100% agree. I find that it is a good complement to my iPhone 12 Pro. The GRIII just feels more creative and the files have a lot more depth to them - they can be pushed farther in post than the iPhone files. The killer mode is Hi Contrast B&W plus setting it to highlight priority metering. I have this setup saved to my custom profile, along with a low contrast B&W, and macro. My main settings are set to Positive film look. With this setup I have four distinct looks available instantly via a twist of the top dial. I carry this camera in my pocket on my daily walks.
I should try out the postive film filter Greg, thanks for the recommendation. It would be my pocket camera if I lived in cool weather and could wear a jacket, it so perfect for coat pockets. Wish they had firmware updates with more film filter options you could swap out or add, that would be pretty cool.
@@srilanka.paradise I set up high contrast monochrome mode as a preset on the U1 setting and low contrast mono on U2. Makes it real fast to default to either mode.
Sir, the cycling reason was EXACTLY what finished to convince me to get one. I own a mirrorless camera and I never take it with me when I ride, and I miss that a lot. Thanks for the feedback, great review
I've been watching Ricoh reviews trying specifically to figure out if it would be the right choice for a camera to take while cycling, so I was very happy to hear that you use it for that purpose! I've been trying to decide between this and an X100V but if this fits in a jersey pocket I'm sold
It's such a great little camera. It's like having the functionality of a full sized camera (full manual control, ND filter, stabilization, snap-focus, macro, etc.), but in a form that fits in your pocket. I think every photographer, who enjoys the art of taking photos, should add one to their roster of cameras, whatever they shoot. There's really nothing like it on the market that packs soooo much into something soooo small.
Literally discovered your channel a few days ago and clicked onto this video from one of your other video. It’s great to hear this sort of perspective. Keep on going!
I'm a Nikon Nerd, not a Leica Lover, but I totally think that getting a Ricoh GR III as a secondary camera was a gamechanger. Especially for street photography. It's a bit of wide angle goodness straight out of my pocket. Yeah.
I have always used Leica, I bought my first Leica M2 as a teenager (they where dirt cheap back when everyone went digital). When the first GR with aps-c came out in 2013 I bought that and used it side by side with my leicas. Later on I bought my first digital Leica M-E, but I never used it. I always grabbed the GR. Today I only have my small film Leica CL, all other leicas are gone. I only shoot GR, and now with the GRIIIX 40mm I will have all the coverage I need. I don’t think I will ever buy a Leica again. I love Leica M, but the size and IQ of the Ricoh GR made me love GR even more.
My alternatives are the en10 Mkii and my iPhone . The GR3 is a great camera , but I needed a bit more by way of control and opted for the Olympus . We all have our personal take on alternatives and one is no better than another , as it comes down to things like workflow and portability , as well as abstract considerations like enjoyment of use as much as final delivery of images . I print a number of photo books each year and have been complimented on the standard of images that appear in print that were taken with he Olympus or the iPhone . Conclusion , you do not always have to spend a fortune on your backup camera , but there is something truly unique about using a Leica that nothing truly replaces that , unless you have never held one between your paws ha ha
I’m on the fence between this and the Fuji X100V. I don’t like the fact that the GRiii isn’t weather sealed and it lacks the viewfinder but the pocket-ability is a killer for me.
I always have my Leica M6 hanging on my neck and GR3 and GR3x somewhere in my pockets. I just really love this small magnificent camera. I do have to say that since I bought the GR3x, I use that one more than GR3, but it doesn't make my love towards GR3 any less.
I'm an SL shooter and considered the Ricoh but instead went with a used Leica CL mirrorless. It allows me to adapt M lenses and there are a lot of really tiny Voigtlander M lenses that make the CL setup very tidy and a great walk around setup. You're also not stuck at one focal length. The image quality is amazing.
Nice video Justin. I have a GR1 that I love. I live in Santa Monica and am an avid cyclist. Everyday I'm on the boardwalk or cruising around and to be able to have this in my pocket while I go out to shoot street is so valuable to me. I don't think I've heard another person talk about biking with the Ricoh so I had to subscribe and show some love. I'll be getting the GR3x for sure and looking forward to doing some flash with it.
I recommend getting a black sharpie pen for your wall screws below your wall art. Will hide them nicely- they catch the light. I love the Ricoh cameras - thanks for the review. Also your M10D - perfection.
