Road Test: Ricoh GR IIIx
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. A self-proclaimed antithesis to trends, Ricoh’s GR point-and-shoot has set the benchmark for compact cameras since 1996. Nearly three decades and thirteen iterations later, the GR platform remains a hot commodity. In this edition of Road Test, we sip and swallow the digital faux-tography Kool-Aid, evaluating the first clicks of the Ricoh GR IIIx. Bottoms up!
Words and photos: Morgan Rudolph.
Agile, understated, and inconspicuous—my first impressions unboxing the much-anticipated Ricoh GR IIIx. After enduring a two-month backorder, I was eager to put a heavy dent in the shutter count. Fitted with a glass hood and Rein Rope Camera Strap as precaution, it was ready to grip-and-rip on its debut assignment.
With half a tent, two yoga mats, and a cubic metre of fried rice, close-friend Benjamin Buratto and I jetted towards the Victorian Alpine National Park. Having recently serviced his 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300TE, Ben was proud to entertain the speed limit up the Hume Highway. As passenger princess, I took the chance to dial in my user presets, prioritising wide apertures and slow shutters to capture the mood and motion ahead. We cruised into Smoko Campgrounds at nightfall, reluctantly pitching our tent between an outpost of four-wheelers, three sheets to the wind. For once, I was looking forward to my alarm.
Before daybreak, we made tracks for Hotham Heights, an hour’s ascent up the Great Alpine Road. With high spirits and low visibility, we pulled the park brake at Danny’s Lookout—a 1,705-metre observation post enshrouded in thick fog. Feeling like Clint Eastwood with my walk-and-draw Repeater Camera Pouch, I set about documenting the misty mountaintop. Shortly overcome by wind and rain, we threw back our coffees and made a hasty descent.
We planned to explore Braithwaite's Plantation further down the valley, taking the opportunity to thaw our gear and check the car's vital signs before peeling back to Melbourne. Having clocked a total of 754 kilometres and 884 photographs, we consider it a job well done.
| Ricoh GR III | Ricoh GR IIIx | |
| Focal Length | 18.3mm | 26.1mm |
| 35mm Equivalent Focal Length | 28mm | 40mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.1m | 0.2m |
| Crop | 35mm 50mm |
50mm 71mm |
| Weight | 257g | 262g |
| Dimensions | 109.4x61.9x33.2mm | 109.4x61.9x33.2mm |
KEY FEATURES
- 24.2 Megapixel APS-C sensor.
- Durable magnesium alloy body.
- Built-in ND filter.
- P-TTL (through the lens) flash metering.
- 3-axis image stabilisation.
- Face/eye autofocus detection.
- LCD touch panel.
Tipping the scales at just 262g, shooting with the Ricoh GR IIIx was entirely effortless and leisurely. Ergonomics wise, there was no reason to loosen my grip—with every button and dial comfortably within reach of both thumb and index finger. Booting up in 0.8 seconds allowed me to capture life spontaneously and without any form of calculation. Fully clenching the shutter button enabled snap focus, a programmable default focal distance set to 2.5m out-of-the-box, further accelerating my reaction time. With so many cheat codes there is really no excuse to miss the shot—little wonder this camera is coveted by street photographers.
Optional on the Ricoh GR III range, the built-in Highlight Diffusion Filter (HDF) softens the highlights, emulating film halation—an effect arguably achievable with a CineBloom or Pro-Mist filter, or in our circumstances, condensation. Owning my fair share of analogue systems, this wasn’t particularly an itch I needed to scratch. Another trick feature, reminiscent of film, is multi-exposure—allowing composite images to be produced entirely in-camera. I look forward to experimenting with this further down the line.
Although good for approximately 200 images, a power bank was a practical and necessary solution for battery life. Another slight hang-up—the smartphone application, Image Sync, felt a little undercooked. I’m optimistic for an update soon.
PROS
- Prime lens and sensor are silly sharp!
- See in the dark at 102400 ISO
- Truly defines "pocketable".
- Plug-and-play film simulations.
- Snap focus—It's zone-focussing, automated.
-
0.8 second start-up—do you feel lucky, punk?
CONS
- Clunky smart-phone integration.
- Battery life shorter than expected.
What’s the appeal? Quality cameras don't come smaller than this! No more burdensome than your phone, sunglasses, or wallet—the Ricoh GR IIIx seamlessly integrates into your everyday essentials. Looking back over these frames, it's difficult to fixate on the few shortcomings that I touched on. Quickly proving to be a dependable camera, I'll be reaching for my Ricoh GR IIIx with confidence. With infinite personalisation through user presets and film simulations, you won't need that exy software subscription for post-production edits. Making light sport of professional photography, the Ricoh GR IIIx is everything a compact digital camera ought to be. Whether your first or fifth camera, the Ricoh GR III range will undoubtedly impress. As always, let the photography do the talking.
Learn more about the Ricoh GR III range, HERE. Check out more of Morgan's work via @mqrgs.
