BTW you *CAN* buy the GRIII and GRIIIX new still, they're just so damn popular that they're usually unavailable. Check the links to see if any are in stock here: GRIIIX New & Used Here: geni.us/IANQ GRIII New & Used Here: geni.us/A04Vgc
I can't thank you enough for this, as someone who was trying to decide between the two focal lengths for primarily architectural/landscape photography. I have watched SO many videos for each camera, but this is the first video I've seen where so many exact side-by-side comparisons were offered. You are absolutely a godsend!
I took the GRiii on a month-long trip to France this past summer and HATED it. That said, I love the GRiiiX. The 28mm focal length does not work for my style and vision. Great little camera, though, and perfect for concert photography.
I think it's totally worth mentioning the GT-2 Tele adapter for the GRIIIX. When it's connected it it automatically activates the 50mm crop mode giving you a 75mm lens. If you want you can tape over the contacts to de-activate crop mode and get a full-res 60mm lens. Yeah it takes away from the pocket ability but having that range is incredible. My typical walk-around setup while traveling is the GRII in my pocket and the GRIIIX w/ the GT-2 on my wrist. The GT-2 pops off in a second and basically having a 28mm, 40mm, and 75mm that all fit super well in pockets/on wrist is incredible.
I think the GT-2 actually increases the FL. You see crop mode because that’s what yhe lens is seeing -and you get 24MP resolution. You can use crop mode without extenders of course - the GRIII crops to 35mm full frame equivalent (16MP res) and to 50mm (7MPres). And in case you thought no that is too small, recall a 4K monitor/TV is less than 8MP. Normal viewing distance mean you won’t see pixelation no matter how big it gets. And if that’s not adequate, post processing your image with Gigapixel it such will enhance your 7MP image to 14MP and beyond. If you get the GR to shoot raw + jpg you can use Fri mode to compose, knowing you still have the whole 24Mp to crop in post. I just shoot raw and crop away after. Yes, with the back screen off and an opt viewfinder (and semi automatic) there’s not much mucking around between you and your image. I don’t even look at results until I get home. It’s also the stealthiest camera on the planet
That's how you do a comparison of focal lengths! Shooting the same thing on the same spot just with different focal lengths. Thank you! I'm waiting (impatiently) for the successors of both.
The problem with this comparison is that you're supposed to compose differently with these. With 28mm your primary mean of composition is moving the subjects in your frame around, and playing with perspective distortion. With 40mm, your primary mean of composition is exclusion of things from your frame. When people who are used to shooting with 40-60mm say that "composing with 24-35mm is difficult" it's because they apply the exclusion method, which indeed is quite difficult and at times impossible with a wide lens. And when wide lens shooters say that 40mm+ is too tight, it's because they're used to have all the subjects at their disposal and then just moving them around, which is the experience that is nigh impossible with a 40mm+ lens. One isn't better than the other, they're just different. They require different composition and they ultimately require a different photographer's eye. Wide shooters look at scenes, narrow shooters look at subjects. Mindless snapshots are easier with a wide lens (see smartphone lenses), while fine art and textbook photography and storytelling is easier with the more narrow lenses.
If you have a kid (as I do), the one handed shooting experience of the GRs is a god-send. I also just think the the sensor/lens combos are sharper than the X100V that I had, and it feels like the GRs have better shadow recovery (I always under expose a tad).
For me it's the one-hand operation coupled with the super intelligent supplementary focus and exposure UX. I'm set up that Snap Distance Priority mode is 1 custom function tap away. Jumping me to my 2.5m zone at DoF 2 f4.5 - giving me 2.5m-5m with no focus lag. Roll the back wheel once to get 2.5m-infinity. Then I still have tap to focus if I want to get a sneaky P mode single focus shot off between Zone Focus shots. Plus, I have 1 touch auto exposure in M mode so I can jump to the best settings and tweak really fast. Just to never miss a shot. It's incredible, and makes it the fastest camera I've ever used even if the AF is very 2019.
@@-grey Yeah, the customizability is really key to how enjoyable the GRs are to use. If anything, the achilles heel of these cameras is the autofocus, but the snap focus really mitigates that in some circumstances. I do wish it had better high ISO performance as well, but it’s plenty fine up to 3200.
@@eike.zender I’ve never found it to be an issue. It’s certainly not as quick as the X100V or VI (have been testing the later this week, and returning it), but it does plenty well enough. And the snap focus can be a life saver.
I always felt like the two focal length option are like for the preferred shooting styles, 28 being melee where you just draw and bam,while 40 being ranger where you need to slowly take aim.
Great video😀I got the GRiiix and sold the X100V. Mainly for the small size, to really bring it everywhere. One big thing to mention is that of you crop in camera you can’t un-crop the raw file in post. A weird quirk that may be a deal breaker for some. You can’t use the GRiii like a Leica Q and crop in camera and then change between the different crop modes.