Recently got something similar to the GRIII: a Fuji X70 (got it for a song). I already used it as a compliment to my M240 + 50 on an event and it did great as a 2nd camera. Managed to grab some impromptu shots due to the inconspicuous nature of the camera :)
Thanks for the great sharing! I started street photography with GR3😍😍😍… and I am getting more and more enthusiastic about this hobby and lead me into getting a Leica M11..then M10 Monochrome 🤣🤣🤣.. I have large family now…
I use a Ricoh 8.1 megapixel GR digital camera with a 5.9mm f2.4l ens in conjunction with my Huawei p10 plus smartphone with the Leica camera. Perfect combination. Black and white. 800 iso. Awesome.
Long ago I purchased a previous generation GR with integrated pop up flash. Never any troubles with the camera, easy to carry and, living here in Saigon, it’s been used in torrential downpours, heavy dusty conditions on the streets and in factories. I can’t imagine departing with this camera or upgrading to another GR because of the flash which sadly Ricoh deleted awhile back.
I'm just gonna keep my Ricoh GRii as my _first_ Leica, thank you! lol. Well, I did previously shoot an M3, but digitally speaking . . . Very interested in making my second ‘‘Leica’’ the GRiiiX.
Agree. I just bought one of the last new grii models for the flash. I use it with a Leica 36mm viewfinder and crop so I don't have to worry about missing the mark with close up shooting. There are lots of little niggles esp autofocus misses but nothing else comes close to meeting my needs, even the griii. I use a 5d4 when I want to, but my gr ii comes along every day. Even cropping to 50-60mm equiv is fine for snapshots.
Die Kamera hat eine manuelle Fokusierung. Und darüber hinaus noch frei wählbare Fixfokuseinstellungen. Ich habe meine GR (I) bei My1 auf 1m, My2 auf 2,5m und My3 auf infinity programmiert. Noch schneller ist keine andere Kamera zwischen anschalten und auslösen!! KEINE! Und nochwas! Meine GR (1) hat eine grüne LED, die ihre Bereitschaft anzeigt, und beim speichern blinkt ... usw. Selbst die lässt sich im Menü abstellen. Genial! Die GR ist eine der durchdachtesten Kameras, die es gibt. Weiteres Beispiel: Die Daten werden in einem Ordner gespeichert, der gleichzeitig das Aufnahmedatum wiedespiegelt. Wäre schön, wenn das auch eine Nikon oder Leica könnte.
Just the way my Olympus XA was always readily found in my pocket while my M4-2 was back in the car. The most useful camera is the one that you have with you.
I bought a GR III from somebody that could not handle it, i shoot Leica digital and analog. But this GR O.M.G loved it. On tour now in Spain and in my bag my M6 with 35mm and 50mm cron attached and this RICOH GRIII 👍
Wow... wait a sec what? Cycle camera, saddle photography? No way, I am using it every day as well since 1,5 years ! I am sorry Justin, but I guess your are the second "best" saddle photographer behind me. lol. Anyway, great video! Best from Germany.
I challenge you do a shoot out from the saddle :). But yeah You’ve got me beat, I’m only back in the saddle Sidney January but so happy to be riding again. I’d love to take my bike to Europe some day.
I had my GR3 way before I got the M10D (because of you :) and now my M10D had glued with me everyday since I got it and GR3 has been on the corner of the shelf ....... thanks for this episode and now my GR3 comes to light again and I do use the viewfinder only by switching off the display off, as M10D shooter haha, Display is the after thought .... except shooting the macro mode....which why is the Q is so amazing ..... it is indeed so small but powerful enough for the post so I guess i'll need to learn to optimise GRIII especially Custom User profiles are there for my own preference!
Totally true! I had a Leica Q and I sold it and replaced it with a GRIII and GR. The sharpness is about the same (to me the Ricoh was sharper) and I personally enjoy the colors from the Ricoh a bit more. The Leica Q was a great B cam on weddings tho, but I shot mostly street so I value a smaller kit and less expensive kit.
Great review, I'm sold, not sure it will be a backup to my gear but definitely something to replace the iPhone as a daily camera plus it will never ring or buzz or whatever while taking a picture... again, thanks for this wonderful review.
