Ricoh GR III with GC-9 Soft Case Ricoh - Review 🏆

The Ricoh GR III is a premium compact digital camera that packs impressive imaging capabilities into a portable body along with the GC-9 soft case. This high-end point-and-shoot features a large APS-C sized sensor, fast prime lens, and robust set of manual controls, making it a versatile option for street, travel, and everyday photography.

The GR III combines its large sensor with a newly developed 18.3-megapixel sensor and GR Engine 6 to deliver outstanding image quality. It has a fixed 28mm equivalent F2.8 lens made up of 6 elements in 4 groups, which produces sharp images with smooth bokeh. The camera offers quick autofocus, fast continuous shooting, and can capture Full HD video.

For portability, Ricoh designed the GR III to be lightweight and compact. It includes WiFi, Bluetooth, and USB-C connectivity for wireless image transfer and charging. The camera is also dustproof and weather-resistant for use in varied conditions. To protect the compact body during transport, Ricoh offers the optional GC-9 soft case which is tailored specifically for the GR III.

Design

The Ricoh GR III features a compact and lightweight design that makes it easy to carry around. Despite its small size, the camera still includes a large APS-C sized sensor, which allows it to deliver impressive image quality.

The body is made of magnesium alloy which provides durability while still remaining lightweight. The GR III weighs just 257 grams including the battery and memory card. The dimensions are 109.4 x 61.9 x 33.2 mm, so the camera can fit into a pocket or small bag.

The minimalist design contains just enough physical controls without cluttering the body. There is a control dial on the front and a thumb pad on the back for adjusting settings. Overall, Ricoh focused on creating a simple, portable camera that doesn't sacrifice image quality or usability.

In addition to the GR III, Ricoh offers the Ricoh WG-60, a rugged camera designed for outdoor adventures. The WG-60 is waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof, making it ideal for a variety of environments. With a 16 MP sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens, it captures sharp images and detailed close-ups. This camera also features a unique LED ring light for macro photography, allowing users to explore the beauty of nature even in challenging lighting conditions.

Image Sensor

The Ricoh GR III features a 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS image sensor, which is a significant upgrade from the 16.2 megapixel sensor found in the previous GR II model. The increased resolution allows photographers to capture images with more fine details and creative cropping flexibility.

The sensor also provides a sensitivity range of ISO 100-102400, enabling low noise images in low light conditions. Combined with the fast f/2.8 lens, the GR III can produce clean images even when shooting handheld in dim environments.

Overall, the upgraded 24MP sensor gives the GR III excellent image quality and high resolution images while retaining the portability of the camera. This allows users to get DSLR-like quality from a compact camera design.

Lens

The Ricoh GR III features a 28mm f/2.8 fixed focal length lens, which provides a classic wide-angle view that's ideal for street photography and landscapes. The fast f/2.8 aperture allows for beautiful bokeh and performs well in low light conditions.

The 28mm focal length encourages you to get close to subjects and take in the wider scene. It's an immersive perspective perfect for travel photography. The lens produces sharp images edge-to-edge, even when shooting wide open at f/2.8.

Overall, the fixed 28mm f/2.8 lens is a crucial part of what makes the GR III such a great camera for street, travel and everyday photography. The wide angle perspective lets you capture more of the scene while the fast aperture produces pleasing bokeh and low light performance. It's an outstanding lens in a compact camera.

Performance

The Ricoh GR III delivers fast autofocus and good high ISO performance, making it a capable performer for street photography and travel. Its hybrid AF system combines both contrast-detect and phase-detect AF for fast and accurate focusing.

In good lighting conditions, the GR III can lock focus in around 0.2 seconds. Focusing slows slightly in low light, but is still respectable at around 0.7 seconds. Combined with the snap focus mode, you can capture fleeting moments quickly.

The GR III has an ISO range from 100-102,400. Image noise is well-controlled through ISO 6400, with some softening of fine details at the highest sensitivities. But overall high ISO performance is very good for a compact camera. The effective image stabilization also allows you to use slower shutter speeds to keep ISO lower.

So if you need a pocketable camera that can keep up with fast action and perform well in low light, the Ricoh GR III delivers on both fronts. Its autofocus, high ISO capability, and stabilization make it a great choice for street, travel, and spontaneous photography.

Video

The Ricoh GR III has full HD 1080p video recording capability at 60fps. This allows you to capture high-quality video with smooth motion.

The camera uses H.264 compression which is efficient for sharing and editing videos without losing too much quality. Slow motion effects can also be achieved by recording in 120fps at 720p resolution.

