Ricoh GR III?

[shawn]

I have a GR3 on preorder with B&H. I looked seriously at the GR2 a few years ago but ended up the the Fuji X70. Unfortunately, I loaned it to my wife last fall and it did not survive a Scottish monsoon in my wife's backpack while we were hiking around Loch Ness.

My question for those of you using the GR is: Do you use the 28mm optical finder? I noticed the 28 finder from Voigtlander is about $40 cheaper then the model from Ricoh. I assume both would work equally well.

Not a GR but on a Coolpix A I bought the Nikon finder and rarely ended up using it much. Great finder but it made the camera not fit in a shirt pocket. Also, the Coolpix A didn't have a setting that shut off the LCD panel.

Strongly considering the GRIII. I still have the Coolpix A finder (and the Ricoh GV-1) but I expect I will use the rear LCD mostly.

Shawn

 

[ktmrider]

The main reason I want a flash is for flash fill outside. Had some very harsh lighting at my daughters wedding which I used the MP240. If anyone is also a Leica user, it would be nice if is also worked on the MP240. Generally, I figure M's are pretty useless with electronic flash, especially the film models.

 

[nightfly]

I tried the finder for awhile, I got one of the Ricoh ones with one of my GR's as a bundle. I feel more engaged when shooting through a finder than looking at a screen but ultimately, the portability without a finder won out and it sits in it's little cloth bag in a drawer somewhere.

I would get the GR II if I wanted a flash. Until I read this thread I didn't realize my GR II even had one. I think I taped over it on my film GR in case I hit the button accidentally. Not a big flash person in general.

 

[Archlich]

My GR3 arrived today. Surely love it - very responsive, touchscreen implemented very well (a godsend selecting focus point), new handling tweaks work (the main Fn button's many tricks), and the redesigned lens is uber sharp - with stabilization to boot.

The AF does struggle in low light but as one who think the previous (X-Pro2, X-T2, X100F) generation Fujis focus more than good, I'd say the overall performance is quity decent. Not up to the current standard but certainly a few steps beyond the previous GRs...

The real culprit, as expected, is the battery life. I went through one and a half batteries in the ~3 hours of playing and setting up the custom functions. I've stocked up 5 batteries before hand - looks like I'd need all of them plus a double charger should I be traveling and shooting all day. I assume it's the high-performing processor that's the most power hungry.

 

[jja]

Thanks for your first impressions of the GRIII. I've been following the early feedback, and I'm seeing lots of complaints about the camera's low light AF performance. The weak battery performance is a real problem, because extra Ricoh-branded batteries are $40, and the charger is also an add-on cost. Two extra batteries and a charger (needed for the extra batteries, in my opinion) adds over $100 to the cost of an already expensive camera.

 

[Scapevision]

so the question is: how many pockets does it take to pocket the GRIII 😀

 

[Archlich]

Thanks for your first impressions of the GRIII. I've been following the early feedback, and I'm seeing lots of complaints about the camera's low light AF performance. The weak battery performance is a real problem, because extra Ricoh-branded batteries are $40, and the charger is also an add-on cost. Two extra batteries and a charger (needed for the extra batteries, in my opinion) adds over $100 to the cost of an already expensive camera.

I stocked up genuine and off brand Olympus LI-50B/LI-90B/LI-92B and charger, plus a few used Ricoh DB110 from old Thetas. All work, cheaper too.

The low light AF performance surely is a headache. I've made direct comparison with the other "III" - my 10 years old, contrast-detect only GRD3. The later nails the focus faster under the same light! (Although it takes the same amount of time under good light.)

Just like some earlier Fuji cameras, when the GR3 tries to focus under such condition there is a second, very delicate hunting, obviously trying to confirm that it's nailing it perfectly. That slows everything done. I've got a feeling that Ricoh Pentax doesn't have much expertise in fine tuning its hybrid system. And hopefully just like Fuji, things could be improved with future firmware update, in which Ricoh has a longer tradition than Fuji ever does.

Otherwise, the AF is much improved, just not up to 2018 (or even 2017) standard set by all the extremely capable mirrorless systems. The camera as a whole is a breeze under daylight - it cured quite some portion of my longing for the Q2.

Should be able to hit the street this weekend. It's springtime in Shanghai!

 

[kentf]

I've also got a pre-order in with BH. Hoping for shipping next week.
I'm really looking forward to trying this camera. Owned from new an M9, then MP240 which is being replaced by the GR III ;-)
The digital Leicas just lost their luster with me and I'm back to shooting my M6 after a long break.

