The Ricoh GR series is a perennial staff favorite, and in this week's episode, Chris takes the new GR III to an industrial area, does some street photography in the sunny city, and drinks a tasty beer at a new brewery. Oh, and he'll also tell you what he thinks about the camera.
I just received mine today. A couple notes I haven’t seen mentioned in reviews:
1) The latest iPad Pro will charge the camera when connected via a usb-c cable
2) Bluetooth is broken for iOS devices. Supposedly Ricoh is working on a firmware fix
3) The JPG settings are very customizable! Surely not news to existing GR owners but it looks flexible enough to deliver good results SOOC depending on taste. This is going to require a lot of trial and error to get it set right.
Great review thanks guys. Just got mine, it's the third GR I've owned over the years, so I'm obviously a fan and I think it's the best GR yet. The only thing that's a little disappointing for me is the battery life, but it's a good tradeoff for image stabilisation, sensor cleaning and a touch screen, like Chris said an extra battery is a good idea. I cycle everywhere and the one handed operation, snap focus and the 28mm focal length make it a fantastic camera for one handed shots while riding. All in all it's a fun to use high quality little camera that can live in your pocket, I love it! BTW mine has the slightly wobbly control dial some people are concerned about, to be honest I wouldn't have noticed it and it doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Looks like a fantastic update to an already-great camera! It seems a little pricey, but maybe that will come down with time. I also wish this had a flip screen, as waist-level shooting works really well for me in trying to be unobtrusive.
What about the handling? For example, it doesn't say anything about missing the exposure compensation and AF-S - C-AF controls which for me it's so good to have, that's why I just bought a GR II for half of the GR III price.
Yes, you can disable the SR, and the camera even offers an 'Auto SR' mode that disables SR when the camera is using faster shutter speeds. Handy, battery saving feature.
But also, the Ricoh happens to be a follow-up to a long series of legendary cameras. It is much easier to review such a camera since a lot of things (like lens, UI, general camera behaviour etc) are carryovers from previous iterations.
The S1/S1R are brand new, very expensive cameras that for sure require the testers to spend a lot of time getting acquainted with the camera before they can even start the review process. No such problems with the GR.
Understandable,...but doesn't get DpReview off the hook. The S1 and S1R were announce/available weeks ago,....I'm just hearing of the GR-III and the review is complete already;.....what,...within a week! That's all I'm saying.... I was especially interested in the S1/S1R comparison to the Z6/Z7 more than anything.
Dude, what about the hotshoe you put the viewfinder on ... can't you put a small flash on that ... is it for a flash ... if so is it TTL with a Pentax flash?
This is a really good camera. I did like it from the review. But as an X100 series fan, can't wait for Fuji to up their game in the fixed prime lens camera field. It's been 2 years already Fuji what are you doing?
If you don't know or value the advantages of a dedicated camera over a phone – with or without the help of above video-review – then I guess you're better off sticking to your phone.
Happy owner of the Ricoh GR III and Huawei Mate 20 X - one of the best camera phones.
I prefer the Ricoh GR III for:
1) Photos which are displayed on large 4k monitor (way more sharpness).
2) Night shots without ugly lens-flares around the street lights.
3) Sharp photos of a moving children in available light, because it is easier to adjust the minimum shutter speed with the dedicated camera with 3 user modes on the dial.
4) Any post-processing in Lightroom.
Huawei is better for:
1) DOF control (SW based but still quite good). Shame the Ricoh doesn't have a f/2 lens.
cellphones are , decent image makers in good light at iso 20 and are mostly idiot proof and automatic , they serve their audience well of people who know little or nothing of photography .... what is amusing to see is when one of the cellphone newbies actually take a serious interest in creative thinking photography and starts outfitting these camerasphones with all manner of gadgets to make them behave like a real camera until they resemble a absurd contraption...... when all they need is a decent compact camera or a small ilc to grow
i could say you know nothing about real cameras .....couldn't i ?
