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 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.
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’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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 :)
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.
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 👍
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'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.
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.
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❤🎉
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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’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
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 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!
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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. 😆
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?
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.
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 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.
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.
@@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!
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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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
Great vid!! As always, i have always been interested in this line of camera but i wasn’t a 28 shooter, I’m a 35-50 guy . This would work out well as a small compact, but I’ve always have read the build quality was not that rugged. I too wish they would invest in a little more then plastic. But i still like this camera and will most likely buy one. Thanks again
Good point by Deluk, you might like that GR3x w the 40mm. I’d also like the Ricoh to use more premium dials and buttons and also to simplify tie dials and buttons and make the important ones (shutter, iso, aperture) more prominent.
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.
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.
I pretty much always have it on me too 🙂
After upgrading to the iPhone 14pro I STILL find that the Ricoh GRiii files are far superior for post production.
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
same here
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
You’ll love it :)
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!
Thank you Krzysztof, I appreciate you taking the time to comment :). More videos coming soon :).
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.
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 think you’d love it for that Urpo :)
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.
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 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.
Thanks Adam , I’m reconfiguring my entire studio this month :)
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.
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.
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’ve always felt that way about that Ricoh and very glad Justin is endorsing it.
Definitely approve , excellent camera.
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 :)
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.
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.
Indeed it is Peter :).
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 👍
Sounds awesome, wish I was in Spain right about now :)
My gr 2 died few weeks ago and I feel like my hand missing, beside all my other equipment. It’s time for gr3!
Sorry for your loss Roman :(
Totally agree on the cycle camera idea! It's perfect for that.
That’s awesome to hear, I thought I was the only one :)
I keep mine in my jersey pocket on every pedal bike ride. love love it it goes on light pack hikes too
It’s perfect for that Heather:).
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…
Get started an actual project if you can, that will give you focus and purpose and 100% help you improve :)
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.
That will save you a lot of $$$ and if it works for you then by all means, go crush it Duane.
I've been checking BH everyday for the last two weeks. Can't wait for that. I'm getting the tele, too and looking forward to flash street with a 60mm.
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.
Yes, I couldn’t understand the point about no manual focus. You can touch focus very easily all over the back screen.
this is my setup since 2019, M240 + GRIII, its perfect
That’s a great set up Toro.
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❤🎉
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.
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.
Absolutely cracking review and recommendation for this wonderful camera. You have a new subscriber 👍
Thank you,
glad to have you here :).
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.
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.
Thanks for watching you’ll love the little camera :).
Straight to the point. What do you think about ricoh GR III X with 40 mm lens (ff èq.)
I think I’d really like that GR3X 40mm , but never tried it. Thanks for you question Grzegorz.
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!
Loved that shot of the bus with the bridge in the distance.
Thank you Richard, that is my early morning route and even at 5am it’s busy.
Very insightful Justin, thank you!
Thank you for watching Nolan.
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.
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.
It’s such an underrated camera Jeff, also love that I know you’re British by saying niggles as I’ve only ever heard people from the UK say that word.
I'm late to the game, but purchased a GRIII today as a companion for my Leica M240 system all carried in a Domke/Fujifilm bag...
Congrats , you’ll love it :)
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.
Just thought I'd let you know, there is a manual focus option. Great video though.
Thank you Zak.
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’ll check that app out Alex, thanks for sharing. Let me know how you like using it as a dedicated BW camera , I’ve loved using it that way .
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.😊
Thanks brother , that video was a while ago but I kept most of it off :)
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
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 )
Thanks Carlos, that GRX3 is very tempting as well.
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.
Totally agree , it’s so perfect as a back up on so many levels.
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!
We are a small group but I love it Misha.
@@AskMOTT count me in sir.. =) biking and shooting here in Japan . GR ii user here... happy shooting ...
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.
Good video. I don't have a Leica, but I do have two GRs. They are superb cameras. And, for my eyes, there's a "Ricoh GR look."
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.
Thank you Denis :)
What did you end up with?
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.
Excellent point Jordan, I luckily haven’t run into that problem yet but many of you have mentioned it.
Same issue for me. A real deal-breaker having had one camera rendered useless as Ricoh refused to service it.
When is GR IV going to be released
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.
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.
These are my early videos where I was working out some technical challenges but my newer videos shouldn’t have any issues. Thanks
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. 😆
Thank you. I've heard of this camera and would be a good buy for those looking. I have a Leica X2 and it does amazing
What focus mode(s) do you use with the optical viewfinder?