For creative control, you can adjust parameters like shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and exposure compensation when shooting videos. The built-in stereo microphone records audio, but there is also a mic input if you want to use an external microphone for better sound quality.

Overall, the Ricoh GR III provides good video features in a compact camera, making it versatile for both stills and video. The full HD resolution gives you enough detail for sharing online or viewing on an HDTV. Slow motion options expand the creative possibilities.

Connectivity

The Ricoh GR III has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for wirelessly transferring images to a mobile device and remote camera control.

The camera has 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi which allows you to connect the GR III to a smartphone or tablet running the dedicated Image Sync app. Image Sync enables seamless image transfer and remote release capability. You can browse images on the camera, select images to transfer, and remotely trigger the shutter and adjust certain settings.

For even more convenient wireless transfers, the GR III has Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) which maintains a constant connection to your mobile device. This allows quick image transfer without having to connect Wi-Fi each time. The constant Bluetooth connection also enables a helpful auto-transfer function - as soon as you take a photo, it will instantly be sent to your paired mobile device.

The wireless connectivity makes it easy to share your photos directly from the camera without having to mess with cables or memory card readers. You can quickly edit and share your images on the go with your mobile device. The remote control capability also adds flexibility when shooting in difficult positions or taking self-portraits.

Battery Life

The Ricoh GR III has a rechargeable DB-110 lithium-ion battery that provides enough power for up to 200 shots per charge based on CIPA standards. This is decent battery life for a compact camera, but not exceptional.

Some key factors that affect battery performance include:

• The GR III has a 24MP APS-C sensor which requires more power than a smaller sensor. This reduces shots per charge compared to a camera with a smaller sensor.

• The GR III does not have an electronic viewfinder. Using the rear LCD screen drains battery faster than an EVF.

• Image stabilization is provided by a 3-axis sensor-shift system. This requires battery power and can reduce battery life.

• Cooler weather can reduce battery performance. The battery may drain faster when shooting outdoors in cold conditions.

To help extend battery life, there are a few steps users can take:

• Turn off image review after taking a photo. The rear screen drains battery when used.

• Use flash sparingly or turn it off when not needed. The flash is a drain on battery.

• Enable the auto-off feature to power down the camera after a period of inactivity. This prevents battery drain when the camera is not in use.

• Carry spare batteries and recharge as needed for longer shooting sessions or travel.

While not best-in-class, the GR III battery life is workable for a compact camera of this type. Carrying an extra battery or two provides insurance for full-day outings.

GC-9 Soft Case

The GC-9 Soft Case is a slim, form-fitting case designed specifically for the Ricoh GR III camera. It has a soft, supple exterior made of quality materials that protect the camera without adding bulk.

The case fits snugly around the GR III's compact body, with cutouts for the controls and lens. This allows full operation of the camera without needing to remove it from the case. The soft texture makes it easy to grip and handle the camera while providing padding to absorb bumps and minor impacts.

Inside the case is a microfiber lining that prevents scratches and scuffs to the camera body. The soft interior provides an extra layer of protection for the screen and controls when the camera is stored in a bag.

The slim profile of the GC-9 case maintains the excellent portability and pocketability of the GR III camera. It can easily slide into a jacket pocket or small bag. The soft exterior material also reduces the risk of the case scratching or damaging items it rubs against in a bag.

Overall, the GC-9 Soft Case offers Ricoh GR III owners a tightly fitting, protective case that adds minimal size and weight. It balances safeguarding the camera with maintaining the compact form factor that makes the GR III so convenient to carry everywhere.

Pros and Cons

The Ricoh GR III has many pros that make it an appealing camera for street, travel, and everyday photography. Its compact size makes it highly portable and discreet. It can fit into a pocket, which is a major advantage for street photographers who want to remain inconspicuous. Image quality is excellent with vivid colors, sharp details, and great high ISO performance up to ISO 6400. The snap focus feature allows you to pre-focus on a specific distance so you can capture fleeting moments instantly without delay.

However, the GR III does have some drawbacks to consider. The lens is fixed at 28mm equivalent so there is no optical zoom capability. This limits the lens' versatility for different compositions and zooming will have to be done digitally with some loss in image quality. Battery life is rather limited at around 200 shots per charge. Heavy users may need to invest in multiple batteries or an external charger. The fixed lens and battery life are tradeoffs for the compact size. Overall the Ricoh GR III excels in portability and image quality but has some limitations as any fixed lens camera would.