Why the Ricoh GR III is still the best compact

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In this video, I'll review why I believe the Ricoh GR3, while not perfect, is still arguably the best compact camera in its class.
Ricoh GR III (28mm): amzn.to/3Vax48R
Ricoh GR IIIx (40mm): amzn.to/3qRgv86
My personal pick of useful accessories for my GR III:
28mm External Viewfinder: amzn.to/47TpxSw
Lens cap: amzn.to/3qIWNeP
Screen protector: amzn.to/3P1RW0q
OEM battery: amzn.to/45HP6Ei
USB Multi-charger: amzn.to/3QYDlFE
Green strap featured: amzn.to/3EqVqEu
Other cameras featured or mentioned:
Fujifilm X100V (Larger form factor, same size sensor): amzn.to/3Vuffl2
Fujifilm X-Pro 3 (Featured, same size sensor, bigger form factor): amzn.to/3u3PMTU
Fujifilm GFX 100s (Featured, much larger sensor, much larger form factor): amzn.to/3L12viP
Leica Q2 (My temporary replacement for the GRIII, larger sensor, larger form factor): amzn.to/3igYStx
Sony RX100 VII (Similar size, but much smaller sensor): amzn.to/3EhjtWI
For future iterations, I'm hoping that they'll improve build quality & weather sealing and connectivity options.
--
These links will point you to the specific camera so you can see the specs of each. As an Amazon affiliate, I do earn from qualifying purchases. This video is not sponsored.
0:00 Introduction
0:44 Context
1:40 What makes the GR III special
1:54 Core Features
3:39 Snap Focusing
4:37 Viewfinder & 'Analog' Shooting
5:15 Other Excellent Features
6:30 Potential Negatives
7:19 Ideal Usage
8:21 Good for Travel?
9:05 Alternatives
9:47 Pricing
9:59 GR III x & Other Versions
10:34 Why the GR III is simply the best option
11:32 Conclusion

Опубликовано:

7 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 110

@grahamcarpio9507 6 месяцев назад

Your crisp delivery and concise analysis makes this review much more helpful than many others I've watched. Many thanks for moving me closer to pulling the trigger on purchasing.

@legendofthecamera 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for your feedback, I'm glad I was able to help!

@wearetrackclub 10 месяцев назад

Great breakdown! Really enjoyed how you laid out everything, lots of helpful insights 👏

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

Glad it was helpful!

@yeeyeats 10 месяцев назад

Time to buy 2 of these, just like you. Amazing review!

@Ben--Samsara 2 месяца назад

Thanks for the vid and detailed info. I'm so close to purchasing...

@legendofthecamera 2 месяца назад

Do it 👌

@cccycling5835 7 месяцев назад

I had a GRIIIx for about a year and sold it because I needed the money. It still sold for 70% of the cost of the camera, and that was after Ebay took their cut, which is amazing value. As far as the camera itself it’s sort of a pain to use but OK once you get used to it. The autofocus hunts forever even in semi-dim light, and the controls are tiny and difficult to use. But the image quality. Oh wow. Even better than my other APS-C DLSRs. The filters, straight out of the camera, are sublime. And the camera is tiny enough to fit into basically anything, and discrete enough that people mind it less than a smartphone. There is nothing like the GRIII on the market today, at all. As much as I would like there to be. I’m thinking about buying another one, the 28mm version like I should have bought originally.

@RhettAnderson 10 месяцев назад

Mine's always in my pocket. A classic.

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

It really is a classic

@SAGEBRUSHED777 10 месяцев назад

i'm sold!! thanks for the info 💖✨️

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

Glad to have helped!

@jamiethomas18 3 месяца назад

Great video, concise, precise and informative. Thank you

@legendofthecamera 2 месяца назад

Thank you for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed the video 🙂

@WatchDSSID 10 месяцев назад

Excellent, fair and well balanced review - thanks

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching!

@findermanimages 3 месяца назад

Fantastic food for thought. I have a Sony system (a7r4) and two Fuji systems (X-H1 & X-Pro2). Last night I listed all of the Fuji kit so that I can buy one do-it-all EDC hobbyist camera. I have longed for a Leica Q2 for many years, and I'm also on several pre-order lists for the X100vi. Yet, what you have said about the GRiii - a camera that has always peaked my interest - just makes a lot of sense. And besides, if I buy a used GRiii, use it for a few months and hate it, I can always sell it again with hopefully very little extra depreciation. Great informative video.

@legendofthecamera 3 месяца назад

Happy to have helped! It’s a pretty unique camera that just so happens to fit perfectly into any kit and complements bigger gear very nicely. I also pre ordered the fujifilm but I don’t see myself ever selling this thing. The x100vi still can’t compete on size and pocketability. No one questions you when you’re out shooting with this, but they definitely will when you have a Fujifilm or Leica (is that a film camera???).

