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User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

TENOG
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

RoamingScott wrote:
Interesting thread to read through. Occasionally I lust for the 40mm version, but I keep coming back to the images I see posted online are muted and flat when compared to the Fuji X100 files. Whether that’s the JPEG profiles or just happens to be the way people are processing their RAW files, I can’t say. Most look like they could have been taken with a phone to me.

I love truly pocketable cameras…right now that role for me is being filled by a 35mm P&S. If Fuji could make this form factor I’d be on it immediately.

There is...Show more →

I have both the Fuji X100V and the Ricoh GR III and I would disagree. The GR lens is sharp as a tack and though I have not done a side by side comparison, my impression is that the GR has a sharper lens than the X100V. As for color, I shoot JPEGs with it and I have tweaked the settings a bit (I use those published by Samuel Streetlife) and I find the color very pleasing. There are other recipes for it over at Fuji X Weekly, but I don't see any I like better. I also think the IBIS on the GR is a big deal.

May 27, 2023 at 04:50 PM

zugzwang2
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

"the [GR IIIx] images I see posted online are muted and flat"

This didn't seem flat:

https://www.dpreview.com/galleries/8890025276/photos/4363306/whitney-west-side-2

May 27, 2023 at 05:00 PM

TENOG
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

"Muted and flat?" Go to the Ricoh Images thread on this Forum and judge for yourself.

May 27, 2023 at 05:08 PM

RoamingScott
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

I have. Not impressed with the overall IQ but simply my opinion and taste. Few of them stand out as being “more” than a cellphone snapshot level of IQ.

TENOG wrote:
"Muted and flat?" Go to the Ricoh Images thread on this Forum and judge for yourself.

May 27, 2023 at 05:46 PM

chiron
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

RoamingScott wrote:
I have. Not impressed with the overall IQ but simply my opinion and taste. Few of them stand out as being “more” than a cellphone snapshot level of IQ.

I think it's one of the strongest image threads on FM. It's what made me look more seriously at getting a GR or two--if I could find one that was up for sale.

May 27, 2023 at 09:53 PM

RoamingScott
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

Likely because it’s an everyday camera that captures moments and places a chunky boi camera wouldn’t even be, and for sure that’s its strongest suit. My comment was purely about IQ. Being there and capturing something worth capturing makes an “image”.

chiron wrote:
I think it's one of the strongest image threads on FM. It's what made me look more seriously at getting a GR or two--if I could find one that was up for sale.

May 27, 2023 at 10:51 PM

jj1804
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

one thing I don't like about my GRIII is that after about 1.5 years the rear wheel got the jumping issue. I have the old Ricoh half case and always stored it in my pocket with the case on and still, dust must have gotten into the GRIII and messed up that rear dial. AF can be a bit hit or miss sometimes. Even with Spot AF I have misfocused landscape shots that made me scratch my head and ask myself what I did wrong... But it still is the best camera to take with you without having a camera with you (if that makes sense). It is so small and pocketable and the image quality is truly stunning, which is the real selling point of the GRs in my opinion: quality and size. I would've gotten the IIIx too if it were available back then. Rent one and learn it's quirks and if you can live with them. That's how I'd go about it if you are on the fence.

May 28, 2023 at 01:34 AM

Mitch Alland
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

RoamingScott wrote:
...but I keep coming back to the images I see posted online are muted and flat ...
...Not impressed with the overall IQ...Few of them stand out as being “more” than a cellphone snapshot level of IQ.

While a few posts have already contradicted these statements, they are so far off from the reality of the GRIII/GRIIIx that I can't resist posting the following shots, which are all hand-held:

GRIII | ISO 100 | f/2.8 | 1/40 sec | Using 50 mm in-camera crop mode

Wier, Netherlands

GRIII | ISO 400 | f/6.3 | 1/15 sec

Paris

GRIII | ISO 400 | f/2.8 | 1/1000 sec | Shot from hip

Paris

And these were shot using in camera JPG presets:

GRIIIx | ISO 1600 | f/2.8 | 1/60 sec | High-Contrast B&W preset

Charles Town, VW

GRIII | ISO 320 | f/5.0 | 1/13 sec | High-Contrast B&W preset

Potomac, MD

GRIIIx | ISO 1600 | f/5.5 | 1/100 sec | X-Process preset | Using 50 mm in-camera crop mod

Potomac, MD

Edited on Jun 10, 2023 at 04:52 AM · View previous versions

May 28, 2023 at 04:48 AM

524f44
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

May 28, 2023 at 06:26 AM

chiron
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

Mitch Alland wrote:
While a few posts have already contradicted these statements, they are so far of from the reality of the GRIII/GRIIIx that I can't resist posting the following shots, which are all hand-held:

