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The Ricoh GR III made its official debut today, and DPR contributor Damien Demolder got his hands on the camera for a quick photo walk through London. Take a look at the JPEG output from the GR III as well as a few converted DNGs.
See our Ricoh GR III sample gallery
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Lens manufacturer Tokina has officially released details, price and on-sale dates for the Opera 16-28mm F2.8 lens it first showcased at Photokina last September. Expected to ship mid-March the full-frame wide angle zoom will cost $ 699 and will be available in two versions for Canon EF and Nikon F DSLR mounts.
The lens joins the previously-released 50mm F1.4 in the Opera series. Tokina says it used the Opera name as it hopes these lenses will help photographers to create works of art. The company also says that these lenses are not designed to be small and lightweight but with image quality as a priority.
Using 15 elements in 13 groups the Opera 16-28mm F2.8 weighs 940g (~2lb) and measures 89 x 133.5mm. It also offers a nine-bladed iris for improved rendering of out-of-focus highlights and an upgraded AF system that is claimed to be both faster and more accurate than the original AT-X 16-28mm F2.8 PRO FX.
See the Tokina website for more information, and B&H Photo for sample shots taken with the lens and a first impressions review.
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Press Release
Inspired by the focal length and aperture of the widely acknowledged Tokina AT-X 16-28mm F2.8 PRO FX lens, Tokina opera 16-28mm F2.8 FF has been developed with the same concept as the already released opera 50mm F1.4 FF, to offer the photographers another contemporary tool for professional photography.
Super wide angle, superior resolving ability coupled with high contrast and beautiful bokeh rendering, fast f/2.8 constant aperture throughout the zoom range and accurate AF drive system make this lens attractive for photographers who specialize in landscape, interior architect, documentary, environmental style portrait and night sky/time lapse photography genres.
Sales start date worldwide: March 15th, 2019
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Fans of the Ricoh GR, which was announced way back in 2013 (and preceded by both smaller-sensored and film GRs,) have been waiting a long time for an updated model. Sure, there was the GR II in 2015, but the biggest new feature on that model was Wi-Fi.
Four years later, the true replacement of the GR is here, in the Ricoh GR III. It has a higher-res sensor, a redesigned lens, in-body image stabilization and a hybrid AF system, to name just a few things. And Ricoh did all that without increasing the size of the camera, a favorite of street photographers.
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The GR III now has a 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor, up from 16MP on its predecessors. It offers an ISO range of 100 – 102,400 and uses 14-bit DNG as its Raw format.
Probably the most significant addition to the GR III is in-body image stabilization. By shifting its sensor, the GR III is able to provide up to four stops of shake reduction, according to Ricoh.
While the new 24MP sensor has no anti-aliasing filter, the GR III can take advantage of its shake reduction system to simulate one. If this sounds familiar, it’s because Pentax DSLRs have had this feature for many years.
Ricoh has also made an effort to keep dust off of the sensor, which was an issue for some owners of previous GR models. Like modern DSLR and mirrorless cameras, it uses ultrasonic vibrations to literally shake the dust away.
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While it maintains the same 28mm equivalent focal length and F2.8 maximum aperture of the previous GR models, the GR III’s lens has been totally redesigned. It has six elements in four groups, with two of the elements being aspherical.
The lens has a built-in two-stop neutral density filter, which can now be set to engage automatically, meaning you can keep using the maximum aperture in bright light. The maximum shutter speed on the GR III, which continues to use a leaf shutter, is 1/4000 sec.
However, because it’s a leaf shutter, it can’t maintain this maximum speed when shooting at F2.8. Instead the maximum shutter speed tops out at 1/2500 sec at F2.8 (1/3EV improved, compared with the GR II). This, combined with the 2-stop ND and near-silent operation should mean you’ll rarely find yourself limited by the absence of a full-electronic shutter mode.
As you can see from the above photo, the lens ring can be removed so the optional GW-4 wide-angle lens can be attached. This brings the focal length of the lens down to 21mm equiv. and it’s a new optic designed to match the GR III’s new lens – so sorry, if you own the wide adapter for the GR or GR II, it won’t work on the new camera.