@findermanimages 3 месяца назад

@@legendofthecamera the Leica Q2 is a digital camera.

@davidgates3044 Месяц назад

One other great use for the GR- particularly the x model: close ups of flowers and other small objects. The close up mode gives excellent image quality and the spot focus mode works well. I’ve also found it great to take when hiking if I want to keep the weight down

@legendofthecamera Месяц назад

That's a good point too, great to have a macro camera in your pocket.

@mattfowlerkc 7 месяцев назад

Hi Stanley, great video! I just picked up the GR III. Still undecided if I’ll keep it or not. It’s a unique camera for sure.

@legendofthecamera 6 месяцев назад

Glad you like it!

@alanpayne7656 Месяц назад

Did you keep it in the end?

@zolob2434 8 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@legendofthecamera 8 месяцев назад

You're welcome!

@Edijsabols1997 7 месяцев назад

Hey , I just ordered my Gr3 , amazing photos , could you share in which mode you were shooting them ? Recipe please:)

@alexandergutmann391 10 месяцев назад

Yes its a very good Camera. I like my GR IIIx

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

Tempted to add an x to my kit but not sure how I will feel bringing two GR cameras around. One in each pocket I guess 😂

@gerdbackhaus5182 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for Your review - it is very helpfull. But star of the show is the beautifull Akita (or Shiba?). Love that dogs!🙂

@legendofthecamera 5 месяцев назад

Shiba thanks you for the compliment 😂

@taylorbangg22 9 месяцев назад

Great video!! 2:50 - I think you misspoke, “28mm on an APS-C is similar to 28mm on a full-frame.” Think you meant to say “42mm on a full-frame”

@professionalpotato4764 9 месяцев назад

Nah he's referring to the GR3 so he misspoke 28mm instead of 18mm on an APS-C. Only the 3X is a 40mm equivalent. The GR3 is a 28mm equivalent.

@geinge82 9 месяцев назад

GRIII X IS 🔥🔥🔥🔥

@Only4Nintendo64 10 месяцев назад

Waiting for a GR IV here. As much as I’d love to own a GR I can’t justify spending almost a thousand euros in a camera released more than five years ago. True, the IV won’t have crucial differences but some improvements regarding AF and IQ will be made, making the wait worth for me.

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

Totally see your point. But I feel like any improvements the v4 would bring would be incremental updates only, whereas most of the core features are already there. It is unfortunate that they did have a recent 10% price increase in the base MSRP though. It used to be cheaper and not so close to $1000.

@AlessandroCensi82 9 месяцев назад

I think the new GR IV will cost a lot more than the current version. The current one will continue to have a very high valuation, allowing it to be sold at a good price to purchase the new one. In my opinion it will follow the same "very high" ratings that are on fuji x100F and x100V

@mitchhifi9192 8 месяцев назад

@@legendofthecamerayou can buy them for $1200 AUD in Australia, which is much cheaper than anywhere near $1000usd

@Vickiddi 7 месяцев назад

But when do you guises think the v4 will come out ? I don’t know if I should buy the III Or wait for the IV cause yea it’s still overpriced :(

@dylandigby1776 10 месяцев назад

It's time for the IV honestly. The artifically inflated prices are unacceptable and they already know everyone will pre-order immediately, because that was always the plan.

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

Yeah I’m hoping for some build quality improvements to the IV, the 3 feels a bit fragile sometimes despite how great it is.

@SweetZombiJesus 10 месяцев назад

@@legendofthecamera I think this camera is the opposite of "fragile" to me. I just toss it on the couch next to me when I'm done and its always getting jostled around and the thing still looks near-mint.

@RhettAnderson 7 месяцев назад

@@SweetZombiJesus Yeah it's pretty sturdy compared to a lot of cameras I have.

10 месяцев назад

Will you start posting videos more often?

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

That’s the plan! Still a solo creator juggling between this and work, but I’m aiming to get more content out this year.

@marcbaptista7381 10 месяцев назад

You strap caught my eye. Can you provide a link to purchase, please

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

You got it, I just put it in the description. It’s a bit big for the GR, but perfect for larger cameras.

@simonho8374 10 месяцев назад

The counterpart to this GR are Fuji X70 and XF10, yet both are discontinued.

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

Yea this segment is a dying breed, but thankfully we still have the GR. Hopefully, Fuji and other companies will produce more cameras in this segment.

@jennyy6606 5 дней назад

Just got mine 2 days ago. Still trying to figure out how to use it.

@fadilmaksum6979 9 месяцев назад

Im about to get one, or should i wait more for gr iv?

