Ricoh GR III Ricoh - Review 🏆

The Ricoh GR III is the latest model in Ricoh's GR series of premium compact cameras aimed at enthusiast and professional photographers. The GR lineup is renowned for packing DSLR-like image quality into a pocketable form factor, making the cameras ideal for street, documentary, and travel photography.

The GR III continues this tradition but also brings some important updates compared to previous models. It has a new 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor, improved image stabilization system, and redesigned lens and body. The camera retains the fast 28mm equivalent f/2.8 lens that has defined the GR series since its inception. Despite the upgrades, Ricoh has managed to keep the GR III remarkably compact.

This review will take an in-depth look at the GR III's design, features, image quality, performance, and how it compares to predecessor models. Key strengths like the large sensor, sharp lens, and portability will be weighed against any limitations. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview to help photographers evaluate if the GR III is the right premium compact for their needs.

Design and Build Quality

The Ricoh GR III has a compact and portable design despite packing a large APS-C sensor inside. It measures 109 x 62 x 33 mm and weighs just 257 grams with the battery and memory card. The lightweight magnesium alloy body provides durability while keeping the weight down.

The body has a minimalist design with just enough physical controls. There is a shutter speed dial on top along with a power switch surrounding it. On the back, you get a directional pad, AE-L button, playback button, menu button and a control dial. The buttons have good tactile feedback.

The build quality is excellent thanks to the metal body. The camera feels solid in the hand and can easily slip into a pocket. The textured rubber grip provides a nice hold. Overall, the GR III combines a compact size with robust build quality for traveling light while still feeling sturdy.

For those interested in street photography, the Ricoh GR III Street Edition is a special variant that offers a unique design and additional features tailored for street shooters. This edition includes an exclusive shutter button and a distinctive body finish, combining form with function for an enhanced street photography experience.

Image Sensor and Processor

The Ricoh GR III features an APS-C-sized CMOS image sensor with 24.2 megapixels resolution. This is a good sized sensor for a compact camera, providing increased light gathering ability and improved dynamic range compared to smaller sensors.

The sensor is paired with Ricoh's latest GR Engine 6 processor. This combination enables the GR III to capture images with excellent detail and low noise up to sensitivities of ISO 102400. The GR Engine 6 also provides quick operation, with start-up in just 0.8 seconds and virtually no shutter lag or shot-to-shot delay.

Overall, the large APS-C sensor and powerful processor give the GR III excellent image quality potential in a highly portable form factor. The size of the sensor is impressive considering how slim and compact the camera's body is.

The Ricoh GR IIIx shares many features with the GR III but introduces a new 40mm equivalent lens, which provides a slightly different perspective that can be advantageous for street photography and portraits. The GR IIIx retains the same APS-C-sized CMOS sensor and GR Engine 6 processor, ensuring high image quality and quick performance. This camera model aims to offer photographers more creative options while maintaining the compact and portable design that the GR series is known for.

Lens

The Ricoh GR III features a high quality 28mm equivalent F2.8 lens. With a fixed focal length of 18.3mm (28mm in 35mm equivalent), this lens provides a natural angle of view well-suited for street photography and everyday shooting.

The fast F2.8 maximum aperture allows for strong low light performance and the ability to achieve shallow depth of field for subject isolation. It can shoot at F2.8 all the way up to its minimum focus distance of 6cm.

For a lens of this focal length, F2.8 is very fast and allows you to shoot in low light conditions without boosting the ISO too high. This gives images a clean look with minimal noise.

The 9 blade diaphragm allows for pleasing bokeh and background blur when shooting wide open. Out of focus highlights take on a near circular appearance.

With 9 elements in 6 groups, the lens employs an aspherical ED glass element to control chromatic aberrations and deliver excellent corner to corner sharpness. Images are crisp with high resolution from edge to edge.

Ricoh's signature shake reduction is also built into the lens, providing 3 stops of stabilization during still photography. This allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds and still achieve sharp images. The stabilization smooths video footage as well.

Overall, the fixed 28mm F2.8 lens produces superb image quality in a compact form factor. Combined with the large APS-C sensor, it's a versatile setup for street, travel, and everyday photography.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed

The Ricoh GR III has a hybrid autofocus system that combines both contrast-detect and phase-detect autofocus for fast and accurate focusing. There are several focus modes available including Multi AF, Spot AF, Pinpoint AF, Subject Tracking AF, and Snap Focus.

For Multi AF, there are 49 autofocus points that cover a wide area of the frame. This makes it easy to quickly focus on subjects throughout the composition. Spot AF and Pinpoint AF allow you to precisely place the focus point on a very specific part of the frame. This is useful when you need to achieve critical sharpness on a small detail.

Subject Tracking AF will lock onto a subject and automatically track it as it moves across the frame. This is great for capturing sharp shots of moving subjects. Snap Focus allows you to preset a distance so the camera shoots instantly without waiting to focus. This is perfect for street photography when you need to react quickly to fleeting moments.

In terms of burst shooting, the GR III can shoot up to 4 frames per second in RAW mode. This allows you to capture fast action sequences with crisp image quality. The buffer depth is decent but not amazing, allowing around 18 RAW shots before slowing down. Overall, the autofocus capabilities and burst speed make the GR III a highly capable camera for street, documentary, and travel photography where responsiveness is key.