GRIII | ISO 100 | f/2.8 | 1/40 sec | Using 50 mm in-camera crop mode
https://live.staticflickr.com/7833/32559181767_b3ef4b90f4_b.jpg
Wier, Netherlands

GRIII | ISO 400 | f/6.3 | 1/15 sec
https://live.staticflickr.com/7885/46777643574_09f1039c44_b.jpg
Paris

GRIIIx | ISO 1600 | f/2.8 | 1/60 sec
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51674430773_97d769bf03_c.jpg
Charles Town, VW

GRIII | ISO 400 | f/2.8 | 1/1000 sec | Shot from hip
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40719403953_ff7be98190_b.jpg
Paris

And these were shot using in camera JPGs presets:

GRIII | ISO 320 | f/5.0 | 1/13 sec...Show more →

Very lovely images. The color images are almost painterly, a look I like a lot, with colors that are rich and deep; and the b&w photos are also very strong. Two questions:
What kind of post-processing did you do?

And, in the photo of the wine drinkers, it looks like the bald guy in the sunglasses is on to you taking a picture and doesn't like it. How did you handle that and how were you taking the picture in the first place?

May 28, 2023 at 06:54 AM

johnvanr
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

I have both, but they’re extremely niche cameras to me as I find it hard to shoot without a viewfinder. When I use them, I’m always blown away by the IQ.

May 28, 2023 at 07:13 AM

Mitch Alland
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

524f44 wrote:
Nice shots Mitch. I especially like that 50mm crop shot (above). Can't help but wonder how much better it looks, without being downsized, compressed...etc. for internet consumption.

These latest version GRs (GRiii/GRiiiX) are amazing little cameras. My go to for a grab&go, bring home a nice shot, for most any outing.

--
Rod

Thanks. Rod. Actually, two of the above shots are 50mm in-camera crops: the first one and the last one. BTW, there is a useful Lightroom/Photoshop plugin, DNG Recover Edges, that allows you to recover the whole image and then you can reframe it as you wish.

In any case, the 50mm crops can be printed very large, using the newest Topaz or Lightroom/Photoshop upscaling tools. Someone above mentioned a preference for full-frame sensors. For me, the value of full-frame sensors is that they allow Leica lenses to be used (on M-bodies) as they were designed, especially at full aperture with vigneting and all. I have no problem with making large (150 x 100 cm) prints from APC sensors or even from the older Ricoh GRD cameras, which had sensors as small as one's pinky fingernail.

Below (sort of "off-topic") are two images from Ricoh GRD cameras that I've printed large, the first one at 100x150 cm (40x60 inches) — this shot is now the opening image for my EXPOSED series (24images), intended for an exhibition: you can see the whole series by clicking on the Instagram icon that is to the left of this post.

Ricoh GR Digital 5.9mm | ISO 800 | f/2.8 | 1/90 sec

Tokyo

Ricoh GR Digital 2 with 40mm Tele-Converter 8.4mm | ISO 800 | f/2.4 | 1/25 sec

Bangkok

Edited on Jun 10, 2023 at 04:47 AM · View previous versions

May 28, 2023 at 07:36 AM

Mitch Alland
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

chiron wrote:
Very lovely images. The color images are almost painterly, a look I like a lot, with colors that are rich and deep; and the b&w photos are also very strong. Two questions:
What kind of post-processing did you do?

And, in the photo of the wine drinkers, it looks like the bald guy in the sunglasses is on to you taking a picture and doesn't like it. How did you handle that and how were you taking the picture in the first place?

Thanks, chiron. The first image (wine-drinkers), I took the shot as I was just walking past the restaurant, literally a "hip-shot": I held the camera in my right hand, my arm down at my side with my thumb on the shutter (with auto-focus). To tell the truth, I wasn't looking at the people in the shot and was not conscious of him looking at me — indeed, I'm not even sure he was looking at me or at someone else. I wasn't trying to be sneaky, I just didn't want everyone to turn and look at me if I stopped and turned toward the restaurant to take the shot.

I've just looked up the processing on these: the second set (the three shots taken with JPG in-camera presets) just needed a contrast adjustment. NOTE: I had forgotten that the Hercules statue image was an in-camera B&W preset & I've just edited the earlier post to move it to the second set of pictures.

The other color shots:

— The first color shot (two men at an embossing press): Nik Color Efex Bleach Bypass + adjustments
—Gauguin painting ("Nevermore"): used an LR preset for Portra 800 plus contrast increase
—Wine drinkers: used an LR preset for Portra 400 plus a strong lift in the shadows, as I had set the exposure for the highlights

May 28, 2023 at 08:18 AM

Mitch Alland
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

johnvanr wrote:
...I find it hard to shoot without a viewfinder...

