The Ricoh GR is a series of point-and-shoot, or compact, digital cameras made by Ricoh. The GR name was previously used for Ricoh's GR series of film cameras. Like the GR film cameras and Fujifilm X70, the GR digital cameras use metal bodies fitted with bright, permanently-attached prime lenses. In general, the GR digital cameras follow the precedent set by the original GR1 (1996) with lenses that provide a field of view equivalent to a 28 mm wide angle lens on a 35mm film camera.
 Ricoh GR Digital IV (top) and GR Digital (bottom); on both cameras, the trim ring bezel has been removed, exposing the bayonet mount for optional lens adaptors. The optional GV-1 optical viewfinder is visible on the right. | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Maker | Ricoh |
| Type | Fixed focal length-lens digital compact |
| Released | 2005–2021 |
| Lens | |
| Lens mount | Fixed |
| Lens | 28 mm or 40 mm (equivalent) |
| F-numbers |
|
| Sensor/medium | |
| Sensor type | CCD, CMOS |
| Sensor size |
|
| Focusing | |
| Focus | auto, manual |
Specific models include the GR Digital (2005), GR Digital II (2008), GR Digital III (2009), and GR Digital IV (2011), which share similar (small) sensor sizes and lenses; these were followed in 2013 by the GR, which dropped the "Digital" portion of the name and moved to a larger APS-C sensor. Since its release, the GR has been updated as the GR II (2015), GR III (2018), and GR IIIx (2021), which changed the equivalent focal length to 40 mm for the first time.
Overview
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The preceding GR film cameras, released starting in 1996, were popular with Japanese street photographers including Daido Moriyama and the GR Digital line built on this by offering features and settings for street photography.[1] Like the GR film cameras, the GR digital cameras eschew a zoom lens for a fast, fixed wide angle lens.
The first Ricoh GR Digital (GRD, released in 2005) was praised for its "intuitive" control scheme with two dials, similar to a DSLR, allowing direct manipulation of aperture and shutter speed,[2] and "bulletproof, tanklike" build, although the camera was relatively expensive, at a retail price of US$750 (equivalent to $1,170 in 2023).[3] It was fitted with a 28 mm (equivalent) f/2.4 prime lens and small sensor similar to other contemporary compact cameras.[4]
The GR Digital was followed by the Ricoh GR Digital II (2008), with increased resolution and the same lens;[5] the GR Digital III (2009) carried over the sensor and moved to a faster lens, with a maximum aperture of f/1.9,[6][7] while the GR Digital IV (2011) was fitted with a slightly larger sensor using the same lens.[8] For the first time, a sensor-shift system was added to counteract camera shake.[9] They continued to receive praise for build quality and controls.[7]
A year after the GRD III, Ricoh released the GXR in 2010, which had a slightly larger body than the GRD but was designed to accept interchangeable lens/sensor modules, one of which paired a "GR Lens"-branded 50 mm (equivalent) f/2.5 macro lens with a 12 MP APS-C sensor, comparable in size and resolution to contemporary DSLRs.[10] Later that year, Ricoh released another APS-C module, this time with a 28 mm (equivalent) f/2.5 lens;[11] like the GRD series, the GXR had features oriented for street photography.[12][13]
Ricoh released the GR (dropping "Digital" from the name) in 2013, as a successor to both the GRD IV and GXR/28 mm. The GR combined a large APS-C sensor and a slightly slower 28 mm f/2.8 lens with the compact body of the GRD series; where the A12 (GXR) 28 mm (equivalent) f/2.5 lens used 9 elements in 6 groups,[11] the GR 28 mm (equivalent) f/2.8 lens has 7 elements in 5 groups.[14] The GR II (2015) added refinements and updates,[15] while the GR III (2018) was a more thorough overhaul, adding touchscreen controls and sensor-shift image stabilization;[16] the GR IIIx (2021) uses a near-normal 40 mm (equivalent) focal length.