Just bought my griiix I love it so far. Thanks for the great video
Congrats! share some photos :)
Please do real life in depth comparison of Ricoh GR III, GR III x , Fuji X100V, Leica Q and Leica M11
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?
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.
Hi , have you ever consider LEICA CL with the 18mm or the TL2 ? I think that are incredible back up cameras.
What do you think?
Also it's possible to save battery by switching off image stabilization.
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. 😂
That would’ve been painful :(
The app works fine now 🙂
That's great to hear, thanks for the update Filip.
Being a vintage digital fan I have the original GR Digital and a gx100 and they compliment my ‘real cameras’ which are Leica film
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
Great to hear Chris, many complain about dust reaching the sensor, has that happened to you?
@@AskMOTT so far so good. But only had it a few months but image quality is astounding and i shoot mirrorless for a living.
I want more of this series. Please :)
Sure thing :)
@@AskMOTT hope to see you again in Portugal
@@filipesilvapereira4839 Me too :).
Very good video !!!
What do you think about the ricoh GRIII X with a 40mm eq lens? Which would you choose, the 28mm or the 40mm?
I could see liking a 40mm Manuel, probably more than a 28mm to be honest as I’m more of a 35mm guy.
@@AskMOTT … shoot with your arm stretched out, framing with the lcd, and you get a near 35mm field of view … don’t believe me? Test it.
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.
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.
On no, now I’ve got competition:). It’s kinda fun to do right ?
@@AskMOTT It really is, I just need to focus extra hard not to hit anything 😂
Best would be if Leica launches compact cameras similar to a Ricoh GR. Would even pay USD 1500 for it if the quality is great.
I love this idea.
@@AskMOTT ... as a little brother of the Q3
Thx for the review !
Thanks for watching Cyrille.
@@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!
If I do not have the X100 I would have bought this camera in a heart beat.
That’s Amos a great camera Wilson.
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..
Vietnamese in Chile, are you from there or just living there? I’m an Apple guy so I’m of no help to you for Samsung, sorry Giang :(.
@@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 :)
Can it shoot jpeg + raw? So when you take a photo, it saves a jpeg with the currently in use “film look” but also a raw copy?
Danke, prima Vortrag Motte 📸
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.
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.
know more about small kind of Leica and useful of it ,thanks
thinking about selling mine since i hardly ever use it. the 40mm III X might be more up my alley.
That 40mm is very intriguing Magnus.
@@AskMOTT absolutely. i bought the 40mm Canon EF pancake lens and that little thing just does a great job as an allrounder.
Same reason I cycle with an OlympusXA. Only disadvantage is I’m limited to 36 shots 🤓
Dude. You’re the best.
You’re the best Tom , thanks :)
It can be an awesome companion to my sony system
Absolutely, when you want to go light or discrete and don’t want to break the bank it’s perfect Jorge.
You should try the Leica CL
That’s on my list, to replace my Q
I’ve heard good things about it Stephen, at some point I’ll give it a tear.
..my gr3 is second to a konica hexar rf....😁.. and they are like grandpa & grandson... btw. i enjoyed the vid greets BM
Great video, thanks
Thank you Jess :)
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.
That’s a shame. They do repair them in Japan (for a price).
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 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
Canon R5 is simply astonishing
Canon has always made solid cameras so in don’t doubt it.
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.
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.
Hope you like it Mohammad.
Do you prefer your backup camera to be the same as your main camera or to offer something different?
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.
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.
28mm vs 40mm. Just like with interchangeable lenses, the photographer will need to adapt to a different way of seeing / thinking / working.
@@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.
Nice video yet again.
Thank you so much
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
every camera has its own superiority.But i haven't seen photographer to use that type of camera for pro work.Interesting
Great vid!! As always, i have always been interested in this line of camera but i wasn’t a 28 shooter, I’m a 35-50 guy . This would work out well as a small compact, but I’ve always have read the build quality was not that rugged. I too wish they would invest in a little more then plastic. But i still like this camera and will most likely buy one. Thanks again
For you, the GRIIIX with it's 40mm should persuade you to try it.
Good point by Deluk, you might like that GR3x w the 40mm. I’d also like the Ricoh to use more premium dials and buttons and also to simplify tie dials and buttons and make the important ones (shutter, iso, aperture) more
prominent.
Have you tried the Fuji X100V? It’s much closer to Leica..
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.