instead i will tell you a truth that most cellphone users dont have the intellectual honesty to face ... a real camera with a real lens, with actual working apertures with sensors 10 to 50 times size of the 1 to 3 sensors used computationally in the latest cellphones make mincemeat of any cellphone ............ any ..... as i said iso 20 in good light can give a good image
why not accept that?
the truth is , even with all these sensors and all the computational magic and ai image "fusing " cellphones at iso 400 or 800 look like what real cameras do at iso 51200 or worse they offer little creative freedom .... and look like crap to those who know and use actual cameras with real lenses and sensors ...........................period
and im here every day ......lol
real shooter use real lenses and cameras ....not using lenses that at f 2 are f 11 to f 16 in equivalency like cellphone are
and you talk like a koolaid aficionado for the cellphone follies
the actual camera chemical to digital nhas been around for 150 years a decent cellphone camera for what the last 5 to 10 deppending on how low your standards are?
youre adorable .............dont ever change ...... some people seems to champion what ever they personally use and have bonded to emotionally
which is why you hear this nonsense about the death of the headphone jack .... or the best camera has miniscule sensors fusing 2 or 3 images into a passiable image that been happening for the last .....what 3 years ? lol or a cellphone screen is good if it has bulletholes or trapazoidal cutouts? ....lol
i dont know what a bobble is , but i do know what a real camera sensor, a real camera lens, a real working aperture , and machine to house them is , and will continue to use one
you keep using the cellphone idiot slab until you throw it away in 18 months to 2 years eand get the next idiot slab with 5 or 6 substandard sensors fused in an unholy alliance !!!! until you toss that in 2 years
its great and it makes a passable image when i must send something to a friend or family member
when i need more i use a camera ..... because i take photography seriously ... and importantly know how to use one .... which i suspect is unmentionable root of the problem
if you cant understand how your gx8 and nx 500 surpass a cellphone in every metric .... most importantly creativitity and choice ,, iso behavior etc etc etc etc
please read my comments carefully ,,,, as they are written carefully
i never spoke of your ability to use a camera, i simply am addressing your understanding of the actual differences between say a gx8 , nx500 and a cellular camera.... i believe you have a strong affection for the abilities of a cellphone .... ive never said they cannot take a passable image
but they are inferior to your cameras in every and all metrics .... they lack the convenience of the cell phone to be sure , and i concede that
but i would suggest you conside what your cellphone actually does compared to a camera for iso dynamic range and creative control
there is no comprison of the overwhelming domination of a camera over a cellphone ....ok currently .... i suggest you compare a iso 3200 image from your cell to a camera
there is no comprison of the overwhelming domination of a camera over a cellphone ....ok currently .... i suggest you compare a iso 3200 image from your cell to a camera
I have already compared them....the cell phone at iso 4000.
i would welcome you iso 4000 cellphone images done at hmmm lets say 1\60 sec . vs a camera apsc for instance ... if you fuse 3 to 9 images taken 1\10 of a sec apart .... that not real time shooting
As I mentioned awhile back in another posting/comments section, I don't know what to think of the GR III. I personally (subjective) like the output, size, the fact that it (finally) has IS, a dust buster, and a 28 MM lens. All of these things tick off the right checklist for me. However, I can't get over that $900 USD price. Now if this were priced at $600 USD, then there'd be no hesitation on my part.
I think I'll just sit back and wait (and watch) to see if these are selling in droves that will cause Ricoh to keep it at the current price level - or, if the sales are not what was originally anticipated. In that event, I would wonder if Ricoh would drop the price some? My not having had a previous Ricoh camera (other than a 35 MM model used back when I was a Marine in VietNam in 68/69), is Ricoh/Pentax known for dropping the prices after a period of time? I know that with some brands you'll rarely see a price drop.
It’s like the Nikon A, in that regard. These cameras don’t make it easy to extract their full IQ, and have a lot of limitations, compared to some 1in cameras.
So I really hope the used market price plummets the same way the A did ;).