Another big feature on the GR III is on-sensor phase detection autofocus. We don’t know much about the system at this point, such as the number of points or frame coverage, but we hope that the combination of the updated AF system and new lens will give the GR III’s focus speeds a boost.
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The back of GR III has been significantly redesigned. It includes a 3″ touchscreen LCD for the first time in the series’ history. This make selecting an AF point quicker and easier than on GRs past. Touch operation is responsive, but menu navigation can be a little awkward as the GUI isn’t designed for fingers.
Long time fans of the GR might miss the auto exposure/focus lock and vertical rocker switch from previous models. But we can assure you the camera has a familiar form factor, size and weight. The familiar rocker control is still directly under your thumb for applying exposure compensation.
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The top of the GR III is nearly unchanged from recent models. It retains the iconic pill-shaped shutter release. Top plate controls, including the vertical dial, on/off switch and mode dial, are also unchanged.
We’d come to know and love the small tilt-up flash found on previous GR models, sadly it did not find its way into the GR III. Good thing the hot shoe did.
Another small change: TAv mode has been removed as an option from the mode dial. Fortunately, the basic premise of TAv should be achievable using Auto ISO in Manual exposure mode. Anyone familiar with the Pre-APS-C GR Digital models probably won’t notice this absence.
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The GR III offers modest video specs, with the ability to capture 1080/60p footage. Recording is capped at 25 mins or 4GB of footage. The camera includes a built-in stereo mic, but not microphone or headphone sockets.
While the GR II had Wi-Fi, Ricoh has given the GR III Bluetooth, as well. This should make pairing a bit quicker while allowing for a constant connection between camera and smartphone.
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The GR III’s battery life has taken a serious nosedive, dropping 38% over the GR II. It offers a CIPA-rated 200 shots per charge which isn’t great. Our first attempt shooting with this new model gave us less than an hour-and-a-half of shooting time, so that’s something we’ll keep a close eye on when we get our hands on a camera running final firmware.
Since the new DB-110 battery is more powerful than the one on the GR II, it’s likely that the IBIS system is the main culprit for the drop.
On a more positive note, the GR I/II’s proprietary charging port has been replaced by USB-C. I supports USB-PD which allows it to be powered by external power banks.
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The GR III will be shipping in mid-March for $ 899 / £799 ($ 100/£200 more than the previous version). In some regions, that snazzy blue lens ring pictured above will be included.
Accessories include the WG-4 wide-angle conversion lens, the GV-1 and GV-2 optical viewfinders and the usual assortment of cases and straps.
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There was some concern when Ricoh first unveiled mockups of the GR III, with long-time fans of the series concerned about the impact of the control changes that have been introduced.
Our first impressions are that the main command dial and rear jog control are just where you expect them, so the shooting experience isn’t too significantly changed. The loss of dedicated buttons will take some getting used to, but we found we still had access to the things we change most.
The touchscreen makes it much easier to quickly position the AF point than on previous GRs. At least for now there’s a considerable lag if you use the rear screen for touch shutter. Even with the new focus system, there’s still a noticeable pause even if you’ve placed the AF point and use the shutter button to fire. We’ll see whether responsiveness picks up with final firmware.
Of course the alternative is to use Snap Focus to keep the lens focused at a predetermined point. Which, if you’ve used an GR before, may already be your preferred way of working.
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On March 1st, InukTech will launch a Kickstarter campaign for Inuk, a portable folding camera tripod alternative. Unlike traditional tripods, Inuk features flat carbon fiber arms and legs joined by reinforced technopolymer hinges and soft rubber feet. The rig’s three legs and two arms can be folded flat against the device’s carbon fiber plate for compact storage.
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Inuk supports payload weights up to 1.5kg / 3.3lbs and features a ¼” -20 universal screw for connecting cameras and mounts. In addition to supporting cameras and smartphones, Inuk can accommodate accessories like microphones, flashes, and lights.
Though the support can be used like a tripod, Inuk’s legs can also be folded for uneven surfaces, and accessories will be available for connecting the support to different structures. At this time, InukTech says its connection accessories include a magnet, suction cups, super suction cups, straps, and clamps.
