Ricoh GR III
As the saying goes: "The best camera is the one you have with you," and Ricoh wants you to consider taking the pants pocket-friendly Ricoh GR III with you wherever you go. Reviewers agree that this compact and highly portable camera, which is fitted with a large APS-C sensor, will blow away the image quality from even the best smartphone on the market. But is it really worth shelling out $899? That depends on what type of photographer you are. Street photographers who want a stealthy, fast, go-everywhere camera will like the GR III and its sharp 28mm, F/2.8 lens, effective image stabilization, and durable camera body. Travel photographers and vacation-goers looking for a quality portable snapshooter, might also like the GR III, but its price tag is in line with the cost of some vacations. If you want great video though, look elsewhere. Video quality from the GR III was poor and there's no 4K option. Considering its high price, the GR III has a few limitations: the LCD screen is fixed on the back (i.e. you can't tilt it to shoot at interesting angles or for selfies); there's no viewfinder, no built-in flash and, as one reviewer remarked, battery life is "miserable." Still though, there's no camera out there quite like a Ricoh GR, which has developed a cult reputation over the years. The GR III is the best model in Ricoh's storied line of compact cameras. But is it the best camera for you, especially at that price?
"The Ricoh GR III updates the GR series in some really important ways, bringing a modern high-resolution sensor and hybrid autofocus system to the lineup for the first time. Controls have been simplified, and a new touch-sensitive rear screen makes autofocus positioning and image navigation much faster." - DPReview, read the full review here.
"The Ricoh GR III is a major step forward for the Ricoh GR series of cameras and while it’s not perfect, it’s a great choice for street photography. I have no problem recommending this camera for any street shooter looking for a smaller kit that doesn’t sacrifice image quality or usability for size." - PetaPixel, read the full review here.
"The Ricoh GR III is a rare breed. It’s a simple camera for photographers used to working with complex ones, or an advanced camera for people who shoot with their phones. It is refreshing in its simplicity, empowering in its capability." - Digital Trends, read the full review here.
"This is a beautiful-sized APS-C compact, ideal for carrying around in the pocket, and for discrete street photography. But this is sold at a luxury price that is no longer justified by the the build quality or the feature set." - Digital Camera World, read the full review here.
"It’s not just a street photography camera, although it’s certainly excellent for that. It’s also a terrific travel camera because of its compact size, easy operation and full feature set. The 28mm equivalent lens, built-in level and ability to capture great images without flash make it ideal for realtors, too. And let’s not overlook that often-forgotten group, the office workers who get roped into capturing images for their company’s newsletter and social media—they’ll make good use of the GR III as well. The Ricoh GR III includes just about everything Ricoh has learned about producing high quality cameras that are fully customizable and packed with the features that serious users relish." - Shutterbug, read the full review here.
"In my opinion, the Ricoh GR III is too much of a niche camera. For $899 you can get so many other things instead. Skip out on this and either get a fine film point and shoot or an older digital camera with a lens to call it a day." - The Phoblographer, read the full review here.
"While the new Ricoh GR III represents a significant upgrade of the 4-year-old GR II model, it still feels a little under-powered in today's camera market, and also crucially more than a little over-priced. We're sure that die-hard GR-series fans will continue to love the winning combination of excellent still image quality in a small, pocketable package, but the poor battery life, so-so auto-focusing and especially that big price increase are likely to put off would-be new owners." - Photography Blog, read the full review here.
"The smartphone may have replaced a dedicated camera for many, but the Ricoh GR III is here to remind us that’s not universally the case. The latest in Ricoh’s series of super-pocketable street shooters, it packs the highest resolution sensor yet – and, at $899, the highest price tag too." - SlashGear, read the full review here.
"If you're a fan of the GR line you'll love what Ricoh has done here. With fast operation, dependable image quality, a crisp and responsive touchscreen and an even smaller body than before, the GR III has masses going for it." - Tech Radar, read the full review here.
"A fixed-lens compact camera (no zoom, if you're unfamiliar) won't be for everyone. But for those in the know, the GR III's fast aperture and new optic combined with three-axis stabilization open the door to great image quality potential." - Pocket Lint, read the full review here.
"The GR III is a considerable update on the GR II, blessed with a speedy performance and the capability to produce detailed, stabilized, distortion-free images, all from a tiny body you can get into your pocket. Low-light focusing performance, together with miserable battery life and last-resort video quality are limitations worth bearing in mind though." - Trusted Reviews, read the full review here.
"Get the Ricoh GR III if you're looking for a small camera that takes great photos, but at $899, you'll have to pay up for it." - Tom's Guide, read the full review here.
"The Ricoh GR III isn't going to be for everyone, but for those that do want a compact camera, with high image quality, the Ricoh GR III delivers the goods. The camera is responsive, and delivers excellent detail in images, thanks to the 28mm equivalent lens." - ePHOTOzine, read the full review here.
"The Ricoh GR III is a premium APS-C format compact camera aimed at enthusiast photographers. I think a tilting screen and a viewfinder would really seal the deal, but the GR III is a no-nonsense camera that delivers high-quality images at sensitivity settings up to around 25,600." - Camera Jabber, read the full review here.