If I had to choose one camera for all things photography in 2021, I’d pick this 10 year old small sensor Ricoh. It’s hard to nail down exactly why but I give it a shot!
Loved the ninja turtles analogy! I feel the same with my GRii, always in my pocket no matter what. Considering to get one of the gr digital series as a cheaper alternative to have on me in less friendly weather conditions and trips.
Thanks Adi! It’s crazy...seriously never had a camera do this to me. First time I can remember wanting to really find the art in the everyday! Really can’t go wrong with the GR’s!
I first got a Ricoh 3, not so long ago. Then, I saw and bought a GR1. I've just bought an original GRD. I love these Ricoh cameras. I carry one around with me every where I go and, more importantly, I regularly take it out of my pocket and shoot images. It's the ease of use matched with the image quality that inspires me so much. I still love my Canon 5D & 5Dii and my Song A7 full-frame, as well as the ton of 4/3rd cameras that I've collected. But it's the Ricoh cameras that I seem to be shooting most of my images, these days.
Nice! I feel the exact same about the Ricoh as you do for the same reasons. Once you have it dialed, you can just slip it out of the pocket and make art with one hand!
I had the gr iii and sold it . I have a couple pro bodies that I use for work and hobby bht these days I’ve been missing the pocket camera . One thing that drove me crazy with thr gr iii was the af . I used snap sometimes but idk I missed a lot of shots . So my question is what is the the af on the grd iv comoaired to the gr iii?
Yup that is exactly why I like the Ricoh(s). Here’s the trick…I setup center focus point for exposure and spot focus so I can then focus on what I want (while manipulating the exposure) and fire away. I don’t typically use multi point AF on these smaller cameras. Works every time!
Yes to all you said here! I’ve got a few newer GR’s, but just reordered the GRD IV on eBay as my old one has been out of commission for a while now. The newer versions are phenomenal cameras in their own right for sure, but the older small sensor versions are just super special and unique. I can’t wait to receive my eBay order and get back to shooting this lovely little gem. I really appreciate your general photo-philosophy and can totally relate. It’s kind of rare to find people in the world or online who share this approach. Peace
Thanks Ian and I actually have been thinking about grabbing a GR maybe even GR3x! But this small sensor is so small and special no doubt! Thanks for sharing and let me know how it goes!!
Wondering why there is so many GRD iv on the second hand market? They are pricey, all most like a GR3. I was thinking people want to get rid of there GRD4 to get a GR3. But then again I bought a Canon 5DMK2 recently and the photo quality is amazing.
great camera! i now see why Ricoh has created an iconic series. Once you go Ricoh GR it's really really tough to find better one-handed operation/ergo/IQ anywhere!
My GRD 3 would be my fave stills camera - the size, the battery life and the grungy textural black and white visuals. Get yourself a Sigma DP1 Merrill. Like a brick, and a complete pain in the ass but man the photos it makes will knock you out.
I don’t sit through a lot of RU-vid videos but this grabbed me. Don’t lose that off the cuff vibe. The hair, the subjective emotion. I’m probably gonna get that camera for all those same reasons. Thanks
Hey! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to share your thoughts! I’ve been this way my whole life, ha! Just trying to keep it real and making vids is just as much for me (scratching a creative itch) as it is for the masses! Appreciate your support!
I’ve been looking at the GRs for some time but the three isn’t in my budget. I have both digital and film cameras but I like the pocket ability and I’m pixel peeping so the file of the IV would be fine. I also like the simplicity. Some of my favorite images were made with a little 6mp point and shoot. I also dream a lot. 😏
I primarily shoot on a Leica M8. It’s black and white jpgs are stunning as well plus if I want color I can keep the raw photos too. I recently bought a Ricoh GXR with the 18mm and M Mount modules so I can keep using my Voigtländer and Leica lenses. I do love the small sizes of the M8 and the GXR, but I have the feeling that a GRD would be a perfect go everywhere camera. Especially because I love to shoot black and white whenever possible.