Thanks for this Benj. I have both of these, mainly for street and everyday, and in reviewing my images I reckon I take about 80% GRIII and 20 % GRIIIx. I've always quite liked a bit of distortion or "weird" so I guess that makes me a more 28mm kind of guy.
I used to have the GRII and I still own a GR-D IV. Love these little cameras. I remember being able to test out the GRIII back in 2019 at a ricoh event and loved it so it makes me super curious on the GRIIIx with that 40mm FoV. Thanks for taking the time to shoot it side by side.
Can we talk about the fact RicohGR3 lens are way more shaper than the current X100VI? I love Fuji but my goodness these cameras have these crispy images, i cannot wait until the GR4.
I also have both and I have to say that I use the III much more than the X. I find the III more versatile as I also can use indoors, and the crop is acceptable if the intention is not to print. I also have the Fuji X100F and almost dont use anymore due to Ricoh size. I used the IIIX in a music concert recently and loved the 40 (and the crops) for that use case
To me it seems as if you looked for a good shot for the GR III and tried to get the best out of the GR IIIx from the same spot but that's not really how you would do that if you only had one of them.
Just watching this because having had the first generation GR 16mp, I’d sometimes wished for a more ‘normal’ focal length. But, saying that… My favorite set-up was the GR with the wide lens attachment option making it what I called my compact SWC. Stopped using it because of the dust on the sensor problem all these seem to develop.
As a glasses wearer, how do you find the experience of using the GV-3 viewfinder on the IIIX? I’ve heard it can be hard to see thru well (too small), and I’m concerned it would scratch my glasses
This is the camera of choice for Ned Bunnell, the former President of Pentax U.S. Keep meaning to try one. Prices are a bit absurd, as all 3 plus year old point and shoots. Wild that the cause of their demise is the smart phone. And the cause of their resurgence is people who want something with similar field of view to their smartphone but want a different look/higher quality image. The market is vastly confusing right now.
So what’s the best companion camera to a Q3…GRIIIX for fixed 40mm focal length , XT-5 for interchangeable lenses, or vintage Nikon FG/FM with a cool pancake lens???
Benj I have the GRIIIx. Its so fun to use with the external viewfinder. I take it with me everywhere for daily shooting and when I'm not using my leica MP. I was wondering if you could go over flash photography? How to understand manual settings? I would like to try to play with flash on my GR and my MP. Love your content.
Love the GRIII! The lens is pretty sharp - only thing I don't like is the slight vignetting but that can easily be fixed. I also picked up the Pentax AF201FG flash recently and it's an absolute joy to shoot with. The files I get are close to the Q files. Glad you have been enjoying it.
Durability in general seems to be the major drawback with Ricoh GR III cameras. Way too fragile for the price tag unfortunately. And when the purpose is to kind of always have it with you, it needs to be durable.
That's one thing holding me back from buying the GR3. For an EDC camera, it needs to have weather sealing. Especially for a fixed lens camera which you can't easily clean the sensor yourself.
The dust on the sensor issue is so over-blown. I've gone backpacking with these things for miles on dust covered trails and have zero issues with dust. Seriously 4+ years of HEAVY use and have yet to see a speck
Do you know if a picture taken by 28, can be cropped/cut to the frame that would be created with 40mm or by the cutting will also loose the quality ? I still don't know which one to choose 😊
You would be able to crop the 28mm in, but youneill lose quality and it wont look the exact same as the native 40mm. On the flipside, you cannot "uncrop" shots taken with the 40mm.
This is a valid point. The difference for me is control. I'm noticing that the iPhone 15 Pro defaults to a low shutter speed when in indoor light at my house. It is only an issue with fast-moving subjects like my kid, but the result is that I have a bunch of blurry photos. I would not care if this wasn't such a common occurrence. I'd prefer a bit of noise instead of blur. To eliminate blur, my options are to turn on the flash or use a regular camera like the Ricoh GR (or something bigger) to set shutter speed minimums. I did not have this issue with my Pixel 7 Pro. In bright light conditions, I think the iPhone 15 Pro takes photos that are nearly as good as the GRIII unless you are picky. And the iPhone 15 Pro destroys my cameras with video performance, but tbh I have never tried to learn how to optimize my camera settings for videos.
With the GRIII you can crop though and essentially get the same picture (slightly lower quality though), while with the GRIIIx, you are stuck at 40mm+.
@@benjhaisch Exactly. Obviously the 40mm would allow even more cropping, but I'm looking for an alternative to the Sony RX100 VII, which has a smaller sensor to begin with, so I'd rather have better quality uncropped and cropped the larger sensor should compensate the lack of optical zoom. Personally I don't get why so many people choose the 40mm and why Fujifilm decided to use 35mm on the X1000VI, considering most main phone cameras are at roughly 25mm. The X1000VI offers a wide lens adapter, but it's not very pocketable. Surprisingly Ricoh offers both a wide and telephoto adapter, but for some reason only to make the 28mm even wider and the 40mm even narrower.
