RICOH GR III Compact Camera 24 MP APS-C Sensor 28 mm F2.8 GR Lens

I mainly do street photography with little detours into landscape, urbex and still life.The thing I love about this is that It fits an APS-C sized sensor into a pocketable camera, which, combined with an excellent lens and image stabilisation, brings so many benefits:- brilliant image quality- the ability to push the limits of RAW processing- great low light performanceThere are also lots of other pros:- it looks plain and ordinary, and it’s small, so you get the benefits of a big camera whilst remaining stealthy- ISO, Exposure and shutter speed can all be adjusted quickly with one hand, and it starts up super fast, it’s hard to miss a shot, so I can shoot in manual mode nearly all the time- its very light, I carry the open case in my trouser pocket and can slide the camera in and out easily.- up to now (three years!) it’s been pretty robust, I have dropped a few times and it carries on regardless.- the Autofocus and Snap Focus work well for meThis is not for those who want bells and whistles- no zoom, no articulating screen, no viewfinder, no built in flash, but it is expensive.I don’t use it, but I believe the video is not greatHowever, it’s become like an extension to my right hand so it’s been worth every penny to me. Love it and woul not be without it!

I got into a lot of trouble in an internet camera chat group by stating that if you are a photographer then you need a Ricoh GR. I stand by that statement and now amend it to, 'you need a Ricoh GR III'.Yes, it is an expensive piece of equipment - costing as much as an entry level DSLR/mirrorless camera with a kit lens. But... my, oh my - the output from this camera is nothing less than superb (see some test shots below).Firstly, the image quality is identical to its predecessor - which was an exceptional camera - except that it is even more exceptional because you have a larger 24mpx sensor (versus the 16mpx sensor in the GR/GRII). Once again, there is no AA filter but for situations where you might be worried about moire the camera has a virtual AA filter you can set (a feature found only on top of the range Pentax cameras, iirc). On top of that the dynamic range of the sensor is excellent. I've been able to relieve shadows enormously and still not introduce significant noise. The close focusing of the lens means you can create nice bokeh if you use it wide open. The lens may be fixed at 18mm (28mm equivalent) but your creativity is not.Secondly, the ergonomics of the camera have been greatly improved. Gone is the annoying rocker bar for the EV compensation on previous models which sat by your thumb and for which I (and others) were always finding we'd accidentally added +3 to our shots. Instead, we now have a proper control wheel. There is also a larger LCD screen which is touch sensitive which can be used for focus or focus+shooting. I've never liked touch screens but for some reason I can't quite work out, on this camera it is a fantastic feature. Delve further into the improvements and they include image stabilisation, wifi, bluetooth, an auto-NDA filter, and more (which I have not even had a chance to test). The body itself (which is smaller than its predecessors) has the same beautiful build quality with a nice textured grip. My previous GR and this GR III remind me very much of the exceptional build quality of Leica cameras I have owned. Finally, the menu system, for such a small camera, is easy to navigate and has an exceptional level of customisation.Do not be fooled, this is a much 'bigger' camer than it looks - basically the top of the Range Pentax APS-C camera put into a tiny body with an exceptionally fine lens attached.There are still some negatives. The battery is smaller and the number of shots per charge fewer. If that is all that worries you then this is not the camera for you. Get a spare or two! Ricoh have been a bit underhand in my opinion by not making the existing wide angle adaptor compatible - so, if like me, you own the one for the previous model - you need to buy the new version. The body is smaller compared to the previous model - some may find this an issue - and this has necessitated the removal of the inbuilt flash. I never used the inbuilt flash on my GR so for me this is not an issue but it may be an issue for you. The dedicated Tav mode dial setting has disappeared on the GR III but it only takes a few seconds to dedicate one of the three custom buttons to that feature, so really it is no big deal (I've set U1 to be my Tav setting).I've already used the camera for my professional work and although it is early days it is proving to be very convenient to pack a pocket-able camera which take images of a size more than adequate for reproduction in books, magazines and newspapers or even larger requirements. It means that I always have a backup camera with me and one which I can rely on for print publications, stock photography and the web.But bottom line, even at the asking price, this is not just a camera for a professional. It is a superb piece of photographic equipment for any serious enthusiast photographer and I suspect that whereas other cameras you own may come and go you'll be using this one for years to come.

Waited for some time to get this and I am glad that I did.If you're wondering whether to drop £800 on it my immediate reply is yes but that's because I'm buying it exclusively for street photography and an everyday camera; this is not going to replace a DSLR/Mirrorless system but not by much.It's unbelievably deceptive in looks and size and the lens is one of the sharpest I've used albeit I use a Sigma ART lens for work and I would arguably say it's sharper than that.Autofocusing is ridiculous fast and I've only just started the possibility of using snap focusing which is just perfect for street work and from the hip shooting.I'm pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to use with the touchscreen whilst at the same time not feeling gimmicky but it does have enough manual controls to make it feel premium and like a more traditional camera.The battery life is limiting but I picked up a couple of spares from here for £15 and it was fine. I'd say unless you're looking to shoot 400+ shots in a day then it may be an issue.Overall, I can't recommend this camera enough however I I know specifically what I want it for which is just a camera for street work and something that I can carry around every day either in my pocket or in a bag. It is an exceptional camera that deceives to be a compact.

Great camera, takes nice pictures but I found it a bit complicated to use as a beginner (if you are used to phone camera where everything is set up for you), too many options when taking a picture, to set it up both in colour and black and white. I wish they had an easier manual written bigger with simple instructions on how to set up the camera. I think people on You Tube that reviewed the camera are advanced photographers, not beginners, and are used to use lots of different cameras so they think it's easy to use. Doesn't have a view finder but it is a small camera and light to carry around.

A lovely compact camera . Easy to use and portable . Great lens and very sharp . Much bigger sensor than the I phone