@legendofthecamera 9 месяцев назад

You might be waiting a while. I’d just go for the purchase now and enjoy the camera. It’s pretty future proof given that it already has such a great feature set. The main thing I can see improving with future iterations would likely be connectivity.

@brotendo 2 месяца назад

The GV-2 external viewfinder is like $250, more than a quarter of the cost of the camera lol. Also, many RU-vidrs laud the build-in memory "in case you forget your SD card." I have never forgotten a memory card in my entire life, and no photographer I know has. Otherwise, this is the BEST point-and-shoot camera for the APS-C sensor alone.

@legendofthecamera 2 месяца назад

I’m pretty sure only RU-vidrs forget their memory cards 😂 Viewfinders aren’t cheap because they still require solid build quality and good glass to make. They will also outlast your camera by decades. I bought a GV1 ($150) to pair with an M3 rangefinder, which only had 50mm frame lines. Works like a charm for 21/28mm. Similarly works incredibly well when I got this GR3. Even better because you can turn off the screen and use it as an optical point and shoot device. Truly changes the experience of the GR3 in a fun way.

@heydonShi 9 месяцев назад

I am currently torn between buying a Ricoh GR3X or an Iphone 15pro max. any suggestions? Thanks.

@legendofthecamera 9 месяцев назад

Two completely different things, why not get both 😂 if you’re talking financially, I’d say the GR is more worth it in the long run given how the iPhone will lose over half its value in 1-2 years. In terms of pure enjoyment, the GR will be much more fun too and will be a far better photographic tool.

@heydonShi 9 месяцев назад

@@legendofthecamera Thank you very much for your advice.

@heydonShi 9 месяцев назад

@@legendofthecamera I need a device that can fit in my pocket and take clear photos of PPTs on the screen during large conferences. The Leica Q3 is too expensive for me, so I think the GR might be a good alternative.

@robertrowles4948 6 месяцев назад

After 2 days from new (£999), dust appeared on the sensor despite keeping it in a Ricoh soft case plus third party lens cap, and never putting it in my pocket. Now the best offer I can get is £625, subject to sending it back under warranty in the hope that they will sort it. And it never felt like I was using a proper camera, although the images were great, subject to a big blob, which I now feel sure was present from new. Would NEVER buy another!

@GravemindHD 4 месяца назад

The image quality of this lens can rival even the Sony gm. If only they added weather sealing, this camera would be Gold.

@legendofthecamera 4 месяца назад

Yep, much room for improvement indeed.

@Omgiamsotriggered 6 месяцев назад

It not being weather sealed for 1000$ in such a compact body is just beyond crazy to me. There are so many good cameras that u can get for 1k$ that are compact and will be better than ricoh. Hope the IV is weather sealed and has better AF, then the price would be justified.

@legendofthecamera 6 месяцев назад

Yep, personally hoping for better build quality for future iterations too

@michaeltuffin8147 6 месяцев назад

It’s only The best if you love sensor dust and a broken rear wheel

@KevinRedder 6 месяцев назад

Ricoh GR series brakes easily because of the flex cable inside the lens that operates aperture and focus. The flex cable brakes eventually when the lens goes in and out due to how it's folded inside. I've read that most people experience it after 13k shots. So I'm not tempted to get a new one until Pentax change the architecture of the lens and address this problem.

@legendofthecamera 6 месяцев назад

It’s not a tough camera, which is unfortunate given the demographic it’s catered to. Still, it’s the best in class, which is less of a praise to the camera itself and more of a criticism towards all the camera companies for not doing better on this front, given the current state of technology.

@MeTheDroidor 8 месяцев назад

28mm or 40mm and why?

@legendofthecamera 8 месяцев назад

I prefer 28 due to its versatility for capturing everyday life. That happens to be the prevailing context for when I reach for this camera. That’s just my personal preference though.

@MeTheDroidor 8 месяцев назад

@@legendofthecamera Thanks!!

@wadafefe 5 месяцев назад

the dust and weather sealing should be an automatic repair on Pnetax/ Richo. Its a failure on them for not protecting their products

@zsoltaudio 10 месяцев назад

That's because Fuji has eliminated this category from its range. If there were an XF10 today, it would be far less obvious!

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

It’s a shame that it’s just the smallest camera company that’s focusing on this segment. Bigger companies should pay more attention now that compacts have become more popular. Then more options for us 😁

@JimIBobIJones 10 месяцев назад

Its success isn't that its unique, more that it managed to build hype. The software, hardware and build quality leaves a lot to be desired. Autofocus is terrible and there are way too many horror stories about dust getting onto the sensor. Plenty of APSC compacts failed where the GR III succeeded - and these were by far better cameras in many ways. The Canon G1X iii for example had a viewfinder and a zoom lens. Even the much older Nikon Coolpix A beats the GR III in autofocus.