Though I prefer 35mm, I would chose 40mm here, but these cameras should have EVF ! I also think that thes cameras do not have good enough build quality for their high price ! So nothing for me.
For me personally, the purpose of photography is to capture moments and places, snapshots of memories, that I can revisit later. 28mm does a better job at that than a longer lens. I don't see the point of shooting closeups of bicycles, water hydrants and shop signs. They're very pretty images to look at, but meaningless. Ultimately, GR III does the same thing as any modern phone, but with better picture quality.
@maco34576 That seems an invalid criticism. The OP was explicitly saying that they didn't find meaning in taking anonymous photos for public consumption. They take personal photos for themselves and family/friends. So it wouldn't matter if others find them meaningless. The same is not true in reverse. Ironically, I think the 40mm is better suited to that type of photography than the 28mm... because it more easily highlights faces and micro-expressions. But that just shows how everyone draws their own enjoyment out of photoing things.
Great content! Finally got a GRiiix viewfinder and excited to start using it like a film point and shoot. These cameras can do so much so I’m excited to take a step back and use it more casually as well as save some battery life when I feel like it.
I use an original Ricoh GR digital camera with 8 megapixels. I have it set to black and white, iso 800 with the contrast and sharpness up. CCD sensor cameras are my favourites. I also use a Nikon D40x with an 18 70 afs DX lens.
Great comparo. I have the griiix. I just can't do the 28mm. I actually bought the iii after the x but got rid of it. I think 35 is the best but 40 is close
Honestly if the Fuji X100VI was 28mm it would be the perfect EDC for me. I love my X100VI, and I've got the wide angle adapter, but.. I hardly use it because of the size it adds. However... the Fuji X100VI is just such a lovely camera to use, the dials make all the difference for me compared to something like a Ricoh GRIII.
Tried the GRiii and didn’t like it. The 28mm focal length is too wide for me. Unless working a parade or demonstration I need to get too close to my subjects. I also have to be more aware of what is happening at the edge of the frame. There is no EVF. I extensively use an EVF. I found the LCD screen, which doesn’t tilt or flip, hard to use on sunny. I just pointed and hoped. The GRiiiX with the 40mm field of view was more comfortable to use. Of course, without the EVF, I am lost. The Ricoh are expensive at ~$250 and it isn’t an EVF. The Chinese viewfinder use plastic lenses and aren’t very good. They are inexpensive. I never adapted to the one hand style of use. The high contrast B&W is great. Of course the size and weight are primarily the reasons to make a GR purchase. I preordered a X100VI on the first day it was announced. A little bigger. More expensive by 50% but it does have the EVF. The main problem is it’s unavailable. Lord knows when it will ship. The lord doesn’t part the clouds and then speak to me. I’m hoping to receive it before Christmas. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
I saw just tons of videos, which one to choose, there were some comparsions but it didn't help much. Now finally, when I was at 5th minute of your video, I already knew that I will be taking the 28mm. Thank you, your video helped me to finaly make a decision. (just need to save money for the HDF version haha). Have a great day!
Although my dream camera is the one you have around your neck 😅, I love the GR III that I actually own. And yes, the hard BNW is a very cool film simulation. Personally, I also use the basic Monochrome with a bit of additional contrast and grain effect. And it’s pretty close to HIP5 film.
Doubt we'll get improved AF. Sony and Canon have robust R&D departments to focus on that kind of software development. Panasonic too, which is why the S5II leapt right past Nikon, and Fujifilm who haven't really made any significant progress in that area since at least 2019. We will see better PDAF in DJI products before we see it in Fujifilm, Nikon, Leica, Ricoh, or OM System. They have been coasting on iterative bodies this whole decade. Best we can hope for in a GRIV unless Sony feels generous some time soon, is mild weather resistance everywhere but the lens, a flip up screen, and disappointingly more mega pixels. And with those options, I'm glad we haven't had a GRIV yet. Look at Fujifilm they made a high resolution variant of their X100V and called it a whole new camera. It should have been the X100VR - like the a7 and a7R from Sony.
@@ChazyfizzlezI'd rather they offered a hotshoe small flash unit with its own powersource, because off-cam is always more powerful than pop up, it wouldn't drain the camera battery, it wouldn't add size to the body, it could be wireless triggered for better angles than direct, you could use it with the current GR and wouldn't require buying a whole new body, you could use it with other cameras, it could have manual dials to see/change settings at a glance without menu diving, it could have third-party clip on gels and diffusers. There's so many reasons that a small hotshoe flash is infinitely better! A pop up flash is literally the worst version of this ask. Don't be afraid to dream a little bigger darling. 😂
@@-grey i still want a pop up flash. I have several off camera flashes that I use with the X100 and Q3. The pop up flash in infinitely more convenient for the shooting style or the camera. I don’t need directional off camera flash or faster recycle times on a GR camera. I need a pop up flash to light people for candid photos.
