The RICOH GR III is a compact APS-C camera with a fixed prime lens and minimalist design aimed at street photographers. It's remarkably portable and can easily fit into a pocket or small bag, but it may be too small for those with larger hands to use comfortably. Its built-in lens has a 28mm equivalent focal length, which is a wide enough angle to capture everyday moments and street scenes, and it has a crop function for its sensor if you prefer to shoot at 35mm or 50mm. The lens has a built-in neutral density filter to reduce the amount of light entering the camera, and its 24.24-megapixel sensor delivers excellent image quality with minimal visual noise at higher ISO settings; this makes it well-suited to shooting in more dimly-lit conditions. That said, its autofocus system isn't very effective, and it has a very limited battery life, though this can vary with real-world usage. It also isn't well-suited to shooting video, as it lacks 4k recording capability, delivers poor video quality in FHD, and has very few inputs and outputs.
Our Verdict
The RICOH GR III is decent for travel photography. It delivers excellent image quality and performs well even in low light. It's remarkably compact and easy to take with you on the go. It also feels well-built and has a very bright screen that can easily overcome glare in sunny conditions. Unfortunately, its battery life is poor, and its autofocus system isn't very reliable with tracking moving subjects.
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Excellent image quality.
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Incredibly portable.
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Bright screen easily combats glare.
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Poor battery life.
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Unreliable autofocus.
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May be uncomfortable for those with larger hands.
The RICOH GR III is great for landscape photography. It delivers excellent overall image quality and has great dynamic range to bring out a wider range of detail in landscape shots. While its built-in lens has a fixed focal length, it has a wide enough field of view for landscapes, and its built-in neutral density filter can help you take longer exposure shots. It's also remarkably compact, so it's easy to take with you to remote shooting locations. However, its minimalist design may not be the most comfortable to shoot with, depending on your ergonomic preferences.
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Excellent image quality.
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Incredibly portable.
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Built-in ND filter.
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Great dynamic range.
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May be uncomfortable for those with larger hands.
The RICOH GR III isn't suitable for sport and wildlife photography. While it delivers excellent image quality, it has a limited continuous shooting mode that can only shoot at 4 fps. Its fixed focal length isn't well-suited to this use since you can't zoom in on far-away subjects, and depending on what aperture you use, its shutter speed is also limited and may not be fast enough for very quick action.
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Excellent image quality.
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Incredibly portable.
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Feels well-built.
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Poor continuous shooting speed.
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Fixed focal length.
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Unreliable autofocus.
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Shutter speed is limited depending on aperture setting.
The RICOH GR III isn't suitable for vlogging. While it's very portable and easy to carry around, it can't shoot in 4k, and its FHD video quality is underwhelming. It also has a fixed screen, so you can't easily monitor yourself while recording. Also, its autofocus system doesn't support any tracking features in video, making it nearly impossible to keep yourself in focus while vlogging with the lens facing you. It also tends to overheat and shut down when recording continuously for longer periods.
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Incredibly portable.
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Fixed screen.
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Can't shoot 4k video.
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Poor FHD video quality.
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Doesn't support auto tracking.
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Battery overheats easily when recording video.
The RICOH GR III isn't suitable for studio video. While it has an easy-to-use menu system with extensive options, the camera can't shoot video in 4k, and its FHD video quality is poor. It doesn't support autofocus tracking when shooting video either, and it only has a USB-C port, with no HDMI port, microphone jack, or headphone jack. It has a limited recording time limit and tends to overheat and shut down when recording for longer periods.
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Incredibly portable.
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Can't shoot 4k video.
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Poor FHD video quality.
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Doesn't support auto tracking.
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Battery overheats easily when recording video.
The RICOH GR III isn't suitable for action video. While it's very portable, it isn't designed for helmet or chest mounts. It's not rated to be water-resistant either. It can only shoot video in FHD, and video quality is poor overall, although it does an excellent job smoothing out camera shake.
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Incredibly portable.
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Can't shoot 4k video.
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Poor FHD video quality.
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Doesn't support auto tracking.