| Name | Image | Ann. | Lens | Sensor | Dimensions | Notes / Ref. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal length (35mm equiv.) |
Aperture | Min. focus | Constr. | Size | Resolution | Shift-IS | Type | W×H×D | Wgt | ||||
| Ricoh GR Digital | 
|
Sep 2005 | 5.9 mm (28 mm) |
f/2.4–11 | 0.015 m (0.6 in) | 6e/5g | 1/1.8" | 3264×2448 (8 MP) |
 No |
CCD | 107.0 mm × 58.0 mm × 25.0 mm (4.2 in × 2.3 in × 1.0 in) | 170 g (6.0 oz) | Anniversary model pictured.[17] |
| Ricoh GR Digital II | 
|
Oct 2007 | 1/1.75" | 3648×2736 (10 MP) |
168 g (5.9 oz) | [18] | |||||||
| Ricoh GR Digital III | 
|
Jul 2009 | 6.0 mm (28 mm) |
f/1.9–9 | 0.01 m (0.4 in) | 8e/6g | 108.6 mm × 59.8 mm × 25.5 mm (4.3 in × 2.4 in × 1.0 in) | 188 g (6.6 oz) | [19] | ||||
| Ricoh GR Digital IV | 
|
Sep 2011 | 1/1.7" |  Yes
|
107.0 mm × 58.0 mm × 32.5 mm (4.2 in × 2.3 in × 1.3 in) | 190 g (6.7 oz) | The last "GR Digital" model.[20] | ||||||
| Ricoh GR | .jpg)
|
Apr 2013 | 18.3 mm (28 mm) |
f/2.8–16 | 0.1 m (3.9 in) | 7e/5g | APS-C (23.7×15.7 mm) |
4928×3264 (16.2 MP) |
No |
CMOS | 117 mm × 61 mm × 34.7 mm (4.6 in × 2.4 in × 1.4 in) | 215 g (7.6 oz) | [21] |
| Ricoh GR II | Jun 2015 | 117.0 mm × 62.8 mm × 34.7 mm (4.6 in × 2.5 in × 1.4 in) | 221 g (7.8 oz) | [15][22] | |||||||||
| Ricoh GR III | 
|
Sep 2018 | 0.06 m (2.4 in) | 6e/4g | APS-C (23.5×15.6 mm) |
6000×4000 (24 MP) |
Yes
|
109.4 mm × 61.9 mm × 33.2 mm (4.3 in × 2.4 in × 1.3 in) | 227 g (8.0 oz) | [23][24] | |||
| Ricoh GR IIIx | .jpg)
|
Sep 2021 | 26.1 mm (40 mm) |
0.12 m (4.7 in) | 7e/5g | 109.4 mm × 61.9 mm × 35.2 mm (4.3 in × 2.4 in × 1.4 in) | 232 g (8.2 oz) | [23][25] | |||||
References
edit- ^ "Digital Archaeology — The Ricoh GR Digital". James Kezman Photo. February 22, 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "Ricoh GR Digital: A Unique Digital Compact from Ricoh". Photo Video i. November 2006. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ Richards, Dan (May 2006). "Pioneer Throwback". Popular Photography. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ Joinson, Simon (August 21, 2006). "Ricoh GR-Digital Review". DPReview. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ "Ricoh GR Digital II". American Photo. May–June 2008. p. 39. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Huff, Steve (January 22, 2011). "The Ricoh Gr Digital III Review". Steve Huff Photo. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ a b Lawton, Rod (September 8, 2009). "Ricoh GR Digital III review". CNet. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Savvides, Lexy (January 22, 2012). "Ricoh GR Digital IV review". CNet. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Diallo, Amadou (September 15, 2011). "Ricoh GR Digital IV Preview". DPReview. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Rehm, Lars; Joinson, Simon; Westlake, Andrew (March 2, 2010). "Ricoh GXR/A12 50mm Review". DPReview. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Ricoh releases A12 28mm equiv. GXR module". DPReview. September 21, 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ "Ricoh GXR Street Photography". Inspired Eye. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Perenet, Jean (17 January 2022). "The vintage Ricoh GXR: A camera system I bought twice". Macfilos. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Butler, Richard (June 20, 2013). "Ricoh GR comparative review". DPReview. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ a b Butler, Richard (17 June 2015). "Ricoh GR II: What's new and what does it mean?". DPReview. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
- ^ Keller, Jeff (February 21, 2019). "Ricoh GR III, with updated lens, 24MP APS-C sensor and in-body IS to ship in March". DPReview. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ "GR DIGITAL Main Specifications". Ricoh Imaging. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "GR DIGITAL II". Ricoh Imaging. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "GR DIGITAL III". Ricoh Imaging. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "GR DIGITAL IV". Ricoh Imaging. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "GR". Ricoh Imaging. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "GR II". Ricoh Imaging. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Specifications: GR III / GR IIIx". Ricoh Imaging. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "RICOH GR III, a high-end digital compact camera, to be exhibited for a preview at Photokina 2018". Ricoh Image Company, Ltd. 2018-09-25.
- ^ "RICOH GR IIIx: A high-end digital compact camera, featuring a newly developed GR lens for high-quality street photography at a standard viewing angle". Ricoh Image Company, Ltd. 2021-09-08.