Since 2013, the Ricoh GR has been my favorite travel camera. In 2018, I wrote about why the GR is so wonderful, and since then my opinion hasn’t changed. I have options (Lumix mirrorless, Nikon DSLR, and a Fuji X100, not to mention several film cameras), but when it’s time to pack my bags, the GR is my go-to.
So when my 12-year-old GR bit the dust, I replaced it with a GRIII. There are some upgrades over the old model:
- A 24 megapixel sensor with better low light performance
- Image stabilization
- A touchscreen that simplifies choosing a focus point
- WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity
The GRIII loses its built-in flash, but that’s not a concern of mine. I rarely used the GR’s flash, and when it makes sense I carry a LightPix Labs Q20II instead. More about this later.
My GRIII is the Street Edition. I didn’t buy it for the eye-catching orange lens ring (it also comes with a black ring) or slightly different body texture. I bought it because I had a trip coming up and it was in stock. Standard GRIIIs can be hard to find.
A lot of folks who are looking at GRIIIs ask, Should I consider the GRIIIx? I did, and decided the wider lens of the GRIII (28mm equivalent) is one of the things I love most about the GRIII. The field of view works better for me than the 40mm equivalent lens on the IIIx. I shoot the bulk of my photos with wide lenses. If that’s not you, this probably isn’t your camera.
My Ricoh GRIII setup
The GRIII is simple but oh so flexible. Here’s how mine is configured:
- The Gordy’s camera strap from my old GR now hangs off the GRIII. Gordy’s straps are simple, pretty, and last forever. They’re also a bargain. A generic screen protector prevents scratches on the touchscreen.
- I carry a LightPix Labs flash when I think I might want some fill light. It’s a tiny thing, manual only, and has a neat trick that makes it perfect for my purposes: The hot shoe adapter detaches from the flash to become a remote trigger. Push a button and I have an indirect light source.
- Battery life is still an issue, so I carry three spare Wasabi batteries.
- I shoot JPEGs with the GRIII, and am playing with Ricoh Recipes. My quick setting are: U1–Royal Supra, U2–Monochrome Film, U3–Monochrome Film in square format.
- Ricoh’s Image Sync app isn’t perfect, but it does the job when I want to quickly transfer images from the camera to my phone.
I have a trip coming up, and I don’t have to think about which camera will go in my bag. It’ll be the GRIII, without a doubt.
A few images I shot with the Ricoh GRIII