I was also concerned about this when I bought my first Ricoh, the original GR Digital, around 2005. The first day I went out shooting, I put a 28mm Voigtlaender viewfinder on the camera, but found that I didn't use it. After that time, I never put a viewfinder on any of the Ricoh GRD or GR cameras. Generally, I just shoot by establishing, roughly, where the frames it by looking at the LCD, but looking only at the subject or the scene when I press the shutter. I much prefer that to the viewfinder because it gives greater immediacy — to the point that I wish my Leica M10 were lighter, so that I could do something similar.

Edited on May 28, 2023 at 08:49 AM · View previous versions

May 28, 2023 at 08:26 AM

chiron
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

Mitch Alland wrote:
Thanks, chiron. The first image (wine-drinkers), I took the shot as I was just walking past the restaurant, literally a "hip-shot": I held the camera in my right hand, my arm down at my side with my thumb on the shutter (with auto-focus). To tell the truth, I wasn't looking at the people in the shot and was not conscious of him looking at me — indeed, I'm not even sure he was looking at me or at someone else. I wasn't trying to be sneaky, I just didn't want everyone to turn and look at me if I...Show more →

Thank you! I appreciate all the details you went to the trouble to provide. They are very helpful!

May 28, 2023 at 08:35 AM

Mitch Alland
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

jj1804 wrote:
one thing I don't like about my GRIII is that after about 1.5 years the rear wheel got the jumping issue...

I had the same problem with my GRIII, which I had bought in Paris from the first batch produced. I contacted the head of Ricoh Europe, whom I had once met in the Paris camera store where I subsequently bought the camera. He arranged for the US Ricoh repair facility to fix it; but I don't recall whether that was before or after the warranty ran out.

I have not heard of the rear wheel problem coming up on subsequent batches of GRIII, or on the GRIIIx, cameras.

May 28, 2023 at 09:00 AM

524f44
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

Mitch Alland wrote:
Thanks. Rod. Actually, two of the above shots are 50mm in-camera crops: the first one and the last one. BTW, there is a useful Lightroom/Photoshop plugin, DNG Recover Edges, that allows you to recover the whole image and then you can reframe it as you wish.

In any case, the 50mm crops can be printed very large, using the newest Topaz or Lightroom/Photoshop upscaling tools. Some one above mentioned a preference for full-frame sensors. For me, the value of full-frame sensors is that they allow Leica lenses to be used (on M-bodies) as they were designed, especially at full...Show more →

I'll check out the Plugin. I use LR (cloud not classic) the cloud version is a bit limited WRT plugins AFAIK.

Won't be able to check out your IG posts, I don't do IG, Nor FB or any other Meta product. Privacy concerns.

--Rod

May 28, 2023 at 10:11 AM

TENOG
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

Beautiful captures, Mitch. They very ably demonstrate the IQ of the GR's.

May 28, 2023 at 11:30 AM

helimat
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

RoamingScott wrote:
I have. Not impressed with the overall IQ but simply my opinion and taste. Few of them stand out as being “more” than a cellphone snapshot level of IQ.

Not to pile on here, but comparing the Ricoh GR series to cellphone photos is a bit much. Cellphones certainly have come a long way, and I am pretty amazed by what my 14 Pro can do when it comes to quick snaps for sharing with friends & family or over social media. However, when it comes time to view large and/or print, the cellphone photos will fall apart every time. I have a 36" x 24" print* on the wall above me that was taken over 9 years ago with the 16mp Ricoh GR, I wouldn't consider printing anything half as large out of my brand new phone... Or at any just about size really

*The same photo was purchased by a coffee shop printed 6' x 4' to hang behind the bar, and is in fact the print I have sold the most copies of as well

May 28, 2023 at 11:32 AM

helimat
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p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · User & Image Quality Reports on Ricoh GR III & GR IIIX

Mitch Alland wrote:
While a few posts have already contradicted these statements, they are so far off from the reality of the GRIII/GRIIIx that I can't resist posting the following shots, which are all hand-held:

GRIII | ISO 100 | f/2.8 | 1/40 sec | Using 50 mm in-camera crop mode
https://live.staticflickr.com/7833/32559181767_b3ef4b90f4_b.jpg
Wier, Netherlands

GRIII | ISO 400 | f/6.3 | 1/15 sec
https://live.staticflickr.com/7885/46777643574_09f1039c44_b.jpg
Paris

GRIII | ISO 400 | f/2.8 | 1/1000 sec | Shot from hip
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40719403953_ff7be98190_b.jpg
Paris

And these were shot using in camera JPGs presets:

GRIIIx | ISO 1600 | f/2.8 | 1/60 sec | High-Contrast B&W preset
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51674430773_97d769bf03_c.jpg
Charles Town, VW

GRIII | ISO 320 | f/5.0...Show more →

Fantastic as always, Mitch.

May 28, 2023 at 11:33 AM

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