Ricoh GR Review | 108 Data compared

The PCMag UK Ricoh GR review awards the 2013 compact camera an "Outstanding" 4.5 out of 5 rating, praising it as a rare device that does nearly everything right. The review highlights several notable pros, including its highly pocketable design paired with a large, DSLR-sized 16-megapixel APS-C sensor, an exceptionally sharp 28mm equivalent f/2.8 fixed lens, and a speedy overall performance. Additionally, the camera stands out for its deep customizability, efficient one-handed control layout, DNG Raw format support, useful 35mm crop mode, and a unique "snap focus" feature designed specifically to assist street photographers. Conversely, the review outlines a few key cons, which include the total absence of an electronic viewfinder (EVF) option and an in-camera charging system that forces users to plug the entire camera into a wall via a proprietary USB port to reload the battery. Image detail is also noted to suffer under heavy noise reduction at very high ISO settings, though users can manually tweak or disable this reduction for individual ISO levels. Ultimately, the review concludes that the Ricoh GR offers far better value, faster...

The DPReview review praises the Ricoh GR as a groundbreaking, pocketable enthusiast camera featuring a 16.2MP APS-C sensor, a sharp 28mm equivalent f/2.8 lens, and highly customizable controls ideal for street photography. Notable advantages include an intuitive 'Snap Focus' mode and a built-in ND filter, although the camera is hampered by a limited RAW buffer, inconsistent metering, and minimal video functionality.

The What Digital Camera review awards the Ricoh GR a 93% score, highlighting its lightweight magnesium alloy build, excellent one-handed ergonomics, and rapid performance. Its 16.2MP APS-C sensor, which lacks an anti-aliasing filter, produces exceptional edge-to-edge detail and high-quality images, particularly in RAW, with fast shot-to-shot times. Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks, including underwhelming video quality lacking fine detail and an oversensitive metering system that can cause exposure errors. Additionally, the auto white balance often produces too warm tones, and in-camera JPEG noise reduction is overly harsh, making RAW shooting recommended.

The Trung Hoang Photography review highlights the Ricoh GR (and GR II) as an exceptional, pocketable powerhouse for street photography, praised for its ability to deliver stunning, surgically sharp images that rival professional DSLRs. Built around a 16.2-megapixel APS-C sized sensor and a fixed 18.3mm f/2.8 lens, the camera stands out for its highly functional, one-handed control layout. This includes customizable dials and a unique "One Press M Mode" that allows seamless, instant shutter speed adjustments when transitions between drastically different lighting environments occur. Photographers will benefit greatly from the specialized "Snap Focus" mode, which bypasses traditional autofocus delay by locking onto a pre-determined distance, allowing users to capture fleeting moments instantly. Additionally, the camera generates flexible RAW files and beautiful in-camera JPEGs using the distinct "Positive Film" effect profile. Despite its high-quality imaging performance, the camera has several physical and technical drawbacks. Visually, the reviewer points out that its aesthetic is quite plain and unappealing—though this uninspiring appearance acts as a benefit by making the camera completely unassuming and discreet in public spaces. On a technical front, the autofocus...

The 2013 Ricoh GR is a superb compact camera that introduces a large 16.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor without an optical low-pass filter, offering exceptional image quality with a filmic, rich tonal rendition instead of a sterile digital look. Priced competitively at $799, it undercuts its direct rival, the Nikon Coolpix A, while delivering robust magnesium alloy construction, rapid one-second startup times, and an highly customizable control layout designed specifically for photographers. Its 18.3mm f/2.8 fixed lens (28mm equivalent) offers outstanding edge-to-edge sharpness and features a built-in automatic ND filter alongside a convenient 35mm digital crop mode. Photographers will particularly appreciate its legendary out-of-camera black-and-white modes, accurate auto white balance in difficult lighting, and specialized street photography tools like "Snap Focus". Despite its standout performance, the Ricoh GR does possess several notable flaws. On the downside, the camera lacks any built-in viewfinder (electronic or optical) and does not ship with a standalone battery charger, forcing users to charge the battery internally via USB. Its battery life is relatively weak, averaging only 300 to 340 shots per charge, and the autofocus...

The Ricoh GR is a highly compact, street-focused camera that successfully squeezes a large 16MP APS-C sensor into a pocketable body reminiscent of its classic film predecessors. Designed explicitly for photographers, its standout advantages include a fast 28mm f/2.8 lens, exceptional ergonomics, and an intuitive control layout that allows for seamless, one-handed setting adjustments on the fly. Street photographers will particularly benefit from its rapid autofocus, a virtually silent leaf shutter, and the iconic "Snap" mode, which bypasses focus lag by utilizing pre-determined focus distances. Additionally, the innovative TAv mode offers immense practical utility by letting users fix both shutter speed and aperture while the camera automatically scales the ISO to maintain correct exposure. Despite its strengths, the pre-production unit evaluated in this review reveals several notable drawbacks. The wide 28mm fixed focal length requires photographers to physically walk very close to their subjects, which may intimidate some users. From a hardware standpoint, the horizontal rocker switch is overly sensitive and prone to accidental setting changes, while the tripod mount is placed inconveniently close to the battery and memory card...

The Compact Shooter long-term review deems the 2013 Ricoh GR an exceptional, pocketable everyday camera, highlighting its superb ergonomics, sharp APS-C sensor, and fast 28mm f/2.8 lens as major pros. The review specifically praises the Snap Focus feature for enabling fast, intuitive street photography, allowing for in-the-moment shooting without autofocus lag. Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks, including poor battery life requiring multiple spares and sluggish autofocus performance in low-light conditions. Additionally, the lack of weather sealing makes the camera susceptible to dust accumulation on the sensor over extended use. YouTube ·Aditya

The Gizmodo review highlights the Ricoh GR ($800) as an excellent, budget-friendly entry point for aspiring photographers and a solid backup for professionals seeking mid-size DSLR image quality in a pocketable form factor. Weighing just 8.6 ounces and featuring a magnesium alloy body, the camera pairs a 16-megapixel APS-C sensor with a fixed 18.3mm f/2.8 lens (28mm equivalent). Key pros include its ultra-fast two-second power-on time, exceptional sensor detail with minimal moire, and great high-ISO performance that keeps grain clean. Additionally, its highly intuitive physical design ensures controls are easily accessible via the thumb and index finger, making it simple to adjust settings on the fly. However, the review points out several notable cons, particularly involving the camera's exterior parts and focusing capabilities. A major flaw is the loosely fitting lens adapter ring, which detaches so easily that the reviewer lost it out of a pocket during testing. The LCD screen is also deceptively small, making blurry or shaky images look sharp until they are imported to a computer. Furthermore, the autofocus heavily struggles and indefinitely hunts when using macro...

The Amateur Photographer review highlights the Ricoh GR as a compact, magnesium-alloy camera, praising its exceptional APS-C image quality, superb lens sharpness, and functional, ergonomic design tailored for street photography. Key strengths include intuitive handling, rapid operation, and the highly effective Snap Focus mode, making it an ideal tool for discreet, quick-shooting photographers. However, the review notes significant limitations, including a fixed rear LCD with no viewfinder and a utilitarian, unflashy design. Additionally, performance trade-offs include slow low-light autofocus and severely limited video capabilities, such as a lack of exposure control, weak dynamic range previews, and no external audio support.