Very cool thanks for sharing! I never really enjoyed the rangefinders for some reason. Love the size and obviously the image quality but I never loved full manual! The size of the GRD with the IQ is what I enjoy. You have to like the way the sensor renders though because it is a small sensor with small images!
@@ryanfromDetroit ya that’s a good point about the smaller sensors. Especially in lower light. I have a Pentax Q as well but don’t use it as much as I should.
Thanks! Yeah man...never really chased the specs and coming from a guy who still has his a6500 for video for 3 years, these small sensor Ricohs are very unique. Love it!
@@ryanfromDetroit you have some great points. I shoot digital and film and like you I've been looking for a digital camera with great latitude in the highlights while being able to get great results straight from camera. One such camera, Fuji S5 Pro, I just sold recently because of its extreme per-pixel softness in conjunction with its low pixel count (12Mp but in reality it's 6Mp). Another camera with almost film-like latitude in the highlights are Sigma Merrill series of cameras. I have one but you can't get the needed results straight from camera, its JPEG engine is lacking. Not to mention that this camera is extremely slow in operation and battery life is really poor. So I'm quite excited to get this one.)
@@ryanfromDetroit I could find anything about highlights of this camera in its promo materials though. And another question, many users are selling Ricoh cameras because of the dust issue. How do you feel about it?
Hey Sherrie! Pretty sure you just need to make sure there is a compatible flash and use the hot shoe but I'm not a flash guy these days so it's been a while!
Just picked this GR iv. Mint condition. My 1st Ricoh and cannot believe the sharpness and texture. Marco mode is fantastic as well. Can you share your color and black and white settings?
Congrats! What a find…would love to know where you got it! They are hard to find and it’s fun to hear. I actually bought (total chance) the retired president of Pentax’s GRD IV with around 300 actuations! Anyways here you go… I call this my “Classic Film” preset and here’s the mix: Positive Film Vividenss 5 Contrast 6 Sharpness 8 Vignette off Auto White balance compensation A: 1, G:0 And I let the ISO climb because I like the noise…adds texture like film! That’s it! Black and white I use the Toning Effect (or TE setting) Sepia Vividness 1 (super important, tints the black and white with a little silver tone like the old Kodak T400CN I shot for weddings) Contrast 8 Sharpness 8 The other trick which has been super important, I always shoot with Center AF/metering (not spot) and recompose the shot. This allows me to get focus AND push the exposure up or down quickly without additional button pushes! Hope that helps!
@@ryanfromDetroit picked it up from normans camera in Grand Rapids . Almost did not buy it. Was looking for the Ricoh gr not the digital. The salesman convinced me to buy it due to the sensor and how it renders color. Hooked. Shooting Fuji with vintages Pentax super tackumar 35mm /50mm/135mm. Loving the Ricoh, I take it with me all the time and already shot it 10 times more than my Fuji….
@@ryanfromDetroit the Ricoh is so much easier to get great looking images using just with one hand.. using the fuji takes more time to setup and I miss a lot of shots….
Have you shot the more recent GR (non "Digital") line? I really want the Positive Film effect that comes in the APC-S line. But I do like that the "Digital" line is slightly smaller.
Hey Ryan, just got myself a GRD4 recently and loving it! Have you had any issues with dust before, and how have you protected it, if at all? It's a bummer the lens cap is discontinued because that would give me some peace of mind. Any advice?
Yo Luke! Congrats man….I’ve had lots of cameras and for so many reasons this one is the my forever cam. No real dust issues but I just let it ride. I litearlly blow on the lens sometimes but other than that i just figure if one day it’s a problem, I’ll try to find another one! But this camera is special and I’m happy to give you some of the cheat codes on how i shoot with it. Find me on LinkedIn and we can DM (look for Ryan French or ryanfromDetroit)!
