The Allure of a Compact Camera

Big sensor compact cameras are a special breed. In most cases, they are riddled with compromises which the end user ends up hating, or embracing. It is a love-hate relationship. I dipped my toes into this world at a time when the Apple iPhones and Google Pixels were making big waves in the area of photography. 

My experiences with some of the other compacts had me convinced that I tend to shoot more keepers when I have a camera on me at all times. In my quest to find a portable camera which offered more creative control over the photo taking process, and offered a considerable jump in image quality over a smartphone, I started trying out the X100’s and RX1’s of the world. What I quickly realized is that these cameras, despite their photography prowess, are barely smaller than my Full Frame mirrorless camera with a small lens attached. I had to make a conscious decision to carry these cameras everywhere despite the advertised small size. Maybe my use-case is different, but I have a hard time classifying these cameras as "compact cameras". Enter the Ricoh GRIII.

Everyday Use

The first thing that you notice when you hold the camera is it's diminutive size. It is an all metal build, with a stealthy black finish coating. I do love the industrial, subdued look which exudes a high level of build quality. It is a wonder that they accommodated all the necessary controls for one hand use within a small chassis. The operation is super quick, the menu is intuitive, and the camera has a high degree of  customizability. 

One of the game changing features on this camera, which I don’t see online reviews highlighting, is the ability to capture DNG RAW files. Long pressing the PLAY button directly takes you to the image preview, without activating the lens. I have mapped the long press of the video button to activate WiFi. The WiFi makes transferring and editing DNG RAW files on your smartphones and tablets a breeze. I wish all manufacturers offered capture of DNG RAW as an option. 

I know it is sacrilegious to not use snap focus mode on a GR camera, but I have not got the chance to use it as much yet. I have used it on certain occasions, and it works like a charm. The autofocus in good light is spot on, but can definitely do with some improvements for low light shooting. The latest firmware has solved most of the issues in this area. Moreover, the touchscreen makes it so easy to pinpoint your focus that the autofocus issues have not been a dealbreaker for me.

The more cameras I shoot, the more I value highlight weighted metering. It is basically an automatic ETTR, the intensity of which can be controlled using exposure compensation. I count this as one of the best features of the GRIII

Another nifty feature you get with fixed lens compacts is the high flash sync speed. Coupled with the built in ND filter, the GR gives you some creative options. GR purists have bashed this version of the camera for the missing flash, but I have never used on-camera flash ever, so I do not necessarily miss it. Based on recommendations online, I went with the LightPix Q20ii flash setup. Though the flash is not as powerful, it is a modular setup that I highly recommend for compact camera shooters.

The internal memory can capture roughly 38-40 RAW files, in case you find yourself without a SD card. It is  a restriction not that much different from a 35mm film point and shoot with a single roll of film. I treat this as a high end 35mm film compact point and shoot, and so far, it has not  disappointed me when it comes to the overall shooting experience.

Image Quality

I will keep this short. As with all modern sensors, the image quality is damn very good. Where the little Ricoh stands out from the crowd is the perfect marriage of a sharp lens with a stabilized 24 MP APS-C size sensor, with no anti-aliasing filter. The lens is extremely sharp right from f2.8, and has minimal distortion. The colors from the standard profile are a bit muted, but the Positive Film simulation is very pleasing to the eye. I am not huge on black and white, but the Ricoh provides some good simulation options for those as well, Soft Monotone being my favourite. All photos you see here are SOOC with some shadow pulls and slight changes to exposure and contrast. I found the photos to have good tonality, and pop, and  if you soften your images a little bit in post, I think they have a slight filmic/cinematic look to them.

Flawed Idol

It is not all rainbows and sunshine in the GR world. The little Ricoh is riddled with some rather interesting quirks or flaws, depending on which side of the aisle you are on. GR loyalists will moan about some of the missing features compared to the previous GR’s. I have already talked about my stance on the missing flash. But if this is your first GR, I doubt you will notice them. What you will notice is the short battery life. I am approaching this review strictly from an everyday-carry-around camera perspective, and for that, a single battery has proven to be sufficient. You always have the option of carrying around a cheap second battery, or charge it over USB-C.   

Many people also harp on the ‘Dust on the Sensor’ issue. Weather sealing could have solved this issue, but I guess we have to make compromises for the small size somewhere. Only time will tell if the dust removal tool is as effective as they market it to be. Video capture is an after thought on this camera, and I am totally fine with it. Infact, I have mapped the video button to switch between 28mm-35mm-50mm view modes instead, and use it as a camera with no video feature. Scroll wheel is very sensitive during playback, jumping between a number of images at once. I prefer using the D-Pad instead.

An Argument for the GR 

This is a niche product and has its share of flaws, make no mistake. And yes, this captures the same field of view as your smartphone. But what you get with this camera is greater quality of images and creative control over the choices you make during the photo taking process.  It does lack some of the fancy bits and pieces that others offer, but it forces you to just slip it in the pocket, without having to worry about carrying small bags and cases. Now, is that not what we all want from a "compact camera"?

Very few cameras leave an impression so great that you decide to hold onto them for the longest time possible, despite the flaws. This is a digital snapshot camera with a heart. And it has definitely captured mine.