When folded, Inuk measures 17 x 9 x 2.5cm / 6.7 x 3.5 x 0.98in and weighs 160g / 0.35lbs. The model can extend up to 12cm / 4.3in in height with a 30cm / 11.8in footprint and 42cm / 16.5in arm width.
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InukTech hasn’t revealed any other information about the model, but plans to officially launch it on Kickstarter next month. Consumers will have the opportunity to ‘pre-order’ the camera support at up to 50% off the expected retail price with prices starting at $ 39.95 for the basic ‘Starter Kit’ and going up to $ 56.95 for the ‘Video Maniac’ kit.
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Five months after its development announcement, the Ricoh GR III will be shipping this March for $ 899. Unlike the GR II, which was a very minor upgrade to the original, the major components on the GR III are all-new.
The controls have received a major shake-up as the GR III becomes the first in the series to use a touchscreen. The screen is a 3.0″, 1.04M-dot LCD, with all of the usual features like AF point selection, menu navigation and image review onboard.
It also gains image stabilization, with a 3-axis sensor-shift system offering shake reduction rated at up to four stops. This ‘SR’ system can also be used to simulate an AA filter for when moiré reduction is desired. And there’s now an ultrasonic dust reduction system for the sensor, which is perhaps a nod to the dust problems that some encountered on the GR I and II.
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The GR III’s autofocus system has been overhauled, with the addition of on-sensor phase detection. This, along with a redesigned lens, gives us hope that the GR II’s autofocus will be quicker than its predecessors. Ricoh is yet to provide any technical details but says it will be ‘faster and more responsive.’
The GR III’s 28mm equiv. F2.8 lens has six elements in four groups, with two elements being aspherical. The lens can now focus as close as 6cm (2.4″), compared to 10cm (3.9″) on the previous models. The GR III continues to offer a built-in 2-stop ND filter.
The resolution of the GR III’s APS-C sensor has been bumped from 16MP to 24MP, with a fully expanded ISO range of 100 – 102,400. The GR III can now record 1080/60p video, but no 4K. Ricoh has added a Type-C USB 3.0 port on the camera (which can be used to charge the battery,) and connectivity options now include Bluetooth in addition to Wi-Fi.
Two things that the GR III lost are its built-in flash and a fair amount of its battery life. The latter has plunged from 320 shots to 200 shots per charge – a 38% drop – despite using a higher capacity battery. More than likely, the addition of in-body IS puts the biggest hit on battery life.
As mentioned above, the GR III will be yours to purchase in March for $ 899. A new 0.75x wide-angle adapter (GW-4) will also be available for $ 249.
Press Release
Newest model in the popular RICOH GR series delivers exceptional image quality in a smaller, lightweight body, making it ideal for street photography
WEST CALDWELL, NJ, February 21, 2019 – Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the launch of the highly anticipated RICOH GR III camera. The new camera is the latest model in the RICOH GR series, a lineup of high-end digital cameras providing exceptional image quality in a compact, lightweight body ideal for street photography, travel and capturing candid images.
The RICOH GR III features a newly designed lens, image sensor and imaging engine that further upgrade image quality, enhance functionality and improve usability. The 18.3mm F2.8 lens delivers exceptional imaging performance with a slim design, consisting of six optical elements in four groups, while retaining the 28mm angle of view. It produces the clearest, sharpest images in GR-series history while reducing distortion and chromatic aberration. It also comes equipped with a macro shooting capability with a minimum focusing distance of six centimeters.
In keeping with the GR-series concept of packaging high image quality in a compact design, the RICOH GR III camera body is smaller than its predecessor, and is equipped with a large APS-C-size CMOS image sensor with approximately 24.24 effective megapixels to produce high-resolution images. Its short start-up time of approximately 0.8 seconds allows for quick, responsive shooting. The camera’s high-definition LCD monitor features touchscreen operation, offering intuitive control of various camera functions right on the screen.