@@Chazyfizzlez leave a small one on the camera. Job done. Pop up flash is always worse quality than dedicated, plus the battery on the GR with a flash and IBIS unit will be dead in 10 photos. It's a bad implementation, that only works to make the camera bigger for a few stubborn users who insist on a worse thing for obtuse reasons. If pop up flash is more important than quality to you, get a Canon G7XIII or a Sony RX100. You don't need a GR for that. You might even save some money.
@@-grey I have a G7XII already along with many other point and shoots. I owned a GRii and GRiii diary edition and still prefer the GRii not only for build quality and ergonomics but for the flash. Don’t think you can change my mind on that. Pop up flash works when you need it to and off camera flash is simply too cumbersome in many cases. The point of the GR series is to make snapshots and requiring two handed use with an external flash is just not my use case. If I’m going out to intentionally shoot with off camera flash on the street, I’ll take my Q3 with Q20ii flash and call it a day.
The Ricoh GRIII is an unusual camera, in my opinion, very expensive and too ... simple. I do not understand why a serious photographer would buy one, and I get even more confused when I see that you're "wearing" a Leica M11 (?) when reviewing these GRIII's. Maybe it's just me.
I think the simplicity is the beauty and the fact that it packs an APS-C sensor into a package that’s *actually* pocketable. And yeah, I shot two videos that day. One on the GR series and one that used the M11 ;)
The simplicity is definitely the beauty, and the results you can get out of it just bely that simplicity. When I first started shooting with it, the GRIIIx just absolutely knocked my socks off with it's sharpness and tonality.
I have shot with the original GR for years now and captured so many great photos. It is an essential part of my kit. I love the build, I love the handling, I love the portability. It is such an underrated little camera. Also, I am absolutely a viewfinder guy but with the GR I really don‘t care. Bought the GR IIIx for my wife and she just loves it.
BTW you *CAN* buy the GRIII and GRIIIX new still, they're just so damn popular that they're usually unavailable. Check the links to see if any are in stock here:
GRIIIX New & Used Here: geni.us/IANQ
GRIII New & Used Here: geni.us/A04Vgc
I can't thank you enough for this, as someone who was trying to decide between the two focal lengths for primarily architectural/landscape photography. I have watched SO many videos for each camera, but this is the first video I've seen where so many exact side-by-side comparisons were offered. You are absolutely a godsend!
check my channel. I made a GR vs GRx video also with examples. Cheers.
Yeah same here. I neeeeeeeeeeeeeded this video. Many thanks from Australia.
Did u get the x ?
@elmaromero8585 Yes, I did. I tend to take more close up/detail images, less environment/street, so I decided I didn't need the wider field of view.
same feeling here
I took the GRiii on a month-long trip to France this past summer and HATED it. That said, I love the GRiiiX. The 28mm focal length does not work for my style and vision. Great little camera, though, and perfect for concert photography.
I think it's totally worth mentioning the GT-2 Tele adapter for the GRIIIX. When it's connected it it automatically activates the 50mm crop mode giving you a 75mm lens. If you want you can tape over the contacts to de-activate crop mode and get a full-res 60mm lens. Yeah it takes away from the pocket ability but having that range is incredible.
My typical walk-around setup while traveling is the GRII in my pocket and the GRIIIX w/ the GT-2 on my wrist. The GT-2 pops off in a second and basically having a 28mm, 40mm, and 75mm that all fit super well in pockets/on wrist is incredible.
I think the GT-2 actually increases the FL. You see crop mode because that’s what yhe lens is seeing -and you get 24MP resolution. You can use crop mode without extenders of course - the GRIII crops to 35mm full frame equivalent (16MP res) and to 50mm (7MPres). And in case you thought no that is too small, recall a 4K monitor/TV is less than 8MP. Normal viewing distance mean you won’t see pixelation no matter how big it gets. And if that’s not adequate, post processing your image with Gigapixel it such will enhance your 7MP image to 14MP and beyond. If you get the GR to shoot raw + jpg you can use Fri mode to compose, knowing you still have the whole 24Mp to crop in post. I just shoot raw and crop away after. Yes, with the back screen off and an opt viewfinder (and semi automatic) there’s not much mucking around between you and your image. I don’t even look at results until I get home. It’s also the stealthiest camera on the planet
Been wanting to try these for so long!
dooo it! would love to see your usual family work with the GR3. I use mine so much chasing after my two little ones
Drink the Kool-aid my dude
That's how you do a comparison of focal lengths! Shooting the same thing on the same spot just with different focal lengths. Thank you!
