(Credit: Ricoh)
Ricoh's GR camera line is a long-running favorite among enthusiast photographers. Pros and enthusiasts pick them up because they put large APS-C sensors in tiny, pocket-friendly bodies for better-looking photos than many smartphones grab, along with the tactile controls missing from phones. The GR III generation has been around for some time, the baseline GR III came out way back in 2019 and its follow-up GR IIIx followed two years later. Both cameras use the same slim body style and stabilized 24MP image sensors, with the angle of view as the differentiating factor—the GR III captures a wide 28mm-equivalent view, while the IIIx is a bit tighter at 40mm. They're popular cameras among a certain set, notably photogs who specialize slice-of-life documentary imaging, because of their small, discrete form, crisp prime lenses, and snap focus feature.
(Credit: Ricoh)The line is growing today, with variations on both editions, the GR III HDF and IIIx HDF. They aren't that much different from the existing cameras as far as basic features, but make a small change that drastically changes how pictures look—a Highlight Diffusion Filter. The filter is built into the lens and effectively adds a soft focus glowing effect to bright points of light in your picture. Ricoh says it leveraged the company's expertise in making inkjet printers in order to develop the filter.
The effect is drastic—I've not had a chance to try either camera yet, but example pictures are dramatically softened, evoking the look of camera lenses from the first half of the last century. When the filter is enabled pictures have soft glow throughout, but it's most visible around bright highlights. If you're interested in nighttime street photography in an urban environment, the HDF filter may sell you on this edition versus the standard GR III. If you don't love the look you can turn the filter off with a single button press.
There is a trade-off versus the standard-line GR III and IIIx; the HDF filter takes the place of the 2-stop neutral density filter those cameras use in their optical path. That means photographers working in daylight won't be able to make long exposure images with the same ease. Fans of capturing pictures after sunset aren't likely to miss ND, though.
It's a timely release, compact cameras are enjoying a resurgence among Gen Z creators looking for an alternative to their smartphone. The GR III line is one of the few still running with a sensor that's as large as an interchangeable lens camera, but also with a pocketable body. It's proven popular enough to live on backorder status at many retailers, despite a long time in market. There's no doubt that some are grabbing a GR III because they don't want to wait forever to get the recently announced, hotly selling Fujifilm X100VI. The GR line is just as enjoying to use for imaging, though it lacks the eye-catching retro chassis that Fuji uses for the X100.
The GR III HDF is priced at $1,069.95 while the IIIx HDF is a little more expensive at $1,149.95; each carries a $100 premium over the regular III and IIIx. Ricoh expects them to be available to purchase in April.
If you're thinking about getting one and want to know more about how the camera handles, check out our recent review of the GR IIIx, and stay tuned here for a review of the HDF version.