The camera also features a high-speed hybrid autofocus system, built-in shake reduction, in- camera image finishing options, USB Type-CTM, Bluetooth and wireless LAN connectivity options. An accessory wide-angle conversion lens designed exclusively for use with the RICOH GR III is also available. The GW-4 Wide Conversion Lens expands the angle of view to 21mm ultra-wide angle.
“The Ricoh GR III is the ultimate street camera,” said William Hereford, a Brooklyn-based pro photographer, who has been shooting with GR series cameras for years. “The image quality and ease of use are equally amazing. I literally don’t leave my house without this camera. The GR III fits perfectly both in my hand and my pocket, so it is always available to capture a moment.”
Hereford says that the image quality is so great, that photos taken with his GR cameras have the potential to be used in national ad campaigns and magazine articles.
Designed to be the ultimate street photography camera, the RICOH GR III is a totally new breed of GR camera that will give the user new and different creative possibilities.
| Pricing and Availability |
The RICOH GR III will be shipping in March 2019 and will be available at www.us.ricoh- imaging.com and retail outlets nationwide. Price is $ 899.95 for the camera, $ 249.95 for the GW-4 Wide Conversion Lens.
| Price | |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $ 899 / £799 |
| Body type | |
| Body type | Large sensor compact |
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 6000 x 4000 |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 3:2 |
| Effective pixels | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 25 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| White balance presets | 8 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| CIPA image stabilization rating | 4 stop(s) |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| File format |
|
| Optics & Focus | |
| Focal length (equiv.) | 28 mm |
| Maximum aperture | F2.8–16 |
| Autofocus |
|
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Normal focus range | 10 cm (3.94″) |
| Macro focus range | 6 cm (2.36″) |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,037,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Optical (optional) |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Exposure modes |
|
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (via hot shoe) |
| Flash modes | Auto, Flash On, Flash On+Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Slow Sync+Red-eye |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Drive modes |
|
| Continuous drive | 4.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Metering modes |
|
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| Videography features | |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Modes |
|
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | Internal, SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported) |
| Storage included | 2GB |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) |
| USB charging | Yes |
| HDMI | No |
| Microphone port | No |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth |
| Remote control | Yes (via smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | DB-110 lithium-ion battery & USB charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 200 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 257 g (0.57 lb / 9.07 oz) |
| Dimensions | 109 x 62 x 33 mm (4.29 x 2.44 x 1.3″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
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Light, the computational imaging company behind the L16 camera, has announced it’s partnering with Sony Semiconductor Solutions ‘to jointly work on development and marketing of multi-image sensor solutions.’
According to a press release shared today, the two companies have signed an agreement that ‘allows Light to use and recommend to its customers and partners, Sony’s image sensors built in Light’s computational imaging solutions and reference designs.’
Simply put, the agreement means Light will combine its experience and intellectual property in the world of multi-camera designs and computational photography with Sony’s imaging sensors to build future devices. Specifically, the press release mentions the partnership will help ‘to create new multi-camera applications and solutions beginning with the introduction of smartphones containing four or more cameras.’
Light previously announced its intentions of bringing its multi-camera technology to smartphones, going so far as to show off various concepts and prototypes it’s developed that include between five and nine camera modules.
Bradley Lauterbach, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Design at Light, also said back in December 2017, ‘one manufacturer is already at work on a Light-enabled phone, and more are in the works.’ It’s unknown if Lauterbach was referencing Sony, but whoever the manufacturer was, it appears clear now Sony will be the company behind the sensors.
Press release:
Focused on Multi-Camera Applications for Smartphones with Four or more Cameras
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Light, the leader in advanced computational imaging announces the agreement with Sony Semiconductor Solutions, the leader in the Image Sensor industry to jointly work on development and marketing of multi-image sensor solutions.
The agreement allows Light to use and recommend to its customers and partners, Sony’s image sensors built in Light’s computational imaging solutions and reference designs. These new reference designs combine Light’s multi-camera technology together with Sony’s image sensors to create new multi-camera applications and solutions beginning with the introduction of smartphones containing four or more cameras.