If you are going to drop the $200 for the viewfinder consider the Fuji 21/28 combined finder they made for the X70 then you can also use it for a Leica 21mm. 28mm framelines in a 21mm OVF is nice to see out of frame anyways. I love my original APS-C GR. If you can work with 16mp and don't need IBIS it's like 40% the cost of the GR3.
Love the video and agree with most of it. Given that they don’t sell a lot of the finders I think the pricing is about right. They had to pay for tooling. They had to recoup the dev cost somehow. Also sounds like you are living the life. Be healthy and happy. Max❤🎉
I bought one and sold it about 3 months later. For the price, the build quality and issues are a bit u acceptable. Mine ended up with dust on the sensor even though I kept a cap on the front and the slow af as well as camera lock ups that a lot of people experience started affecting mine. The size and image quality were fantastic though.
Very interesting thank you, I still use my Leica M9 and I have a GR3, I tend to use my GR3 more because of it’s portability, comparing both cameras from my point of view is I like them both, the image quality in both camera is great but their is no doubt the M9 has the edge, in my local camera shop I told them I was comparing both cameras and saying how they got on together, positive stuff, three guys worked there, two showed zero interest, the shop manager was the only one who showed interest.
I have an M9 50mm and a GRII. Recently, I borrowed a Q. I barely took any pictures with it. Size and weight were just a killer. I've taken my GR to bachelor parties and to the dessert and it is beaten up. Once I opened it myself and cleaned the sensor (there are videos out there). I've printed 165cm wide 100 ISO B/W panorama files from it and and they are sharp corner to corner. There is a GRII with flash and WiFi (last model) and the GRIII without flash and IBIS. As a second camera, I can't honestly figure to how to dislike it.
You’re not the only one who shoots with a GRIII from a bicycle! I do it all the time here in NYC. Biking in traffic is not for the faint of heart, and simultaneously shooting is only for only for very confident bikers. Be careful!
Great video! GRiii is a wonderful camera, with one big problem: DUST. Whatever you do, dust will sooner or later sit on your sensor. Weatherproofing would be great, but dust proofing is essential for me to buy it again. Maybe the GRiv will have it, if Ricoh listens to their users.
I think your review is spot on . I have the original 16mp GR. Had it for quite a few years and is still in use . Torn between getting the GR III with the new 40mm lens or a Fuji X100v. Either way, excellent cameras, but the review is very good.
I find the Ricoh app very good but as a recent owner the app has been improved. Love the camera use it often and it fits my amateur needs. I have both the 28mm and 40mm (full frame size) and I enjoyed your video. Well done for your weight loss I to lost 5 stone and feel better to.😊
I have an M10-P and a GRiii. I love the idea of making the Ricoh a dedicated b&w shooter. Also, the Ricoh app does indeed suck but a 3rd party app, GR Viewer, works extremely well. It costs $10 last time I checked but it's well worth it.
I have a GR2 and a Leica Q as my everyday carry. The GR is amazing, mine is on its last legs as it has been used loads and goes everywhere. So it is being replaced with a GR3, now 40mm or 28mm again. 😆
Aweseome video! So funny I was debating between this and the DLux-7! (...and now we know how you feel about compact zoom cameras haha). Didn't know about the hi contrast BW setting so it's pushing towards Ricoh.
This is quite interesting, great idea, provide usefull information that prevents one from leaving home without carrying a camera. Saves people from the frustation of not capturing that moment that won`t ever happen again. And we have an option to the 28mm, the GR3x ( 40mm )
I love my ricoh GRii. I’m surprise at the level of quality esp with the built in ND filter. It makes the camera more amazing for landscapes. The lens is sharp and the camera is quiet
This camera saved my street photography hobby. I'm extremely busy so my only chances for doing street photography is when I'm doing groceries or going out with my family. I bought the first APSC Ricoh gr (2013) a few months ago and thanks to it I've shot a lot. I bought it for some reasons: I can carry it with me everywhere, I bought it used so it was dirty cheap, I can operate it with one hand, I like the first generation Positive Film simulation more than the grIII and it is silent. However, it's a really annoying camera comparing to the Leica rangefinders because of the screen blackouts every time you take a photo. These screen blackouts don't let you see what you are shooting. You miss the moment and loose connection with your scene. What can I say? The most similar camera to the Leica M system is the Fujifilm x-pro with a Voigtlander 21mm f/4 Color Skopar attached to it via adaptor. You won't have the rangefinder focusing system, of course, but you can zone focus the same than Leica M because the lens is a M lens (distance scale and focusing tab). It's so so close!👍
Same here. Only use my smartphone or compact cameras as I have not a lot time to shoot an entire day. Ricoh has the best image quality of all compact and phone cameras. Don't use my DSLM anymore at all as I'm in street and documentary photography.