I'm waiting (impatiently) for the successors of both.
The problem with this comparison is that you're supposed to compose differently with these.
With 28mm your primary mean of composition is moving the subjects in your frame around, and playing with perspective distortion. With 40mm, your primary mean of composition is exclusion of things from your frame.
When people who are used to shooting with 40-60mm say that "composing with 24-35mm is difficult" it's because they apply the exclusion method, which indeed is quite difficult and at times impossible with a wide lens. And when wide lens shooters say that 40mm+ is too tight, it's because they're used to have all the subjects at their disposal and then just moving them around, which is the experience that is nigh impossible with a 40mm+ lens.
One isn't better than the other, they're just different. They require different composition and they ultimately require a different photographer's eye. Wide shooters look at scenes, narrow shooters look at subjects. Mindless snapshots are easier with a wide lens (see smartphone lenses), while fine art and textbook photography and storytelling is easier with the more narrow lenses.
I've got a GRIII but am thinking about picking up one of the new GRIIIx HDF cameras when they get released for portraits on the go
If you have a kid (as I do), the one handed shooting experience of the GRs is a god-send. I also just think the the sensor/lens combos are sharper than the X100V that I had, and it feels like the GRs have better shadow recovery (I always under expose a tad).
My GR III is even way sharper than my xt5 with ne new 23mm 1.4
For me it's the one-hand operation coupled with the super intelligent supplementary focus and exposure UX.
I'm set up that Snap Distance Priority mode is 1 custom function tap away. Jumping me to my 2.5m zone at DoF 2 f4.5 - giving me 2.5m-5m with no focus lag. Roll the back wheel once to get 2.5m-infinity.
Then I still have tap to focus if I want to get a sneaky P mode single focus shot off between Zone Focus shots.
Plus, I have 1 touch auto exposure in M mode so I can jump to the best settings and tweak really fast. Just to never miss a shot.
It's incredible, and makes it the fastest camera I've ever used even if the AF is very 2019.
@@-grey Yeah, the customizability is really key to how enjoyable the GRs are to use. If anything, the achilles heel of these cameras is the autofocus, but the snap focus really mitigates that in some circumstances. I do wish it had better high ISO performance as well, but it’s plenty fine up to 3200.
@@kennethhughes8392 but isn't the AF way too slow for a dad cam?
@@eike.zender I’ve never found it to be an issue. It’s certainly not as quick as the X100V or VI (have been testing the later this week, and returning it), but it does plenty well enough. And the snap focus can be a life saver.
I always felt like the two focal length option are like for the preferred shooting styles, 28 being melee where you just draw and bam,while 40 being ranger where you need to slowly take aim.
Just picked up a GR lll here in Tokyo, took going to 5 camera shops before I found a used one
Great video😀I got the GRiiix and sold the X100V. Mainly for the small size, to really bring it everywhere. One big thing to mention is that of you crop in camera you can’t un-crop the raw file in post. A weird quirk that may be a deal breaker for some. You can’t use the GRiii like a Leica Q and crop in camera and then change between the different crop modes.
Recently got the GRIIIx and I love it! Small, simple and great image quality.
Thanks for this Benj. I have both of these, mainly for street and everyday, and in reviewing my images I reckon I take about 80% GRIII and 20 % GRIIIx. I've always quite liked a bit of distortion or "weird" so I guess that makes me a more 28mm kind of guy.
I used to have the GRII and I still own a GR-D IV. Love these little cameras. I remember being able to test out the GRIII back in 2019 at a ricoh event and loved it so it makes me super curious on the GRIIIx with that 40mm FoV. Thanks for taking the time to shoot it side by side.
Can we talk about the fact RicohGR3 lens are way more shaper than the current X100VI? I love Fuji but my goodness these cameras have these crispy images, i cannot wait until the GR4.
shoot some portraiture with the 28mm GR . Id love to see how you handle the challenge of the smaller sensor/wide angle lens combo.
I also have both and I have to say that I use the III much more than the X. I find the III more versatile as I also can use indoors, and the crop is acceptable if the intention is not to print. I also have the Fuji X100F and almost dont use anymore due to Ricoh size. I used the IIIX in a music concert recently and loved the 40 (and the crops) for that use case
To me it seems as if you looked for a good shot for the GR III and tried to get the best out of the GR IIIx from the same spot but that's not really how you would do that if you only had one of them.
It depends on the subject. It seems like you chose examples that suited the 40mm better, and showing the same subject in 28mm seems worse.
Just watching this because having had the first generation GR 16mp, I’d sometimes wished for a more ‘normal’ focal length. But, saying that… My favorite set-up was the GR with the wide lens attachment option making it what I called my compact SWC. Stopped using it because of the dust on the sensor problem all these seem to develop.