Ben the GR II had an MSRP of $799 and is currently selling at B&H for $549. As you know history has a tendency to repeat itself so after the early adopters pay the piper I easily see it dropping to a more stomach-able price range
Prices of GRs typically are stable over several years. You may need to wait several years to see the $300 price drop you are hoping for. The GRii is under $600, maybe that’s an option for you?
I have the XF10. I like it, but it is heavily compromised by design. Arguably, Ricoh can get away with charging as they do because Fujifilm put on such a poor show. There’s nothing else to compete with Ricoh in the segment they now own.
Not really the same segment. The difference between 28mm and 35mm is more significant than you might think. Then there’s the hybrid VF and added bulk. The X100 is its own segment.
I tried the XF10 for a week as soon as it became available. Overall its a very nice and a reasonably priced camera. I liked the image quality, design and usability. But its AF is both slow and unreliable even in room light. The GRII at that moment was already out of stock. Fortunately, I came across a new Nikon A that got stuck at one of local stores for all these years. I got an offer I couldn't resist and bought it. I love it a lot.
I don't get it. It is significantly better than the xf 10, which is longer on the market and thus has a lower street price and it trumps the x100f in sharpness across the frame and some other areas, which still costs 400$ more. Seems like a reasonable position. I see it as a highest quality 28mm lens, where 600-800$ would not be too much - a Zeiss 28 2.8 Biogon is 1141$ - with an attached sensor and with sensational one-hand operability and all adjustment possibilities of a professional camera in a pocketable body.
tinetz... how is it "significantly" better than the XF10 (which was introduced at $500)? It's AF isn't any faster, they both have 24mp sensors, both lenses produce quality images (for non pixel peepers), etc ... Don't get me wrong...I prefer the GR, but it is $900 and has many flaws.
Seriously? I don't get some people's ability to have an absolute price meter for cameras. The Nikon A has been introduced for 1100€, the GRII for 800€, the Fuji X100F is for 1300€, the GRIII has IBIS, a newly developed corner to corner sharp lens and is ergonomically and sizewise a descendent of a family of cameras from Ricoh people seemed to like that much, that they sold every single piece as fast as they could produce it. In which world would you consider a price of 399 for this product in 2019 just at the introduction in any way sensible? If you think the Fuji gives you the same for this price, go for it. But I'm not alone in thinking that you get with both what you pay for.
Where did I ever say $399? After 5 years...the GR III still has antiquated focus compared to most other cameras in 2019. It hasn't improved in high ISO too much either in 5 years. I've used 5 of the 7 Ricoh GR digital models and even a film version. I've checked out the GR III. I've used the XF10. Have you?
That said, I'll likely buy a GR III eventually... but it needs some serious firmware help and some QC assurance from Ricoh after the recent recalls.
Is this a plea for the XF10 or just a complaint about the GRIII? However, if you are so happy with the first, why wasting time with the latter? My joyful experience with GRII was never related to the AF-speed but the excellent sharpness. If speedy AF is your thing, you might not the target group, but maybe the Fuji might also not be the best choice.
My point of view is coming from using the XF10, which I thought didn't get the job done compared to my other Fujis. It also comes from waiting for a proper update to the GR / GR II for many years just to have them drop the ball on the AF. After many years, most Fuji cameras finally have decent AF speed. I figure Ricoh would join them. Most cameras have excellent sharpness IMO. You could be right about me no longer being the target, but I sure was the target when I used the other GR models over a 20 year period. I'm just a little disappointed as a former user. But I'll get over it and buy a GR III used eventually.
Well sad. Can't comment on the Xf10 AF, but the tenor seems to be a negative. And the GR should at least top that. But it will not be a sport style tracking cam though. Good luck.
I agree it is expensive, but XF10 or X70 are not really cameras that left an impression like GR did. I'm guessing they're targetting all users who were satisfied with previous versions, and after 4-5 years of being happy with a GR, maybe buying the new one with some of the originals shortcomings fixed is not a bad idea. I'm just guessing...
