that I haven't had a chance to thoroughly test this. At the moment, wireless connectivity is at best shaky - Ricoh will apparently release a major app update in April that will fix some issues. I don't use these features very often, so I can't speak highly of them. br>The IBIS is fantastic, and shots I've taken at ISO6400 have ridiculously good IQ, far exceeding my expectations. I used to keep ISO at 800 (sometimes 1600 depending on the subject), but that's no longer the case. High-quality images have always been produced by these cameras. ISO noise that is far more aesthetically pleasing and film-like. grain- When compared to other digital sensor/lens combinations found on other cameras, this is especially true now. I was looking at 100% crops of images (both RAW and BMP formats). W JPG, but more on that later) and just admiring the natural-looking noise - It looks more like film grain than ever (I'm still a film shooter about 90% of the time or more) and not only in B. JPG files with the extension W Even RAW color transitions have a certain "look" to them that I find appealing. br>The JPG filter modes, particularly the B mode, have been expanded. There are now four or five different W styles to choose from, rather than just two, and they all look fantastic. br>The touchscreen is excellent (even though I'm not a big fan of touchscreens) and the additional focus options are very useful. The scroll is one of my favorites. Adding a wheel to the previous d- pad. It's very nice to use, and I think I'll prefer it to the old toggle that was removed. br>Overall, there have been a few times when I've been going through menus and shooting options that I've literally said out loud "oh wow - Ricoh, you had a great idea. " So, yeah, I'm having fun with this little beast. br>br>UPDATE EDIT 4/27/2021br>Just a quick update. This camera is still in my possession, and I adore it. The Wi- Fi transfer issues have been resolved (the app isn't particularly attractive, but it's fully functional and performs admirably, at least in my Android experience). Although the battery life is less than that of its predecessors, I've never been left stranded because I have two spares. Simply put, this is a fantastic camera that deserves far more attention than it has gotten thus far.

Solomon Khan

| Feb 11, 2021