As a glasses wearer, how do you find the experience of using the GV-3 viewfinder on the IIIX? I’ve heard it can be hard to see thru well (too small), and I’m concerned it would scratch my glasses
This is the camera of choice for Ned Bunnell, the former President of Pentax U.S. Keep meaning to try one. Prices are a bit absurd, as all 3 plus year old point and shoots.
Wild that the cause of their demise is the smart phone. And the cause of their resurgence is people who want something with similar field of view to their smartphone but want a different look/higher quality image.
The market is vastly confusing right now.
Love my Griii, I use it mainly for landscape. I get a much higher percentage of keepers from Griii than I do my K3iii.
So what’s the best companion camera to a Q3…GRIIIX for fixed 40mm focal length , XT-5 for interchangeable lenses, or vintage Nikon FG/FM with a cool pancake lens???
I appreciate all your videos, but this departure from your home studio is nice. Keep up the good work man.
Benj I have the GRIIIx. Its so fun to use with the external viewfinder. I take it with me everywhere for daily shooting and when I'm not using my leica MP. I was wondering if you could go over flash photography? How to understand manual settings? I would like to try to play with flash on my GR and my MP. Love your content.
Nice video !
0:25 can i ask potable viewfinder models names?
and is it possible to use other camera? Ex)zv-1
Love the GRIII! The lens is pretty sharp - only thing I don't like is the slight vignetting but that can easily be fixed. I also picked up the Pentax AF201FG flash recently and it's an absolute joy to shoot with. The files I get are close to the Q files. Glad you have been enjoying it.
i traded the x100v for a griiix and no regrets and then i paired the q2 with it .....
:D better have no regrets when switching a 1400€ camera for a 4400€ set-up
They are prone to sucking in dust which ends up on the sensor. With all the care in the world, I couldn’t prevent it happening!
Durability in general seems to be the major drawback with Ricoh GR III cameras.
Way too fragile for the price tag unfortunately.
And when the purpose is to kind of always have it with you, it needs to be durable.
That's one thing holding me back from buying the GR3. For an EDC camera, it needs to have weather sealing. Especially for a fixed lens camera which you can't easily clean the sensor yourself.
@@TerraThink I agree. I am not buying the GR until it has weather sealing.
@Classical416 really really hoping the next version has weather sealing, a built in flash, and slightly better AF
The dust on the sensor issue is so over-blown. I've gone backpacking with these things for miles on dust covered trails and have zero issues with dust. Seriously 4+ years of HEAVY use and have yet to see a speck
For me 28mm all day. For street and photo journalist work. Holiday snaps Its perfect.
Do you know if a picture taken by 28, can be cropped/cut to the frame that would be created with 40mm or by the cutting will also loose the quality ? I still don't know which one to choose 😊
You would be able to crop the 28mm in, but youneill lose quality and it wont look the exact same as the native 40mm. On the flipside, you cannot "uncrop" shots taken with the 40mm.
Is there that much difference between this and let’s say an iPhone 15 pro in your pocket?
This is a valid point. The difference for me is control. I'm noticing that the iPhone 15 Pro defaults to a low shutter speed when in indoor light at my house. It is only an issue with fast-moving subjects like my kid, but the result is that I have a bunch of blurry photos. I would not care if this wasn't such a common occurrence. I'd prefer a bit of noise instead of blur. To eliminate blur, my options are to turn on the flash or use a regular camera like the Ricoh GR (or something bigger) to set shutter speed minimums. I did not have this issue with my Pixel 7 Pro.
In bright light conditions, I think the iPhone 15 Pro takes photos that are nearly as good as the GRIII unless you are picky. And the iPhone 15 Pro destroys my cameras with video performance, but tbh I have never tried to learn how to optimize my camera settings for videos.
You definitely notice a difference in image quality - the sensor is bigger than what comes in an iPhone.
How do you think about the 35mm crop mode in GRIII?
how does the absolute image quality of these GR cameras compare to the X100V - so ultimate result from both sensor and lens! thanks
I wondered what if you don’t shoot with the view finder?
how long/ many pictures does the battery hold when the screen is mostly turned off ?
thanks !
3:35 you took the words right out of my mouth - I can't decide 🤷🏻♂️
With the GRIII you can crop though and essentially get the same picture (slightly lower quality though), while with the GRIIIx, you are stuck at 40mm+.
True, to a degree. 14mp isn’t bad in a pinch. Which is I believe what you’d end up with if you cropped to 40mm from the original 28mm
@@benjhaisch Exactly. Obviously the 40mm would allow even more cropping, but I'm looking for an alternative to the Sony RX100 VII, which has a smaller sensor to begin with, so I'd rather have better quality uncropped and cropped the larger sensor should compensate the lack of optical zoom.