The GRII has one thing over all other APSC cameras, it happens to be truly pocketable. More so than the rx100 series due to lens size. This is priceless, as I’ll actually take it with me. Can’t pocket the X100 Or XF10 even
Good review. Potential buyers of the GR should be clear about what this camera is for - which is photography, especially street photography, landscape, travel, kids at the playground. It's a great and fun walk around camera.
if you're concerned about what this camera can't do it may not be for you. It's not a system camera. It's not meant to be used in all applications. it's tiny. it's the kind of camera you can have on you at all times, and if you don't end up using it you won't be kicking yourself for lugging a bigger ILC camera around.
Hey guys, a comparison to one of the better camera.phones would be great.
Pixel 3, iPhone X etc.
My Pixel is amazing me, especially low light (night sight) not sure I'd want to carry a point and shoot around without knowing how much better the dedicated camera could be.
Genuinely interested in a comparison, even just studio scenes.
Yeah, I agree it would be interesting to have some metrics as to the difference, especially in situations which would highlight the difference such as low light. (if only to show it's still a dumb comparison)
I've looked at many of the comments, and I'm surprised at how few people have commented about the nearly $1000 official price. This community must have more accommodating spouses than I do!
Perhaps most people (at least those who are really interested in the camera and don't want to just leave a comment) weigh up whether the GRII for $550 (introductory price was also $800) or the GRIII for $900 more suits their needs. Both are excellent cameras and both have unique selling points despite the common concept. It's great to have such a choice.
Thanks for including some B/W. I still shoot an old GRD III with a stuck and non-retracting lens occasionally just for its gritty B/W jpg engine. :) I'll be getting one of these.
looking forward to this. Still wish Nikon would make another Coolpix A, and I would love to see Sigma do another DP Merrill compact revamp, perhaps with some of things borrowed from Ricoh GR
The Fuji group on facebook shows you how wrong fuji is. For every 10 cameras posted there, at least 7 has added grips to it. Makes not sense at all. Look at the sony's A6xxx series. Compact and a great grip. But my complain for sony is the menus. I have a added grip to my camera X-T20, otherwise I could not hold this horribly designed camera. But I had to glue it to the camera, because the added grip screws on the bottom, making the SD card way more difficult to be taken out.
Far less compact? Are you saying that before or after you stick a 4 to 10 inch lens in front of it? This makes no sense at all. This compactness BS. I'm talking about 1/2 inch material in front with the grip. Smaller than the camera's battery. So you don't hurt your hand trying to hold on that tinny grip they have. I guess if you use the 27mm it's not a problem, but anything bigger it's pain.
@Rihas I guess some of us like the x-t20 because we like shooting with small compact primes. I would argue that if you want to shoot with fuji’s Larger lenses they make other models more suitable for that, and I’d rather they didn’t ruin my experience by catering to large lens shooters when they already have good options.
The most successful apsc camera on the market has a "huge grip". A6400 is extremely comfortable. But hey, you like the X-T20. Good for you. I glued a grip to it. Besides the grip, the camera is pretty solid.
A6xxx series. I mention the A6400 because it's almost the same as the other ones. Mirrorless is definitely one of the best selling. The other one would be canon M50 that also has a conformable grip.
I used Sugru to make a grip for the front of my X100F. No worries about access to the battery compartment. Sure it looks a bit funky but it works and doesn't add any bulk....and it's cheap and easy to remove if needed.
I use the 18mm, 23mm f/2 and 35mm f/1.4, all of which are bigger than the 27mm. I also adapt old manual lenses for use on Fuji. I have large hands and holding the X-T20 is not a problem.
For the uninitiated beware of snap focus at small apertures at f2.8 one really needs to be aware exactly how far the subject is from the camera at f8 well with the extra dof there is less to worry about
Slight correction...doesn't the Fuji X100 have a 23mm lens that is 35mm effective focal length on it's APS-C sensor?