I’m having a problem getting the most out of my optical view finder. How do you know if the camera is properly focused on the area or target you are looking at? Do you keep the aperture small to keep more in focus and in snap mode when using the view finder? Any tips would be much appreciated! Thank you
Hahaha, I thought I am the only one doing saddle photography. I would do it with my X-Pro 2 but a Ricoh would've been much easier to use while cycling.
surely a fantastic camera - to be honest i did actually like the GR2 better, one of the reasons being the built in flash - however after shooting ricohs for a few year i did switch back to Fuji for my "small" camera - one of the reasons was that the tech support for Ricoh was sub-par here in Asia... anyway, great cameras - now after watching it I miss my Ricoh, might get one again haha! cool video, Justin!
Someone else mentioned the same thing about their service , what a shame to hear. Luckily I’ve had no issues w the camera so far but I’m definitely worried now if I do. Thanks for sharing your experience Chris , looking forward to seeing the work you are doing w that beautiful Contax camera.
Hello Justin, Thanks for this upload. Could there be something wrong with your recording equipment, as your presentation is somewhat choppy with these noticeable mid-sentence "stuttering" sequences.
Good question. I have never carried two of the same. Unfortunately, on the rare occasion that I have to reach into my pocket for my small camera, the images don't match my main camera. I do a five head shot Street Talk in my local paper. Any good photographer would notice the photo that doesn't match.
My pocket size back up camera is Sony RX100 MK4. I have all the features I need. I didn't have pay extra for EVF and tilt-up screen make it more discreet and video better than RICOH.
I had a GRDIl which I loved. But then a well known issue - crud being sucked into the body and depositing itself on the sensor - happened to me. Big blob on the sensor made it unusable. Because it’s a sealed body, there’s nothing the owner can do. Contacted Ricoh and they basically said ‘too bad - we can’t / won’t repair it’ so I’m now left with a useless brick. On that basis, though I still love the idea of the GR series, I would never consider buying one again. Companies only get one chance to let consumers know how they will treat them if their products have an issue. Ricoh told be to shove it and so as far as I am concerned, their products are un-buyable. Very sad.
Fair point Colin and thanks for sharing. My friend here in Vietnam also had a terrible experience that he chalked up to them not having a great service center in SE Asia but hearing you say the same thing isn’t good.
I’d be wary of any sealed camera since, unlike interchangeable lens cameras, you can’t access the sensor if it needs cleaning. So you are totally reliant on the manufacturer being prepared to open it up and clean it for you. Also I think the pocketability of the GR is part of the problem since pockets are full of general crud which can get into the camera. Such a shame as the GR remains one of my all-time favourite cameras. Perfect ergonomics, great image quality and absolutely intuitive. I completely get why you see it as a brilliant addition to your stable. Keep up the good work - I lived in Hong Kong for 15 years and visited Vietnam a few times. Loved the country and people.
@@AskMOTT I’m like you I don’t like shooting from LCD and the app truly sucks. Seems like for griiix there’s not many option but the GV3. I got the x one hoping one Day Ill get the Q2. Gotta sell more prints before joining the Leica family. Keep on the great work. Truly enjoy your channel. Peace!
I have one and the battery life is horrendous. I still like better my GRI. I recently purchased a Fujifilm XF10 that is great. Battery life is great. The gripe may be the autofocus which is slower than the GRIII and the settings on the screen that you can barely see on bright daylights
I feel like in the company of the Leica Q2 and the Ricoh GRiii, the Fuji X100 series deserves a little plug. Size-wise, I’ll grant it’s larger than the GR - but it also addresses most of the complaints you have about that camera: analog style controls for aperture, shutter, and ISO - and a very nice built-in OVF/EVF. Besides being a bit larger, it ticks all the same boxes as the GR. The built in ND also comes in handy when you want to do panning shots or shoot wide open in bright light. GR looks great though, and you can’t beat it in terms of its tiny size and discreetness.