The RICOH GR III captures impressive RAW image quality. Its dynamic range is great, so it's quite well suited to capturing high-contrast scenes. It also has good low-light noise handling for its class, and its f/2.8 lens is relatively bright among fixed-lens cameras. Images also look sharp and detailed, thanks to its high-resolution sensor.
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Great dynamic range.
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Relatively bright lens and good noise handling.
- 7.3 Travel Photography
- 8.4 Landscape Photography
- 6.0 Sport & Wildlife Photography
- 3.9 Vlogging
- 3.5 Studio Video
- 3.8 Action Video
Performance Usages
- 8.8 Raw Photo
- Updated Dec 12, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.13. We've added new tests for Video Dynamic Range and Luminosity Patch Detection. You can learn more about these updates in the changelog.
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Updated Oct 21, 2024:
We updated the 'Differences Between Variants' section of the review to include information about the RICOH GR III HDF variant.
- Updated Oct 01, 2024: We added a link to the Fujifilm X100VI in the Viewfinder box.
- Updated Feb 27, 2024: We've updated and retested several tests to bring this camera up to our current testing standards and ensure comparability with the recently reviewed RICOH GR IIIx. Affected sections of the review include: Menu System, Built-In Lens, Sensor, Photo Shooting Speed, Photo AF-C Tracking, Photo AF-C Center Point, Photo Image Stabilization, Photo RAW Dynamic Range, Photo RAW Noise, FHD Video Quality, and Storage. The Sample Gallery images have also been reshot and reuploaded. In some cases, the score has changed, while in others, the impact on the score was marginal, and the score remains the same despite new data or samples.
- Updated Feb 21, 2024: Added mention of the RICOH GR IIIx in the 'Differences Between Variants' section.
- Updated Jan 29, 2024: Added text to the 'Raw Photo Performance' verdict box.
- Updated Jan 29, 2024: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.1.
- Updated Dec 14, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.
- Updated Nov 21, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.11.
- Updated Sep 23, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.10.
- Updated Aug 04, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.9.
- Updated Jun 06, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.
- Updated Sep 22, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Sep 20, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Aug 12, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 09, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jul 10, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The RICOH GR III comes in two color variants: 'Black' and the 'Metallic Gray' Street Edition. We tested the Black variant but expect the Street Edition to perform similarly. Here's our unit's label.
The RICOH GR IIIx is the GR III's sister model. It differs solely because of its built-in lens, which has a 40mm equivalent field of view, as opposed to the GR III's wider 28mm field of view.
RICOH announced the RICOH GR III HDF and RICOH GR IIIx HDF variants in 2024. The HDF variant includes a new 'Highlight Diffusion Filter' in the lens instead of the original model's ND filter. This filter softens and diffuses highlights to create a more dreamy, filmic quality to your images. In addition, the HDF model has a couple of new firmware features, including the ability to save up to 3 custom white balance pre-sets and a new 'Zone Select AF' area mode. These will eventually be added to the base models through firmware updates. The HDF model is physically differentiated from the base GR III with a silver shutter button.
Let us know if you encounter another variant or if your RICOH GR III doesn't correspond to our review, and we'll update it.
Compared To Other Cameras
The RICOH GR III and the RICOH GR IIIx are identical cameras except for their built-in lenses. The GR III has a 28mm full-frame equivalent field of view, while the GR IIIx has a 40mm equivalent field of view. Which is better depends on which focal length you prefer to shoot at. The 28mm is wider and a bit better suited to landscapes or busier scenes that may require more coverage, while the 40mm is closer to the field of view of the human eye, making it versatile for a range of different subjects.
The Sony RX100 VII and the RICOH GR III are both excellent premium compact cameras, but they're aimed at different users. The Sony is more of an all-arounder, with a versatile zoom lens, tilting screen, pop-up EVF, and better video capabilities. Conversely, the RICOH is aimed more at street photographers and enthusiasts who care about image quality. It uses a larger sensor with better dynamic range and low-light performance and a prime lens, but otherwise, it lacks some of the frills and extras found on the Sony, with no viewfinder, no tilt-out screen, and very limited video features.