A nice camera, but a small built in flash is a serious omission. With the electronic shutter I assume you could get very high flash sync speeds for outdoors fill-flash, like you can with the X100. I'd pass based on this...one of the best features of the X100 series.....
every gr and gr d had a flash a superb one that could be tuned manually to 1\64 power .... ...its why i dont have this on my short list ..... someone at the company with too much power ... diminished this venerable line
I've shot with a Ricoh GR on the street since it came out. For my style of street, there is no comparison. Not Leica, not Fuji, Not Sony. I've owned all of them.
The flash I have used maybe twice, so removing it and the dreadful exposure compensation rocker switch were to plusses in my book :)
The battery life decreasing is the biggest issue, but I shoot with the screen off and will turn off IS, so I'm hoping it's not as bad as people make out...
evil, flash is useful .. and important to creativity and emergency light use , uven if you were not able to warm to it ...the 1 \ 64 or 1\32 flsh manually could turn a garbage sunlight eyesocket shadow disaster into a lovely portrait shot
old school is the best school i had a gr 21 film back in the day and also olympus xa and minolta m mounts cle w rokkor 40 and would use manual flash sometimes with calculation
I wish Sony, with its miniaturisation know-how and electronic expertise, would make the same camera, but with its 1-inch sensor, similar to its RX100 but with a fixed 28mm lens. That would mean better AF, longer battery life, an EVF, tilting screen, a built-in flash, and possibly a faster f/2 lens, fixing all the weaknesses of this Ricoh street shooter. For such a camera, a small loss of IQ (from the GR) is not important.
How big would you want such a camera to be? I would love such a camera that's around the GR's size, I find smaller hampers handling a bit. I think Sony could easily fit a f/1.4 or even faster lens if it's a 1-inch sensor on a body that size.
@Och, I think it depends on how big a battery Sony needs to put inside its GR-like camera. All those extra features, like PDAF sensor, Eye-AF, etc needs power to work. I would think that f/2 is already a big improvement for such a camera, and, that more depth of field and small size, if not longer battery, are more important than more bokeh for a street camera.
Sony RX100 series manage to get much more than just 200 shots ,with flash on half of the time on its tiny battery ,than this Ricoh without flash at all. And Sony does this with a viewfinder, OIS , 4K and many other features lacking in this Ricoh. Needless to say it is also smaller. The 24-70 Zeiss lens starts at F1.8 , by 28mm it gets to F2.2 which is still brighter than a sucker 2.8.
My advice for people who are curious about this camera:
If you are not into street or candid shooting, move on. This is a camera is specifically made for that, not for you. Compromises are well chosen, even the lack of flash and the limited battery life. No, it does not double as a family camera or travel camera well. For the street shooter, it is the best there is. The only real disappointment for me is the lack of a tilt screen.
I wish there was some comment about the resolution in cropped (35mm EFL) mode, as that is a potential significant improvement and another reason for upgrading (besides the new features already mentioned), given the higher resolution of this new sensor.
Owning the GR and waiting for my GRIII, I disagree as to its use being limited to street and candid shooting. I rarely shoot "street", I shoot landscapes, travel and nature(utilizing the macro mode for flowers and insects). It's small form factor and excellent images make for a great camera when hiking or traveling.
@mgm2. No, it's not "limited" to only street and candids. You can of course use it for hiking, travelling etc, but then the lack of a zoom, EVF, articulated screen plus the high price would make most people wonder, as pointed out by numerous posters.
@Sergey Borachev, @unbelievable, If you think you'll miss zooming or changing lenses then clearly you're not the target audience. However, there are already a lot of cameras that suit your needs.
@Duchamps, Read my two posts again. I think you misunderstood my messages. I.was arguing that if street or candid is not one of your interests, it would be hard to justify this camera. I myself love the camera with a fixed prime. There are those however who mentioned travel etc, which can be done with this camera for sure, but they could use better cameras for such use cases.
