New Ricoh GR Digital III

[Jamie123]

Since no one has posted this yet, I might aswell do it: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0907/09072701ricohgr3.asp

 

[Matus]

I do not really get this. It has a fast fixed lens, great display - but why such a tiny sensor? It has a price of nearly the new Olympus EP-1. The camera is not that small after all - a bigger sensor would fit easily, or ... ?

I have never shot any Ricoh camera and the small models seem to have their followers, but are they worth the price?

(the above is posted just to fuel the discussion :angel: )

 

[FrozenInTime]

It looks like a very nice and logical evolution of the GRD and GRDII.

I sold my GRDII and GX200 with a view to buying the E-P1 as the Ricoh's dynamic range and high ISO noise were not really that great.
The E-P1 with 17mm does produce better results and makes a better street and travel camera. The fixed extension lens seems a lot less vulnerable than a motorized telescoping one.

The GRDIII still has it's place though - it's a far better jacket pocket camera.
The Ricoh's menus and user dials/menus are far superior to the E-P1.
The Ricohs have presetable distances for inifinity and snap whereas the E-P1 needs to be focused. I also liked the built in intervalometer.

The GRDIII is however now addressing a smaller niche than ever and for £600 vs £750 ( with OVFs ) more difficult than ever to justify.

 

[j_fletcher]

At the price mentioned in the article, it does seem a little steep, but i'm a big fan of Ricoh cameras and an improvement in high ISO performance would make it a tempter!
Or i could keep an eye out for a cheap second GRDII...

 

[reuno]

Hope they fixed the "dust that goes inside the camera" issue 🙁

 

[wintoid]

Doesn't use the GRD accessories, which is a shame.

 

[retow]

Expensive, yes, but the only truly shirt pocketable serious compact. And as such, I might give it a try.

 

[VladimirV]

@reuno

They did fix the dust issues with their latest cameras and the build of the GRD III is fantastic, easily the best of any digital compact.
It does not compete with the E-P1 but compared to the LX3, G10 and DP1/2 it offers the superior controls and the high ISO is also very good.

 

[maelswarm]

That's terrific news! Hopefully the lens will be good. Now there's a good alternative to the Fuji Natura Black.

 

[gavinlg]

It's a pity they had to bring it out after the E-P1 was announced, but I still feel like it has it's place. Personally I think some of the best pictures taken by digital P&S's were taken with the GRD line - despite the smaller sensor and crappy quality retractable lense people make some really stunning photos with them. I'd love to see one with a near 4/3 sensor size, but I'll be watching the GRDIII closely to see what people get out of it.

Keep in mind it's more pocketable than the E-p1

 

[FA Limited]

interested in seeing what the prices are like 🙂

 

[Frank Petronio]

I thought my GRD2 was the best tiny sensor camera yet from a quality and usability standpoint, but now that micro 4/3s and mini-APS are at the doorstep it would be really hard to justify.... why Ricoh just didn't use a larger sensor is beyond me? Give me that quality body and interface and I'd pay a premium over another brand, and I bet 50,000 other serious photographers would too.

 

[anglophone1]

Not quite on topic, but:
I'm a great GR fan and still have a GR1 fillm camera [haven't used in three years-should probably sell!] which was my "everday" camera until:
Three years ago ,on a whim I bought a GX100, had it for a month and didn't really get on with it so traded it here on RFF for a used GRD [with CV minifinder]
Fantastic BUT really slow RAW write time.
18 months later I dropped the [now at least 2 years old] camera on to a concrete floor and the lens stuck open.
I sent it to Ricoh Europe in Germany who charged me a fixed fee of EUR 100 [I think] to repair and rteurn better than before with updated firmware etc.
A year later I dropped it again and damaged the flash ,I returned it again to Rcoh Europe, they sent me an exchange camera at no charge.
Six months later [March this year] i fell on some steps in Morocco with the GRD in my hand , it smashed against a tile floor and was unusable [really smashed up].
I returned it again to Ricoh Europe asking if it was repairable.
They replied saying NO but we will send you an exchange at no cost, great news I thought
Two days later a brand new boxed GRD2 set arrived!
Bigger files, faster write times, better flash selection and FREE.
Thank you ricoh!
This has got to be some of the best service around......................
Best
Clive

 

[Jamie123]

Not quite on topic, but:
I'm a great GR fan and still have a GR1 fillm camera [haven't used in three years-should probably sell!] which was my "everday" camera until:
Three years ago ,on a whim I bought a GX100, had it for a month and didn't really get on with it so traded it here on RFF for a used GRD [with CV minifinder]
Fantastic BUT really slow RAW write time.
18 months later I dropped the [now at least 2 years old] camera on to a concrete floor and the lens stuck open.
I sent it to Ricoh Europe in Germany who charged me a fixed fee of EUR 100 [I think] to repair and rteurn better than before with updated firmware etc.
A year later I dropped it again and damaged the flash ,I returned it again to Rcoh Europe, they sent me an exchange camera at no charge.
Six months later [March this year] i fell on some steps in Morocco with the GRD in my hand , it smashed against a tile floor and was unusable [really smashed up].
I returned it again to Ricoh Europe asking if it was repairable.
They replied saying NO but we will send you an exchange at no cost, great news I thought
Two days later a brand new boxed GRD2 set arrived!
Bigger files, faster write times, better flash selection and FREE.
Thank you ricoh!
This has got to be some of the best service around......................
Best
Clive

Now that the GRDIII is out, I think it's time for you to smash your camera again 😉

 

[historicist]

I had a GRD and hated it. It was a good camera body and lens with a mediocre sensor, and the GRDII and III don't seem to be any different.

It seemed barely worth taking a picture, even when I got a good one it always looked as if it would have been better with a large sensor camera.

 

[Harry Lime]

I had a GRD and hated it. It was a good camera body and lens with a mediocre sensor, and the GRDII and III don't seem to be any different.

It seemed barely worth taking a picture, even when I got a good one it always looked as if it would have been better with a large sensor camera.

I don't know, I have seen an awful lot of good pictures that have been taken with all versions of the GRD, both from a technical and artistic standpoint.

A bigger sensor is not going to make you suddenly take better pictures.

 

[nightfly]

Now that the micro 4/3's are out, I think they are going to have trouble moving these at this price. The size differentiation isn't enough to justify such a high price although no one has mentioned that the lens is now f 1.9 which is pretty great. Wait six months until the early adopters are inevitably dissatisfied and pick one up for $400.

 

[kdemas]

I have owned both previous GRDs, still have the II. Great cameras for what they are with fantastic build quality and top shelf ergonomics.

I look forward to giving the newest version a try soon.

Kent

 

[aizan]

still no image stabilization. i can understand the faster aperture (compete with panasonic), and lack of ovf (more compact, most people haven't used them). but image stabilization is standard!

 

[novum]

I took my best on-the-sly street photos with snap focus and intervalometer, using the original GRD. It was a great camera and I shouldn't have sold it.