 

[shawn]

I stocked up genuine and off brand Olympus LI-50B/LI-90B/LI-92B and charger, plus a few used Ricoh DB110 from old Thetas. All work, cheaper too.

I have an off brand Li-50B for a Pentax WG-3 and it is not the same battery as the GRIII. It is physically smaller. Also have a LI-92 (not B) that is the same size as the Li-50B.

I don't have a LI-90B or LI-92B but if they fit the GRIII that is good to know.

EDIT: Actually, I do have LI-90B/Li92B batteries. I bought a couple and a charger for an Olympus TG-5 that I had returned. They do fit the GRIII and work fine. Figures as my Ricoh charger shipped today. Thanks!

Shawn

 

[jja]

I stocked up genuine and off brand Olympus LI-50B/LI-90B/LI-92B and charger, plus a few used Ricoh DB110 from old Thetas. All work, cheaper too.

The low light AF performance surely is a headache. I've made direct comparison with the other "III" - my 10 years old, contrast-detect only GRD3. The later nails the focus faster under the same light! (Although it takes the same amount of time under good light.)

Just like some earlier Fuji cameras, when the GR3 tries to focus under such condition there is a second, very delicate hunting, obviously trying to confirm that it's nailing it perfectly. That slows everything done. I've got a feeling that Ricoh Pentax doesn't have much expertise in fine tuning its hybrid system. And hopefully just like Fuji, things could be improved with future firmware update, in which Ricoh has a longer tradition than Fuji ever does.

Otherwise, the AF is much improved, just not up to 2018 (or even 2017) standard set by all the extremely capable mirrorless systems. The camera as a whole is a breeze under daylight - it cured quite some portion of my longing for the Q2.

Should be able to hit the street this weekend. It's springtime in Shanghai!

Looking forward to your photos. I sold my GRDiv and GR in preparation to purchase the GRiii. I'll probably wait a few months for firmware updates to work out the kinks. I'll look for alternative battery and charger options in the meantime.

 

[Archiver]

Very, very interesting. As this year's camera budget had to go elsewhere, I won't be buying the III for a while. The battery usage issue would bug me, though. The GRD III was great with battery life, and the GR was pretty decent and only needed one spare for a full day of shooting. Having to carry multiple charged batteries for just one camera would be a hassle.
When my GR is repaired, I'll keep using it until it simply won't work any more. It's an excellent camera, and the release of the III doesn't suddenly make the original GR take worse pictures.

 

[jsrockit]

I just can`t pull the trigger on this camera... yet. But so far, Archlich`s review is one of the only (semi-)positive ones I`ve seen.

 

[Archiver]

Cool video review of the GR III by Samuel Streetlife, a GR ambassador since the first GR.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSKVDPkYnHg

 

[ktmrider]

I hate to admit it but after all the indecision over the GR2 vs GR3, I ended up with a mint X100F from B&H. I remember how well I liked the original X100, really wanted a viewfinder and flash, and have never owned a 28mm lens which should say something about my preferences.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[FrozenInTime]

Anyone compared the GR III with a Leica TL2 and TL 18mm yet ?

 

[Archiver]

I'd be very surprised if there is a significant difference between the TL2 with 18mm and the GR III. The GR lens designs have been excellent, sharp across the frame, with very little distortion. The sensor is the same now. So any major difference will come from the way the raw data is processed, and of course, personal preferences in handling.


When the Leica X 113 came out, I tested it against the aps-c GR, and found the 113 to not be up to my expectations. Aperture notwithstanding, the GR files had more 'bite' and a sense of depth which the X 113 lacked.


I think that the GR vs TL2 comparison will be more about handling and the potential for lens changes than image quality or rendering.

 

[jsrockit]

I hate to admit it but after all the indecision over the GR2 vs GR3, I ended up with a mint X100F from B&H.

Based on early criticism of the GR3 and the GR2 being 5 years old effectively, you made the right decision.

 

[ktmrider]

Ya, I am very happy with the FujiX100F. I used the original and loved it. I guess it came down to wanting a viewfinder, a built in flash and preferring the 35 FOV. I am still exploring the owner's manual and setting up the camera. If anything, it does too damm much.

 

[michaelwj]

Ya, I am very happy with the FujiX100F. I used the original and loved it. I guess it came down to wanting a viewfinder, a built in flash and preferring the 35 FOV. I am still exploring the owner's manual and setting up the camera. If anything, it does too damm much.

As a recent M user with my first x100 in the F I agree. It tries to do too much. On the plus side, you can set up a few custom buttons and then lock the back buttons and never go into the menus again.

 

[Archlich]

Some pictures from last Saturday. Couldn't resist all the dogs around 🙂