Also . . . yeah! The high contrast black and white is great. I always shoot that way, with a positive film filter jpg also, plus of course RAW. Problem is, here in Okinawa, that filter pushes the Okinawan skin tones to black hole level black :(. But I can make it work if I'm careful and edit the jpegs. Some are a lost cause though for sure.
I would have preferred the lens to be permanently out and sealed. That pumping in & out literally sucks and it’s still small with the lens out. Still a winner
I managed to slip my foot out from under a mother Indian elephant's step, and I felt her brush my foot with her sole as she came down. The purest of panic filled my soul. I can relate to the baby elephant charge. I wouldn't want to be in the way either. 😂
I guess then I’m the best paddle photographer, because I used this during kayaking? Optical viewfinder is like a small lens, many elements inside, bright and low distortion, and therefore not cheap. Not that I like it for $250, but there is a reason they can’t produce it for $50.
I like the Ricoh but I'd like it even more if it was around 30 or 32mm instead of 28. If Ricoh could improve the build quality and also the video capabilities it would be perfect.
Just curious on your thoughts on the 28mm field of view vs 35 which I’ve seen is your go to Leica lens. I was shooting 35 for a while then been on 28 and now thinking of bouncing back to 35 for a bit, but have the Q2 and am not to sell it, but I don’t like that the viewfinder doesn’t crop into 35 when shooting…. Anyway just curious on your thoughts and why you don’t shoot 28 on Leica as well… would u shoot 35 on Ricoh if they made it?
Greetings from Stgo, Chile. I also have problems with transferring images from the GR3 to my Samsung smart phone. Any suggestions? It´s aalooot easier from my Fujifilm and Sony systems. Thank you..
@@AskMOTT Ok, fair enough. Just relocated a few months back and will be here for three years. I find one of GR3's big advantages for street photography is that it looks like you are just playing with toy/tourist camera :)
I do appreciate that you mentioned cycling. I shoot Sony A7IV and Leica Q2 and wanted to have something better than my iphone to take photos on my bike rides. I ordered a RICOH GRIII! I hope it was the better choice compared to GRIIIx.
I wonder if the autofocus will turn out to be their Achilles heel in the GRIIIX? Snap focus will be less forgiving given the longer focal length. Also, the viewfinder is a third of the price of the camera!
It all depends on the photographic experience you prefer. Looking at a tiny video screen of action that's happening right in front of you. Or looking through a viewfinder and immersing yourself in the scene. Both have pros and cons. I prefer a good viewfinder. Especially for unexpected moments where I need to compose and shoot in under a second. To me the cost is worth it if that's how one prefers to photograph.
@@randeezy3914 I'm in the viewfinder camp too, especially as I'm long sighted and can't look comfortably at the back of a camera for too long. For that kind of money though I'd expect Leica-like optics in that viewfinder, not a peep hole experience. I've never seen through the Ricoh viewfinder so don't know what to expect in terms of quality.
I respectfully disagree with your recommendation of the GR as a second "Leica." I finally bought a GR IIIx because of all of the rave reviews and passionate followers touting its IQ and discretion. Yes, it is a good camera with very nice image quality and a very good lens-true of both the GR III and IIIx, I'm sure, BUT I'm a longtime Panasonic Lumix MFT user and I found that the image quality of the GR was no better than my Lumix cameras (okay, maybe slightly better in some situations), the focusing speed, especially in lower light (not even really low light) was slower and less reliable, the battery life is worse and the build quality not as good. The small size and built-in cover for the lens is cool, but I was very reluctant to put it in a pocket for fear the flimsy-looking lens cover would be damaged. I found myself always putting it in a small pouch to protect it-just like my Lumix GX850 or LX100 II. If I put the Panasonic 14mm f2.5 or 20mm f1.7 on my GX850 I have a camera that is slightly fatter when off, but does not extend when on. I can have both of those lenses with me with a tiny camera bag. It also has a tilt-up screen that makes low-angle shots much, much easier. If I want to use even faster lenses that are slightly larger there are the actual Leica-branded Lumix lenses in 15 and 25mm (f1.7 and f1.4 respectively). If I had never owned Lumix MFT cameras I would probably have kept the GR IIIx, but I know too much now. The GR sat around unused so I sold it on eBay. The GX850 is more my style of Leica.