I’ve owned the gr iii and sold it becauee the af is frustrating . I used both snap and af . I love the size of the camera it’s just perfect and the bw are incredible imo . I low key have thought about pulling the trigger and grabbing the gr iiix but I’m hesitant because of how many shots I missed with my previous one . I also wouldn’t mind saving a little bit of money lol . How does it comoaired to the grd iv?
Two different cameras although they trick you into thinking it’s the same camera due to that wonderful ergo. When you want to go bigger sensor, clearer shot, better res then the obvious chose is the GRiii. But I still love grabbing my grdiv to get those filmic shots and less sterile photos!
@@ryanfromDetroit I keep bouncing back and forth between the rx100v and the griiix . The pocket camera game is a nightmare . The trade offs are awful between models .
Hey Daniel! I call this my “Classic Film” preset and here’s the mix: Positive Film Vividenss 5 Contrast 6 Sharpness 8 Vignette off Auto White balance compensation A: 1, G:0 And I let the ISO climb because I like the noise…adds texture like film! That’s it! Black and white I use the Toning Effect Sepia Vividness 1 (super important, tints the black and white with a little silver tone like the old Kodak T400CN I shot for weddings) Contrast 8 Sharpness 8
Genuinely curious, you’ve said that you’d replace it if it ever broke. Why not replace with a GRii or iii, is that small sensor that great? I have a GRD4 myself
Hey AA! It’s definitely personal preference but the size of the GRD4 and the result of this very small sensor give me a film like feel that I’ve set to see from any camera. I know that seems like a stretch but it’s just a special camera that handles highlights like film! Hard to explain but something I’ve dialed and love!
Hey! They are probably talking about how close the lens can focus from a subject (6mm). Closest focusing distance. What kind of camera are you looking for?
One more question. I’ve done a little research and I’m either too lazy or it’s really hard to find. What is the time between shots in jpg mode? I looked at all the GRD line and nada. I did find that the time to write a raw file on the GRD I is 12 seconds….
Many thanks for your reply. I started digital with a flip phone and as I moved up the chain, seems like I was always waiting… my newest camera is 13 years old. Yeah I like the old stuff. I still wish I had my moms Kodak box camera
Of course! And I’m in the same boat. I have some newer(ish) cameras but nothing less than 3 or 4 years old! My favorite is 10 years old (Ricoh). Favorite video cam is about 4 or 5 years old (Sony RX100VA) so yeah I’m with you!
@@ryanfromDetroit Thanks! Do you have a recommendation for a screen protector? it’s so hard to find information on this camera online, just flooded with info about the modern GR line
Here you go! My color setting: Positive Film Vividenss 5 Contrast 6 Sharpness 8 Vignette off Auto White balance compensation A: 1, G:0 And I let the ISO climb because I like the noise…adds texture like film! That’s it! Black and white I use the Toning Effect (or TE setting) Sepia Vividness 1 (super important, tints the black and white with a little silver tone like the old Kodak T400CN I shot for weddings) Contrast 8 Sharpness 8 The other trick which has been super important, I always shoot with Center AF/metering (not spot) and recompose the shot. This allows me to get focus AND push the exposure up or down quickly without additional button pushes!
Hey Michael! Ricoh GRD IV Settings ------//------ I call this my “Classic Film” preset and here’s the mix: Positive Film Vividenss 5 Contrast 6 Sharpness 8 Vignette off Auto White balance compensation A: 1, G:0 And I let the ISO climb because I like the noise…adds texture like film! That’s it! Black and white I use the Toning Effect (or TE setting) Sepia Vividness 1 (super important, tints the black and white with a little silver tone like the old Kodak T400CN I shot for weddings) Contrast 8 Sharpness 8 The other trick which has been super important, I always shoot with Center AF/metering (not spot) and recompose the shot. This allows me to get focus AND push the exposure up or down quickly without additional button pushes! Hope that helps!
@@ryanfromDetroit WOW, thanks for the info. I just got the same camera and loving it so far for its macro capability. You could pretty much shoot 10mm from the subject for macro!