The Fujifilm X100V is better overall than the RICOH GR III. Both cameras use APS-C sensors and deliver excellent image quality, but they use different focal lengths that may suit different preferences. The Fujifilm has a 35mm equivalent lens, while the RICOH has a 28mm equivalent lens, though it also comes in a GR IIIx variant with a 40mm lens. Otherwise, the Fujifilm camera offers more features, including a tilting screen, a hybrid viewfinder, a better autofocus system, and better video capabilities. However, the RICOH may suit you better if portability is a priority since it's much more compact than the Fuji.
The RICOH GR III is better than the Leica D-Lux 7 if image quality and portability are your priorities. It's a more minimalist camera with fewer control dials, but it has a larger sensor that captures better overall image quality. On the other hand, the Leica has a viewfinder, a built-in lens with a bit of zoom range, and 4k video capability.
The RICOH GR III and the Fujifilm X100VI are both excellent point-and-shoot cameras. While they both fill a similar niche for those who want a premium compact camera for street photography, each one has its place—and its own vocal fanbase. The RICOH is significantly smaller and more portable, with a more unassuming design that makes it better for those who prefer to be discreet. The Fuji, meanwhile, is flashier, with more features, including a hybrid viewfinder, a tilting screen, and excellent video specs. The good news is that both cameras are capable of capturing excellent images.
Test Results
You can see the camera's portability with its lens fully extended here.
- Magnesium alloy body with a minimalist design
- Easy for dust to get through the lens mechanism and into the camera
- Front lens ring is easily detached and may be easily lost or broken
- Mode dial is sturdy and locks into place to prevent accidentally changing camera modes
- Buttons feel solid
- Rear dial feels a bit flimsy
- USB-C port covered by a simple rubber flap
- SD card/battery compartment is covered by a locking hinged door
- RICOH GR III camera
- 1x RICOH DB-110 battery
- AC adapter
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Hot shoe cover
- Wrist strap
- User manual
- Camera is compact and may be too small for those with larger hands to hold comfortably
- Unlike many other cameras, the 'Fn' button doesn't bring up the quick menu but rather is a customizable button
- The 'ADJ' button brings up a custom options menu
- Easy to reach buttons on camera with your thumb, and overall it's easy to use with one hand if needed
- Dedicated buttons for shutter speed and aperture make it easy to adjust these settings on the fly
- Need to press 'ISO' button on the rear dial to change ISO
- Fixed screen makes it more difficult to shoot from lower angles and still see what you're capturing
If you prefer to compose photos through a viewfinder, consider a different point-and-shoot, like the Fujifilm X100VI.
- Extensive menu with a lot of options, but it uses simple language and a simple interface, making it easy to find settings
- Pressing the 'ADJ' dial gives you access to a customizable quick menu, which you can see here
- Can navigate the menu using the touchscreen
- No guide mode to explain settings to novice users
Note: The RICOH GR III has a built-in neutral density (ND) filter for its lens that affects how much light the camera lets in, allowing you to shoot at slower shutter speeds for longer exposure shots or use a larger aperture than you would be able to otherwise.
Note: We experienced a few shutdowns due to overheating while testing the camera's battery performance. You may experience the same when recording video continuously for longer periods, after which you have to wait for it to cool down before using it again.
Note: The RICOH GR III only has one continuous shooting drive mode that shoots at 4 fps, but for consistency, we've simply noted the continuous shooting speed in each field.
Note: At f/4, the camera's max shutter speed is 1/2500s. To measure the camera's dynamic range at a 1/4000s exposure time (with an ISO of 8000), we had to deviate from our usual methodology and use an aperture setting of f/5.6.
Note: After updating the camera to firmware V1.81, our RAW noise test results are now more in line with that of the RICOH GR IIIx, with the same apparent noise reduction being applied to the camera's RAW files and skewing our dB measurements in Imatest.
Note: When recording video, this camera incurs a 1.2x crop compared to its photo mode.
Note: The recording time limit is either 25 minutes or a 4GB file size, depending on which you reach first.
Note: While this camera supports continuous autofocus in video mode, it doesn't have any automatic tracking features, meaning the user has to manually select different focus points using the touchscreen. In 'Auto' mode, the focus kept chasing and pulsing, and it was difficult for the lens to establish focus.