Personally I don't get why so many people choose the 40mm and why Fujifilm decided to use 35mm on the X1000VI, considering most main phone cameras are at roughly 25mm. The X1000VI offers a wide lens adapter, but it's not very pocketable.
Surprisingly Ricoh offers both a wide and telephoto adapter, but for some reason only to make the 28mm even wider and the 40mm even narrower.
What's with the jewelry around your neck?
Why are you wearing a Leica? around your neck with the lens cap off for the entire comparison of 2 Ricoh GRs?
Have you ever done two things at once? I also shot a ton of images for another videos as well.
@@benjhaisch link?
@orionshat shot some of the image samples in this video on it. ruclips.net/video/X_68fgGYACs/видео.htmlsi=hQ7Tt4wJ5QeVxUHf
I really want to get my hands on a GRIII. Such a powerful little camera. Are you adding grain to these or is it just a noisier sesnor?
Hi Benj! What about the differences on the experience of using specifically the external OVF in the GRIII vs the OVF in the X100V/VI?
Super interested in the 28mm version, but can't find it available anywhere! Thanks for all the great videos.
I would have liked to see a comparison in portraits.
How did you handle focus while relying on the optical viewfinder?
Trust the camera
This video didn't help me much which one to chose, and now HDF version.
Though I prefer 35mm, I would chose 40mm here, but these cameras should have EVF ! I also think that thes cameras do not have good enough build quality for their high price ! So nothing for me.
For me personally, the purpose of photography is to capture moments and places, snapshots of memories, that I can revisit later. 28mm does a better job at that than a longer lens. I don't see the point of shooting closeups of bicycles, water hydrants and shop signs. They're very pretty images to look at, but meaningless. Ultimately, GR III does the same thing as any modern phone, but with better picture quality.
meaningless to you.... those snapshots and places you mention might also be meaningless to other people ;)
@maco34576 That seems an invalid criticism. The OP was explicitly saying that they didn't find meaning in taking anonymous photos for public consumption. They take personal photos for themselves and family/friends. So it wouldn't matter if others find them meaningless. The same is not true in reverse.
Ironically, I think the 40mm is better suited to that type of photography than the 28mm... because it more easily highlights faces and micro-expressions. But that just shows how everyone draws their own enjoyment out of photoing things.
Great content! Finally got a GRiiix viewfinder and excited to start using it like a film point and shoot. These cameras can do so much so I’m excited to take a step back and use it more casually as well as save some battery life when I feel like it.
This video just saved me $550 bucks. GR III it is for me.
@@AyyDot same!! This is video I needed to see to make a decision!! GRiii it is!!
I use an original Ricoh GR digital camera with 8 megapixels. I have it set to black and white, iso 800 with the contrast and sharpness up.
CCD sensor cameras are my favourites. I also use a Nikon D40x with an 18 70 afs DX lens.
Great comparo. I have the griiix. I just can't do the 28mm. I actually bought the iii after the x but got rid of it. I think 35 is the best but 40 is close
Honestly if the Fuji X100VI was 28mm it would be the perfect EDC for me. I love my X100VI, and I've got the wide angle adapter, but.. I hardly use it because of the size it adds. However... the Fuji X100VI is just such a lovely camera to use, the dials make all the difference for me compared to something like a Ricoh GRIII.
Chamber’s Bay…. Great spot! Used to pass it on my long bike rides.
Tried the GRiii and didn’t like it. The 28mm focal length is too wide for me. Unless working a parade or demonstration I need to get too close to my subjects. I also have to be more aware of what is happening at the edge of the frame. There is no EVF. I extensively use an EVF. I found the LCD screen, which doesn’t tilt or flip, hard to use on sunny. I just pointed and hoped.
The GRiiiX with the 40mm field of view was more comfortable to use. Of course, without the EVF, I am lost. The Ricoh are expensive at ~$250 and it isn’t an EVF. The Chinese viewfinder use plastic lenses and aren’t very good. They are inexpensive. I never adapted to the one hand style of use. The high contrast B&W is great. Of course the size and weight are primarily the reasons to make a GR purchase.
I preordered a X100VI on the first day it was announced. A little bigger. More expensive by 50% but it does have the EVF. The main problem is it’s unavailable. Lord knows when it will ship. The lord doesn’t part the clouds and then speak to me. I’m hoping to receive it before Christmas.
Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
I bought a x100v months ago.. Hardly use it but i think i wanna get a Ricoh GRIII instead.
Great video. Gr3 with wider field of view is 100% my shooting preference seeing these image comparisons. Sorely tempted!
I saw just tons of videos, which one to choose, there were some comparsions but it didn't help much. Now finally, when I was at 5th minute of your video, I already knew that I will be taking the 28mm. Thank you, your video helped me to finaly make a decision. (just need to save money for the HDF version haha). Have a great day!