@Sergey, you were not arguing in your first post. "My advice...If you are not into street or candid shooting, move on. This is a camera is specifically made for that, not for you... No, it does not double as a family camera or travel camera well" is not arguing is simply saying "that is, period". I own the GR and took my best travel shots because it's so small and IQ is so good. And I'm one of those who carry also a full mirrorless set in a bag while traveling but the GR is always in my hand ready to shoot.
There’s no reason to try and box it off and say it is or isn’t for certain forks! This is a camera for anyone who likes 28mm that requires great IQ and a pocket size...
There is something about the images coming from this camera that just doesn't trigger my enthusiasm. Funny thing is: images from version II have this power. I don't know if the "problem" are the colors, contrast or whatever.......anyone have any ideas about this?
Yes! That would be very useful. When phone IQ isn’t enough but don’t want to bring a lot of gear outdoors or where nature and the elements are an issue. Fit in a jacket pocket or cargo shorts kind of size. At least for me, that comes up a fair amount. I’ve taken the ILC or dslr on such trips but inevitably worry about the gear or they get banged up pretty good.
The one thing that I always wonder with these mirror less and point and shoot type of cameras is how responsive it is when you use it like for instance how long it takes the shutter to react when you push the shutter button to take an image, and how long before it is ready to take the next image, blackout etc. To me this is a very important factor to consider. It is the one thing I hate with my Canon M5, I never quite know when it takes the picture after I push the button. I cant try to time a head movement to get the shot when I want it. I appreciate that this a subjective, how I feel type of measurement. But would love to know this for a camera like this. I suggest a subjective rating comparison system with say a high end DSLR like a D500, D5, 7DMKII or 1Dx Mark II as a 10 and a mobile phone at say 3-4 as a reference.
I guess you mean shutter lag and consistency of shutter responsive time, there're too many things happened on a mobile phone. As for GR series I don't think it will outperform any mid-to-high ILC in term of shutter lag, but definitely enough, the only question is how well the IBIS works because GR series never tend to be a camera for someone take image 'regularly' and 'properly'
Andreas Berglund, I own both D810 and Nikon A. The latter is reasonably fast. I guess the GR should be of similar speed. This weekend I shot with the Z7 with 105/1.4 with studio lighting and this combination was much much slower! Reminded me of my XF10 experience!
Thank you for the comments, my comments where mostly directed to the reviewers ( chris nicholls) of cameras that this is a very important point and it would be great if the could incorporate "responsiveness" as a criteria in the review
Advantage in price only. the canon is taller, thicker and heavier (without the lens). the 22mm lens would also be a 35mm equivalent, which Chris has said previously he doesn't like
The comment is a little help stroke to the Canon. [Dust on sensor is much more likely to occur on an interchangeable lens camera, whenever the lens is swapped, than with a fixed lens camera].
I really think it's a better camera to most people. The big thing is there's a full eco system, meaning you can put an UWA if you wanted to for that trip, or put that 55-250 when you need to, and keep the 22mm for the street photography thing the Ricoh is aiming for, and you can customize the experience, by buying an m50 to get an EVF, you can buy an EF adaptor and get into professional video production, etc
Is it really enough if a difference to justify it? The 24mp APS-C Canon sensor is brilliant with very high resolution, enormous dynamic range and very competitive lowlight performance. And the 22mm is one hell of a sharp lens!
But so do many manufacturers. Ricoh knows how to make a sharp lens with good colour. Canon doesn't, even if Canon does so accidentally once in a while.
Can you shoot that Canon at ISO 10,000 (in raw) easily? The Ricoh is excellent at ISO 10,000.
You have to get raws, not DPR studio samples, shot with the different lenses under very similar light, ideally outdoors.
Make sure the raws are the same bit depth and there's no lossy compression. And of course, the gain (ISO) needs to be similar. An exact match in pixel count isn't especially important. Nor does it matter if you're comparing APSC to FF framed or the reverse. (At higher ISOs, it's best to make sure full mechanical shutter was used.)
Of course the samples were shot with the lens fully open.
