Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III
 |
Ricoh has announced the development of a third model in its popular GR lineup: The forthcoming GR III will feature an updated sensor and redesigned lens. We’re at Photokina, where we took a quick look earlier at an early sample under glass.
The biggest upgrade to the GR III is invisible. The new camera features a 24MP APS-C sensor, which should substantially improve upon the rather old 16MP sensor used in the GR/II. The new sensor brings with it phase-detection autofocus, and in-camera stabilization. Both these changes are potentially of huge value to prospective buyers, and serve as a major differentiator against arguably the GR III’s main competitor, Fujfilm’s X100-series.
Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III
 |
Externally, the magnesium alloy-bodied GR III is virtually indistinguishable from its predecessors, the GR and (extremely closely-related) GR II. The 28mm effective focal length of it 18.3mm F2.8 lens is unchanged, but it has been redesigned.
The new lens features six elements in four groups, including two aspheres. The GR/II’s lens was made up of seven elements in five groups, also including two aspherical elements. Beyond an improvement to minimum focusing distance from to 6cm (2.4″) from 10cm (3.9″) we don’t know what the practical effects of this redesign are (the GR/II’s original lens was stunningly sharp) but we’re keen to put it to the test as soon as we can.
Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III
 |
Movie shooting has been moved from its old position on the main exposure mode dial, to a button on the left-hand side of the camera. This button can also be configured to activate the GR III’s wireless feature. Notice also the omission of the mechanical flash release switch, which was featured on the GR/II. The GR III does not include a built-in flash.
Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III
 |
Sorry for the poor quality of this image, which was (obviously) shot through perspex, and against powerful spotlights. Hopefully it shows you what you need to know. From behind, the biggest difference to the GR III compared to its predecessors appears to be a larger LCD, but in fact this is partially an illusion. The GR III’s screen is now 3:2 aspect ratio (as opposed to 4:3) but the diagonal length is the same and resolution (1.03 million dots) is unchanged compared to its predecessor.
The biggest difference is that the GR III’s screen is touch-sensitive.
Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III
 |
You might also notice that the GR/II’s AE/AFL / AF-C switch has been deleted in the new model – likewise the +/- toggle that used to live on the upper-right corner of the thumb grip. This is a shame, but the GR III does gain a rear control dial around the 4-way pad, and from the labeling it looks like the rear ‘ADJ’ jog switch can be used for quick exposure compensation.
Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III
 |
From the top, the simplified exposure mode dial looks noticeably less cluttered than the older GR/II. Movie mode has gone, but so has the auto-everything ‘green’ camera mode, and TAv. Instead, we have the traditional PASM plus three user-configurable settings. The front control dial and trademark Ricoh pill-shaped shutter button are unchanged.
That’s it! At least for now. This camera was firmly behind glass but as soon as we can get our holds on a working sample, we’ll be posting a lot more about the GR III, which is already looking like it might become our new favorite compact.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)