After seeing the picture, I feel like I like the picture of GR 3 better. 🙈
I prefer GRIIIX as I love taking street candid photos. I put the pov videos in my channel too
Can u add x100vi to the comparison
No doubt when it comes to B/w Ricoh is only second to Leica….the files are far better than any Fuji x100 cameras from personal experience.
I wish they made a 35
but you are wearing a fantastic Leica M on your neck.....dude...
And?
Although my dream camera is the one you have around your neck 😅, I love the GR III that I actually own. And yes, the hard BNW is a very cool film simulation. Personally, I also use the basic Monochrome with a bit of additional contrast and grain effect. And it’s pretty close to HIP5 film.
I dig it!
What we need NOW is the Ricoh GR IV with improved AF and WR. Ricoh please!!!! 🙏🏼
When is it due
Doubt we'll get improved AF. Sony and Canon have robust R&D departments to focus on that kind of software development. Panasonic too, which is why the S5II leapt right past Nikon, and Fujifilm who haven't really made any significant progress in that area since at least 2019. We will see better PDAF in DJI products before we see it in Fujifilm, Nikon, Leica, Ricoh, or OM System. They have been coasting on iterative bodies this whole decade.
Best we can hope for in a GRIV unless Sony feels generous some time soon, is mild weather resistance everywhere but the lens, a flip up screen, and disappointingly more mega pixels.
And with those options, I'm glad we haven't had a GRIV yet. Look at Fujifilm they made a high resolution variant of their X100V and called it a whole new camera. It should have been the X100VR - like the a7 and a7R from Sony.
Still has to wear a Leica to flex on no one that cares 😂😂
Can't wait for the GRIV! It's so close to being the perfect truly pocketable camera for me!
Bring the pop up flash back and I will be all in!!
@@ChazyfizzlezI'd rather they offered a hotshoe small flash unit with its own powersource, because off-cam is always more powerful than pop up, it wouldn't drain the camera battery, it wouldn't add size to the body, it could be wireless triggered for better angles than direct, you could use it with the current GR and wouldn't require buying a whole new body, you could use it with other cameras, it could have manual dials to see/change settings at a glance without menu diving, it could have third-party clip on gels and diffusers. There's so many reasons that a small hotshoe flash is infinitely better!
A pop up flash is literally the worst version of this ask. Don't be afraid to dream a little bigger darling. 😂
@@-grey i still want a pop up flash. I have several off camera flashes that I use with the X100 and Q3. The pop up flash in infinitely more convenient for the shooting style or the camera. I don’t need directional off camera flash or faster recycle times on a GR camera. I need a pop up flash to light people for candid photos.
@@Chazyfizzlez leave a small one on the camera. Job done. Pop up flash is always worse quality than dedicated, plus the battery on the GR with a flash and IBIS unit will be dead in 10 photos. It's a bad implementation, that only works to make the camera bigger for a few stubborn users who insist on a worse thing for obtuse reasons.
If pop up flash is more important than quality to you, get a Canon G7XIII or a Sony RX100. You don't need a GR for that. You might even save some money.
@@-grey I have a G7XII already along with many other point and shoots. I owned a GRii and GRiii diary edition and still prefer the GRii not only for build quality and ergonomics but for the flash. Don’t think you can change my mind on that. Pop up flash works when you need it to and off camera flash is simply too cumbersome in many cases. The point of the GR series is to make snapshots and requiring two handed use with an external flash is just not my use case. If I’m going out to intentionally shoot with off camera flash on the street, I’ll take my Q3 with Q20ii flash and call it a day.
Jesus saves indeed.
The Ricoh GRIII is an unusual camera, in my opinion, very expensive and too ... simple. I do not understand why a serious photographer would buy one, and I get even more confused when I see that you're "wearing" a Leica M11 (?) when reviewing these GRIII's. Maybe it's just me.
I think the simplicity is the beauty and the fact that it packs an APS-C sensor into a package that’s *actually* pocketable. And yeah, I shot two videos that day. One on the GR series and one that used the M11 ;)
The GR’s offer excellent image quality in about the smallest camera possible. Look up Daidō Moriyama
The simplicity is definitely the beauty, and the results you can get out of it just bely that simplicity. When I first started shooting with it, the GRIIIx just absolutely knocked my socks off with it's sharpness and tonality.
What's wrong with simple? Photography doesn't have to be complicated or difficult. For me, its all about enjoyment.
The irony in OP's comment is hilarious 😂
I have shot with the original GR for years now and captured so many great photos. It is an essential part of my kit. I love the build, I love the handling, I love the portability. It is such an underrated little camera. Also, I am absolutely a viewfinder guy but with the GR I really don‘t care. Bought the GR IIIx for my wife and she just loves it.