Video Capabilities

The Ricoh GR III can record Full HD 1080p video at up to 60 fps using the H.264 codec. Video quality is quite good with accurate colors and smooth footage when using the camera handheld thanks to the effective stabilization.

The maximum video resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels at 60, 50, 30, 25, and 24 fps. For slow motion, you can shoot at 120 fps at 1280 x 720 pixels. The camera uses NTSC or PAL formats depending on the region.

Videos are recorded in .MP4 format with H.264 compression. There is no option to shoot in more advanced codecs like H.265 unfortunately. The bitrate is capped at 36 Mbps at Full HD which is good but not amazing. Higher bitrates allow for more editing flexibility.

Overall, while the GR III can capture decent quality videos, the video capabilities are not a highlight and more of an afterthought. The camera is primarily designed for still photography. Serious videographers would likely opt for another camera with more controls, higher bitrates, microphone input, and other advanced video features.

Connectivity and Battery

The Ricoh GR III offers decent connectivity options and battery life for a compact camera. In terms of ports, it has a USB Type-C port which can be used for charging and data transfer. For wireless connectivity, it has WiFi and Bluetooth which allows you to transfer images to your smartphone or control the camera remotely.

The GR III uses a rechargeable DB-110 lithium ion battery which Ricoh claims will provide up to 200 shots per charge. However, real world battery life is likely to be less than the claimed figure, especially if you use features like the LCD display or wireless connectivity more heavily. The battery can be charged either via the USB port or an optional AC adapter. While the battery life is not exceptional, it's fairly standard for a compact camera of this size. Having USB charging does make it easy to top up when needed.

Overall, the connectivity options on the GR III are good but not class-leading. The addition of Bluetooth is nice for remote control and image transfer. Battery life is decent enough for casual shooting, but you may need to carry a spare battery or USB powerbank if planning to shoot all day. The USB-C charging is convenient for travel when you can easily use the same charger for your phone and camera.

Image and Video Quality

The Ricoh GR III produces excellent image quality for a compact camera thanks to its large APS-C sensor and sharp lens. Images show crisp details, pleasing colors, and good dynamic range.

Low light performance is also quite good, with the camera able to shoot up to ISO 6400 before noise becomes too obtrusive. Images at high ISOs retain fine details well. The camera does a good job controlling noise reduction so details aren't overly smeared when shooting JPEGs.

The 28mm equivalent wide angle lens is extremely sharp in the center at all apertures. Corners are a touch soft at the maximum aperture of f/2.8 but sharpen up nicely by f/4. The lens resolves fine details very well.

While not a dedicated video camera, the GR III can capture 1080p full HD video at up to 60fps. Video quality is good, showing nice details and accurate colors. The built-in microphone picks up clear audio within close range. Manual exposure controls and focus peaking allow for creative video capture.

Overall the GR III delivers excellent image quality for a compact camera thanks to its large sensor, sharp lens, and capable imaging processor. It can hold its own against some interchangeable lens cameras for still photos and video.

Pros and Cons

The Ricoh GR III has a lot of great features and capabilities for a compact camera, but it also has some limitations to be aware of.

Pros

• Excellent image quality and resolution from 24MP APS-C sensor
• Very sharp 28mm equivalent f/2.8 lens
• Compact, lightweight, and discreet design
• Fast autofocus and responsive shooting
• In-body image stabilization
• Intuitive controls and user-friendly interface
• Built-in ND filter
• Snap focus and macro shooting modes
• Good high ISO noise performance
• USB-C charging

Cons

• Fixed 28mm lens may be too wide for some users
• Limited controls and customizability
• No built-in viewfinder
• Mediocre battery life
• No weather sealing
• Video capabilities are basic
• Single memory card slot
• No tilting screen

The Ricoh GR III combines great image quality and shooting capabilities in a highly portable body. The fixed 28mm lens produces sharp, distortion-free images but may be too wide for those who prefer more telephoto perspectives. It excels for street, documentary, and everyday shooting if you can work within its focal length. While not without some limitations, the GR III is a powerful pocket camera for the right photographer.

Conclusion

The Ricoh GR III is a unique and compelling camera for those who value portability, image quality, and a streamlined shooting experience. Its highly compact magnesium alloy body houses an APS-C sensor, making it one of the smallest cameras with such a large sensor. This gives it the advantage of DSLR-like image quality in a pocketable form factor.

The fixed 28mm equivalent lens produces sharp images and is great for street photography. The camera excels in capturing candid moments discreetly. Autofocus is snappy and accurate, ensuring you don't miss shots. The addition of image stabilization expands low light shooting capabilities.

Overall image quality is excellent, with pleasing colors, low noise, and impressive dynamic range. JPEGs are nicely processed but RAW files allow for more editing flexibility. The GR III produces clean video as well but lacks advanced features like 4K.

The streamlined design omits a viewfinder and has limited external controls. This keeps operation simple and straightforward. The touch screen interface works well for changing settings. Battery life is relatively short but acceptable for the size.

For photographers who value portability, simplicity, and excellent image quality, the Ricoh GR III is easy to recommend. It condenses the capabilities of a large sensor camera into a remarkably compact and discreet body. The fixed lens design may limit versatility but provides outstanding sharpness and low light performance in a take-anywhere form factor.