It's quite easy to see how much better very good lenses render colour and light.
The reason for this stopping down helping, which is something that can help even very good lenses from say Leica, is something you'll have to figure out.
Up to a point, when lens tests say "this is the best 50mm full framed lens" that's an indication of better colour rendering. However lens testing doesn't actually test for what's easy to see. Such tests could likely be worked out.
pentaust, still dust finds it way to the sensors of the fixed lens cameras and the only way to clean it is to almost completely disassemble the little camera! Usually this means sending it to a lab for 2-3 weeks and paying +/-$80.
This is suprisingly good. Instead of dwelling on what isn't there (that's for DPR comments) Chris explains where the GR excels and that it's fun to use. If you need other features, don't like a 28mm lens or want a camera that isn't fun to use, the GR would be a poor choice.
Excellent video review which quickly points out pros (and cons) of the GRiii. Demonstrating usb charging in a real life situation was a nice touch given that battery life is low.
I may have missed hearing it mentioned (although I did see it in action); for me one of the advantages the GR series has over either my iPhone or K-1 is the ability to use it single handed. It may seem like a small point, but in use it makes a huge difference for street photography.
Thanks for compiling and posting this review, even if consequently it's going to cost me!
PS The clip on GV-2 viewfinder is, for me at least, a must have and much neater than the GV-1.
The single-hand operation is nice, and a feature I enjoy with Nikon 1 cameras, like the V1 and V2, but most thought out with the old Olympus C-8080, where everything is easily accessible with your right hand, even the zoom.
That would be a camera for Olympus to reissue, with an m43 sensor, of course!
I don't like video reviews. I hope they ain't became DP's default review format. Reading a review I need to continously go back and forth searching or comparing data. I need to examine graph and charts with calm, something very difficult to do with a videoclip.
Video reviews and written reviews are not mutually exclusive and each serves a different purpose. Doubtless DPR will compile a detailed written review as well. I certainly found the video review both informative and persuasive for a number of reasons. Well done Chris and DPR.
The videos are fine as a supplement. They're great to hook in the youtube crowd and the photographers turned cinematographers. And video is so very much NOW, like 8mm in the '60's.
But please, anchor that video to a properly written review. As easyliving points out, videos can not be absorbed and processed to the same extent as a written one.
Fully agree. Much easier to jump to sections of interest and read instead of all this talking. It is fine as a supplement as someone says, but not for a full review.
I love the menus below the video review that make it possible to quickly access the items of interest. Makes the video review much more useful. With that menu, I now find them great for a quick look rather than a deep dive into a product I am considering buying.
The video reviews are nice, but it is essential to also have the written ones. Hopefully the written ones also help many of the members to improve their poor spelling skills.
Still waiting for traditional cam companies to make a camera that is an Android device, w easy WIFI connection, capable photo editing including AI processing and easy uploading to cloud and SNS, then it will sell.
If traditional cam companies can't beat back smartphones, they will lose market at 20%-30% a year until their investors consider the companies are wasting valuable resources and force them to exit.
The customers who stopped buying cameras, and are happy with their smartphones, won't return to the camera market no matter what features are added to the cameras. The smartphone crowd simply doesn't find dedicated cameras appealing, because everything they need is right there in their pocket already.
Many mirrorless cameras offer a pancake lens or other compact option. If you’re willing to carry on a wrist strap instead of in your pocket, you can forego the dedicated purpose. I do this quite often.
I imagine pocket carry is a big part of the appeal here, even the smallest mirrorless cameras (GM1) with the smallest possible pancake (14/2.5) isn't gonna fit into pants pockets or a shirt pocket without an unsightly bulge... I dunno where the GR falls exactly in that spectrum but if it's the size of a GM body sans lens or something like a Canon G9X then I can definitely see the appeal and the advantage vs say a Fuji X100.
We're spoiled for choices these days really... After owning the GM1 & GX850 and recent phones I'm not sure I'd want anything in between personally but I can easily see why others would. The meh low light AF and video limits the GR's appeal somewhat for me tho.
