Few cameras can declare to have such a staunch cult following because the Ricoh GR III. And with the long-awaited Ricoh GR IV boasting the sequence’ largest improve but, that’s positive to proceed. However as anyone who’d by no means dealt with a GR compact digital camera earlier than, I’d reasonably ignorantly dismissed the entire sequence as a little bit of a compact oddity. Nevertheless, I shortly modified my thoughts when a colleague introduced in a used GR III they’d acquired, and I received to deal with the revered compact for the primary time. The very first thing I seen was how premium it felt.
I’d all the time figured the GR cameras have been a bit overpriced, and I assume if all you care about are technical specs, then there’s an argument available (extra on that later). However holding this little digital camera in my hand for the primary time, feeling the robustness of the casing and the feel of the grip, there was a – dare I say it – Leica high quality to the digital camera. The alloy physique felt reassuringly weighty, however not heavy, whereas the grip additionally had a delightful tactile really feel to it. Now, I’m not suggesting a GR digital camera can measure as much as the premium really feel of a Leica M-System digital camera, however the truth that the GR III is a compact actually heightens the impression of the standard.
Subsequent, I seen the management format. The digital camera is each minimalist, but not wanting for direct-access controls on the identical time. Then you will have the shape issue. I’m definitely a fan of the Fujifilm X100VI, however I don’t suppose it’s a real compact digital camera. It’s simply too huge. The GR III, then again, seems like a compact digital camera. It’s not simply small, it’s slight, you may simply slip it right into a pocket.
The GR sequence’ design by no means actually jumped out at me, and I now realise that’s not solely a giant benefit for cameras which can be lauded by avenue photographers, but additionally just a little bit unfair. Whereas the GR III or IV doesn’t boast the retro-cool appears to be like of the Fujifilm X100IV or Leica D-Lux 8, its stealthy all-black end does have a particular appeal (so, too, does the orange-accented Avenue Version). In the identical means {that a} beefy Canon or Nikon pro-grade physique feels match for function, so do GR cameras. They’re utilitarian by design; there are not any gimmicks, they feel and look like they’re constructed to be a images workhorse.
And the technical specs are utilitarian, too. Positive, a GR digital camera gained’t knock your socks off with blistering burst speeds, ultra-detailed video, or monster megapixels, however these cameras are roundly praised for his or her distinctive RAW picture high quality. And as anyone who used an previous Nikon D800 DSLR effectively handed its sell-by date, there might be a bonus to an easier digital camera that cuts out the technical noise. In a world the place compact cameras are sometimes seen as informal gadgets, the GR III and IV actually are the photographer’s compact cameras. I see now why the sequence is so revered.
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