“Sony is the recognized quality and market share leader in image sensors and we are thrilled to partner with them,” said Dave Grannan, CEO and co-founder, Light. “We are entering an entirely new era of intelligent imaging applications that will transform smartphones, autonomous vehicles, and security systems. With Sony’s world-class image sensors, we can introduce new innovations in the multi-camera imaging space.”
“We are excited to be working with Light and driving multi-sensor-based products and solutions into the market,” said Hank Ochi, president of Component Solutions Business Division, Sony Electronics Inc. “Light and its technology are transforming how devices see the world. This new partnership will allow us to work together to evolve and speed up the design of today’s multi-image sensor enabled connected devices. Starting today, our jointly developed reference designs will help our smartphone OEMs to quickly and easily enhance the imaging capability of multi-camera enabled smartphones.”
For more information, please visit https://light.co/.
Photographer, cinematographer, Lowel-Light founder and creator of gaffer tape Ross Lowell died on February 15 at the age of 92, according to PDN. Lowell lived in Pound Ridge, New York, at the time of his passing, leaving behind his wife Marilyn Shapiro-Lowell and four children. Above is a video he participated in wherein he talks about various lighting tools and techniques.
Over the course of his long career, Lowell pioneered numerous lighting solutions for photography and cinematography, ultimately registering more than 25 patents, founding lighting company Lowel-Light and publishing the book Matter of Light & Depth. Among Lowell’s inventions is gaffer tape, a type of cotton cloth tape popularly used during production and staging work.
From the mid-1960s through 1985, Lowell also shot, directed, wrote and produced multiple documentaries and short films, including Oscar-nominated Oh Brother, My Brother. Lowell received multiple awards during his career, including a Technical Achievement Academy Award, the John Grierson Gold Medal and Lightfair Technical Innovation Award.
Lomography has launched the Lomogon 32mm F2.5, a compact lens with full frame sensor coverage and a unique wheel of aperture stops that protrudes from the barrel.
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Fitted with the Lomogon Circular Aperture Disk the lens uses a series of five round holes cut into a disk of metal as its aperture control. The toothed disk sticks out from the lens and is turned by the user to drop the desired hole behind the front element – a bit like Waterhouse stops from the 1850s. The holes in this disk correspond to F2.5, F4, F5.6, F8 and F11 – and each is completely round as they aren’t created by an iris.
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The Lomogon uses 6 coated elements in 6 groups, has a 62mm filter thread and a closest focus distance of 0.4m. Developed with Russian manufacturer Zenit and built in China, Lomography says the Lomogon uses ‘the finest glass optics’ and is assembled by hand. The result, according to the company, is high micro-contrast and ‘enhanced colors’. It will be available in Nikon F and Canon EF mounts, and adapters can be used for other camera fittings.
Technical Specifications
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If all goes well the Lomogon will begin shipping in November 2019 and will have a retail price of $ 499. During the Kickstarter campaign though, it can be had for as little as $ 299.
For more information see the Lomogon Kickstarter page.
Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.
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digiKam is an open-source photo management application that runs on Linux, Windows, and MacOS platforms and comes with tools for importing, managing, editing, and sharing photos and raw files.
Now version 6.0.0 of digiKam has been released after a 2-year development phase and comes with a heap of new features and improvements.
The biggest news is that the software can now also handle video files, offering many of the importing, sharing and editing functions that are also available for still image. Videos can also be played back without the need for an external player.
In addition import/export web-service tools are now available across all modules in digiKam – LightTable, Image editor and Showfoto. The same is true for other tools, such as metadata and geolocation editors, allowing for a more seamless user experience.
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There are also new tools to export your images directly to Pinterest as well as the Microsoft OneDrive and Box cloud storage services, and the Raw engine has been updated to process images from a long list of new cameras and smartphone.
In addition to the new features the digiKam team says it has been able to clean the applications code in order to simplify application compilation, packaging and maintenance for the future.
For a full list of new features and supported cameras, download links and more detail about the work that has gone into the update, head over to the digiKam website.
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Given that it uses the same sensor and processor as the X-T3, it’s no surprise that the Fujifilm X-T30 is capable of producing some excellent photos. We took a pre-production X-T30 all over the Seattle area and have plenty of photos for your viewing pleasure.