For those of you whose job it is to be on the move, you need the best travel camera that’s ready for action at a moment’s notice. We present to you the Ricoh GR III for such an occasion. Thanks to its image stabilization technology and compact design, it captures high quality images with 24.24MP to play with. You will probably want to compare this with other high-quality digital cameras.
Why We Like It – Ricoh GR III Review
The Ricoh GR III gives other companies a run for their money by offering competitive image quality and stabilization at better pricing.
- Great image stabilization technology
- Ideal for street photographers
- Improves every aspect compared to its predecessor
- So-so battery
- Lacks weather sealing
Performance
With the Ricoh GR III’s image sensor, we were very surprised at how high quality images came out. It’s the kind of quality that can compete with the best APS C sensor at competitive prices. With this new sensor, Ricoh made huge strides forward from the last model. However, battery life is so-so. It’s rated for 200 images, but when put to real world use, we were at low battery around 150 images. For comparison, the superior Fujifilm X-T3 can only handle 390 images.
We really liked the image stabilization technology the Ricoh GR III APS C camera is equipped with. With its 4 Stop Shake reduction, images stayed sharped, even when we dove into low light environments. Dynamic range was good, but would suffer a little when there wasn’t enough lighting.
Related: For taking selfie photos/videos withyour smartphone, you will need the Qiaya Selfie Ring Light which comes with an adjustable tripod stand.
Design
It’s such a small camera like the Olympus TG-5 compact camera, that the GR III can fit in your pocket. Image quality is still great at default settings, but you’re welcome to fiddle with features such as Snap Focus, macro mode, and exposure compensation. And rooting around in the menu, you’ll find it also has a dust removal function. The Ricoh GR III, however, is not weather sealed. It would’ve forced Ricoh to alter lens barrel construction and affect heat dissipation.
Related: For instant photography, check out the Sharper Image Instant Camera which will print your images in seconds.
Value
The Ricoh GR III is, without a doubt, a great camera—even when compared to an interchangeable lens camera or one with a zoom lens such as the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 or Canon PowerShot ELPH 180. The GR III is valuable in its simplicity; its 28mm full-frame equivalent lens is great for in the moment such as street photography. Its ability to shoot surprisingly sharp images is what puts Ricoh GR III on the map as a competing camera. Few models, if any, make such a huge leap in performance from one edition to the next. It puts Ricoh’s GR II to shame.
Ricoh GR III Review Wrap Up
Given the Ricoh GR III’s performance, we can look past its negative aspects. For starters, it isn’t meant for all-day use; it’s better for in-the-moment. It lacks weather sealing, yes, but it’s compact and will hang out in your pockets, coming out when you need it. And when you do, its 24.24MP snap incredibly sharp images, with image stabilization helping along the way.