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

You’re right in that it’s not absolutely unique. It’s only relatively unique now that most camera companies have given up on this segment. Hope that’ll change soon!

@lynneftw 10 месяцев назад

It's unique in its size + photo recipes. My old Coolpix can't get or use recipes for the old film look. Wish it could.

@JimIBobIJones 10 месяцев назад

@@lynneftw I might be showing my age but I don't understand the hype for "photo recipes". Since when did tacky pre-made filters become a good thing? Because at the end of the day that's what they are...

@lynneftw 10 месяцев назад

@@JimIBobIJones Others have tried but failed with the tacky filters. These, however, available for fujifilm and GR digital cameras are pretty spectacular. If even my flagship S22 Ultra had downloadable film sims, it still wouldn't be the quality of an aps-c or full frame sensor image.

@JimIBobIJones 10 месяцев назад

@@lynneftwI don't mean that they can't work more that you don't want to use it even if they work. There is much less you can do with a pre-processed JPEG, even compared to a "normal" JPEG, let alone raw. The common wisdom is (or at least was when I was learning photography) its much better to keep your image editable and throw on your vintage/film/monochrome effects in post. That way you are still getting the effect/profile you want but preserving the ability to adjust your exposure fully.

@darrin2382 2 месяца назад

the only thing better ....is a GRiiix

@scottlee7086 9 месяцев назад

*Promo sm*

@forneverarrow 8 месяцев назад

Very nice camera but overpriced to death! For 1000€ without MF and EVF, and only one control wheel? No. Not to mention the dust penetration issues. In my opinion 700€ is the right price for this camera.

@legendofthecamera 8 месяцев назад

It was originally cheaper, but they raised the MSRP by over 10% in the past year, making it more expensive. I personally wasn’t willing to pay the current price, so I bought mine used in great condition, which made it an excellent value. I’d recommend that route if you like the camera but find it overpriced.

@tallaganda83 7 месяцев назад

Agree it is overpriced, I’d happily pay that if they addressed a couple of things.

@JourneyThruExperience 5 месяцев назад

I wanted to buy it last week…January 2024 But like you said..it’s so expensive for a compact shot….ermm I don’t think I wanna pay for the Brand New price…😢😢😢

@lweleven3423 10 месяцев назад

Pic up a cheap Olympus Pen . Hands down a better bet ,I speak from experience

@RhettAnderson 10 месяцев назад

Olympus Pen is great, but I have a Pen and I don't carry it because it doesn't easily fit in my pocket. If I'm going to carry something, I end up carrying a full frame DSLR.

@alexandergutmann391 10 месяцев назад

Not Picture quality wise. I testet my Fathers olympus pl 8 its not the same feeling. i prefer my GR IIIx

@lweleven3423 10 месяцев назад

@@alexandergutmann391 100% picture quality , the downside with the internet is it’s often based on opinions not experience, I owned a photography shop and I’ve worked in printing and I’ve prob used more gear than most , it’s been said it won’t fit in a pocket that’s correct but has nothing to do with what the camera will produce , as for the same feeling not sure what that has to do with the camera’s purpose either a camera is a tool and in the right hands the Olympus are more than capable

@musicmaestro88 10 месяцев назад

I own both ( @freshouttafocus ) and the Oly entirely different use-case with horrible menus. The Leica glass on the GR2/GRIII is unmatched... if you matched the glass|performance on the Pen (aperature equivalent) then it CERTAINLY won't fit in a pocket - and also doesn't have snap focus. The Oly also does not have highlight weighted metering. My Pen could NEVER. We won't even get into aperture. The Oly is a BEAST - but should never be compared to my GR2/GR3. Might as well compare a shoe and a ham sandwich. It's simply not a fair fight anywhere on this planet. Comparing an ICL camera to a point and shoot tends to be a bad job to take. When I pick up my Oly or A7iii over the GRs, there's a reason... and that reason is there are diff tools for different jobs. When the GR is shot as intended by the design, there is NOTHING that compares to it (yet). Period.

@lweleven3423 10 месяцев назад

@@musicmaestro88 that’s your choice and opinion so pay 3/4 times as much so you can put it in your pocket

@nourhanbalian3294 10 месяцев назад

Sucks for portraits

@legendofthecamera 10 месяцев назад

I think it’s actually quite good for portraits. 28mm is just about the limit without getting crazy wide angle distortion.

@professionalpotato4764 9 месяцев назад

Pretty good for portraits. Just need to know how to use it. It's not the gear, but the photographer. Play to its strengths and use the wide angle look to your advantage. I've seen people shoot ad campaigns to be used across the entire APAC region with a 24mm and 85mm. Not every portrait has to be done with a clinical boring 35mm or 70-200mm.