Just my own opinion but this is a camera without a strong place. No viewfinder I don’t like the lens focal length. I tried 28mm on my Nikon F3 and I just don’t like it. Nice and small which is great for street for sure but when shooting street I really only post the images on social media. And my iPhone rocks for that and nobody can see any IQ difference at those now online resolutions. For me photography is far more about lens than camera and being able to choose the right lens for the shot is important. Something you can’t do with this camera. Better to buy something like a small MFT Olympus EM10, EM5 or Pen F. Or just bite the bullet and get a larger Sony or Nikon, Canon mirrorless. Personally I am looking right now for a new camera and in a few days will be trying a Fuji. But hey whatever works for you is good right
I'm pretty much the opposite of you, i print my images and never show them on web, pretty much because i got the attitude of my photos are my photos. The iphone is pretty costly is it not, i have seen it being as expensive as used cameras at least. I payed 99 for a smartphone which i can use to get to the internet and see my bank balance, and i got the oly em 10 kit for photo, total price is probably near iphone
The GR are for people who want to have a streamlined camera. If you are looking for features rather than flow its not the camera for you. There are considerable advantages to a fixed lens and, every other decision behind the design and feature set of the GR. Most photographers will understand if they try it out. Doesn't mean it's for everyone. The idea that it's only for street is wrongheaded it's a 'snapshot camera' as advertised.
The iPhone is not costly at all. Got to consider how much you use it and everything it does. Phone Netflix HBO YouTube games art photo processing ordering stuff at Amazon’s :) smart phones are a massive value
@Good Knight - agree about the viewfinder but I the rest of your argument, I am sorry to say, doesn't hold. The GR is designed as a fixed-lens compact and criticizing it for lack of interchangeable lenses is like criticizing a CaNikon pro sports camera for not being pocketable. it isn't designed to be.
Some people like 28 mm, some like 35. They had to make a choice. Other compacts come with a 35mm (or equivalent); both have their fans.
I'd love for Ricoh to make a fixed-lens cam with a 21-50 equivalent fast lens, a tilt screen and a viewfinder while keeping the overall operation similar. I had a Ricoh small sensor 24-70 eqiv. compact and it was awesome but too slow in low light. An APS-C one will be a killer cam.
It is a shame Nikon is not capable to give a successor to the Nikon Coolpix A.
Nikon was certainly disappointed that nobody agreed to pay a (large) premium for an APSC compact camera. But Ricoh was able to do similar for lesser price.
But Nikon could have created a great momentum with a better marketing, and more firmware updates (including a "snap focus"-like option).
I am sure they are capable but it doesn't seem as if they feel it worth their while. Sad as I love my CPA but this GRiii does seems to have a lot going for it.
The Ricoh GR series has long been a favorite of street photographers, and the latest iteration - the GR III - brings a new sensor, redesigned lens, in-body stabilization and on-sensor phase detection. We spent some time with a pre-production model in London and have some initial impressions to share.
The Ricoh GR III made its official debut today, and DPR contributor Damien Demolder got his hands on the camera for a quick photo walk through London. Take a look at the results.
The Ricoh GR III will be going on sale this March for $899. It has a 24MP APS-C sensor, newly designed 28mm equiv. F2.8 lens, in-body image stabilization and on-sensor phase detection.
Ricoh has announced the development of a third model in its popular GR lineup: The forthcoming GR III will feature an updated sensor and redesigned lens. We're at Photokina, where we took a quick look earlier at an early sample, behind glass.
Ricoh has announced the development of the GR III enthusiast compact, due to ship in early 2019. The camera gains sensor-shift image stabilization and an updated 24MP sensor with phase-detection. The 28mm equivalent F2.8 lens has also been redesigned and a touchscreen added.
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We've spent a little more time shooting with Sony's new a6400, and as we work towards the completion of a full review, we've updated our initial gallery of sample images with additional shooting in and around Seattle.
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