The Ricoh GR IIIx is a compact digital camera that’s garnered a bit of a cult following among photographers who prioritise portability and want to do away with AI-hijinks without sacrificing image quality. Released in September 2021, it’s an evolution of Ricoh’s GR series, designed specifically for street, travel, and everyday photography, that still kicks butt in 2025.
I picked one up in June this year and have been using it extensively, including a one-month trip to Australia. I’m super happy with it to the point where it’s become my go-to for capturing city life on the move.
This review reflects our independent and honest opinion. We were not compensated for this review, and we covered all the costs to try the product or service ourselves.
With a price tag around US$1100/€1000/AU$1,500, it features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor, a fixed 26.1mm f/2.8 lens (equivalent to 40mm in full-frame terms), and in-body image stabilisation that offers up to four stops of shake reduction. Unlike bulkier DSLRs or mirrorless systems, the GR IIIx is built for discretion, measuring just 109.4 x 61.9 x 35.2mm and weighing 262g with battery and SD card included.
I decided to buy the Ricoh GR IIIx because I wanted a camera that’s great for city photography, easy to carry, takes great pictures, has near pro-level features, and isn’t a mobile phone. Smartphones are convenient, but they lack the tactile control and optical quality.
After researching options (watching hours and hours of YouTube reviews), the GR IIIx stood out for its reputation in street photography circles, where quick, unobtrusive shooting is key. Ricoh has refined this model with a lens that’s sharper at the edges compared to its older sibling, the Ricoh GR III, which has a wider 28mm equivalent focal length. The 40mm equivalent suits my style perfectly, allowing for more intimate compositions without the distortion of ultra-wide angles. If I need wider or longer reach, I fall back on my DSLR with a 24-105mm G lens.
In this Ricoh GR IIIx review
Portability and Build Quality
One of the Ricoh GR IIIx’s biggest selling points is its pocketable design. It’s small enough to fit in my pocket—definitely not as tiny as a mobile phone—but it slips in comfortably unless you’re wearing skinny jeans, in which case you’ll struggle. It’s nicely weighted, heavy enough to lie steady in your hands but not so much that it’s hard to hold or carry. This makes it ideal for everyday use, whether wandering urban streets or hiking in Australia’s outback. During my trip, I carried it everywhere without feeling burdened, unlike larger cameras that demand a bag.
The build quality is wonderful for such a compact design—it feels very solid. However, the magnesium alloy body is not weather sealed, so keep that in mind. I’m a bit worried about the USB port cover potentially failing over time, and the lens ring comes off easily even after tightening the little screw meant to hold it in place. Beyond that, I love the build. There are also widespread reports of dust ingress issues in the GR series, which could affect the sensor over time, and I hope mine avoids this fate.
Image Quality and Lens Performance
The image quality from the Ricoh GR IIIx is amazing—the lens is super sharp, delivering professional-grade results from a pocket camera. It boasts a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor without an anti-aliasing filter, which enhances detail and sharpness, especially in RAW files.
I find the RAW files look great and are easy to work with, both in-camera and in Lightroom. The JPEGs, particularly with recipes (Ricoh’s take on film simulations) applied, are so good that I very rarely need further adjustments before using a photo. These recipes allow customisation of colour tones, grain, and contrast, mimicking analogue film looks, and there are countless user-shared options online.
The 26.1mm (40mm equivalent) f/2.8 lens is a standout for city life photography. It’s not for everyone—I like the 40mm equivalent because I’m not a big fan of wide-angle. It lets me compose slightly more intimate or cropped scenes, perfect for isolating subjects in bustling environments like Sydney’s streets or Melbourne’s laneways. The lens has nine elements in seven groups, including two aspherical elements to reduce distortion, and it focuses as close as 12cm in macro mode.
Speaking of macro, it works alright, but it’s not true macro—the minimum focus distance is about 12cm, making it more of a very-close-up mode. For low-light scenarios, the maximum aperture of f/2.8 helps, though it’s not the widest in its class.
Focusing and Usability
Focusing on the Ricoh GR IIIx is known as a bit of a mixed bag, but it shines in practical use. The autofocus system doesn’t feel fantastic straight out of the box—it can be a little hit and miss at times. But it works well most of the time, with phase-detection and contrast-detection hybrid AF covering 425 points. Features like Snap Focus and Snap Distance Priority are invaluable in real-world shooting situations. Snap Distance Priority is great when you know your conditions—if shooting landscapes, set it to infinity for worry-free focus. In the city, preset to 2.5 or 5 metres for near-instant snaps on subjects at that distance.
For the best of both worlds, Snap Focus lets you half-press the shutter for autofocus or full-press for the preset distance, providing near-instant focus in a pinch. The touchscreen tap-to-focus-and-shoot is also brilliant, allowing quick subject selection with an instant photo. Overall, these features make the camera highly usable for street photography, where speed is essential.
In low light, the autofocus struggles a bit, which is a common complaint. But again, Snap Focus and Snap Distance Priority will help you out here too.
Sensor and Performance in Challenging Conditions
The 24.2MP APS-C sensor performs reasonably in low light or high ISO conditions, but it’s not a standout for minimal noise. ISO ranges from 100 to 102,400, with good results up to ISO 6400 before noise becomes noticeable. That said, for street, city, or retro-style photography—which is what draws many to this camera—a bit of noise isn’t an issue; it can even add character. If needed, AI noise removers like DxO work wonders.
I’m blown away by the level of customisation—the Ricoh GR IIIx has pro-level DSLR capabilities. Every button and dial is customisable, you can save presets with different shooting settings and controls, and custom recipes let you dial in the exact look without needing Lightroom. The camera also has three-axis in-body stabilisation, which helps with handheld shots at slower shutter speeds, up to 1/15 second or so.
Display, Controls and Connectivity
The 3-inch touchscreen is user-friendly and responsive, with 1.037 million dots for clear viewing. Some people complain it’s hard to see in bright light. Upping the brightness works, though it drains the already so-so battery. Controls and menus are intuitive—I picked them up quickly without much adjustment time. However, I’m concerned about the rear wheel failing; it feels fragile and doesn’t turn smoothly, so I’ve adapted to using other dials. The joystick dial on the back is easy to bump accidentally, leading to a few over- or under-exposed shots when I had exposure mapped to it.
Connectivity is solid via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, allowing image transfer and remote control. Wi-Fi spins up its own network for phone connection, but I’m not a fan of the original Ricoh app—it’s not intuitive. Instead, I paid a couple of Euros for the GRImageViewer app, which is much better for viewing and downloading.
Extras like photo recipes stand out, similar to Fuji’s film simulations, with community-driven options. Recipes apply to JPEGs, leaving RAWs untouched. About 99% of the time, JPEGs are ready to use straight out of camera, but I shoot RAW+JPEG just in case I do want to do a bit of editing later on. There’s also a small internal memory (about 2GB) for emergencies if you forget your SD card, enough for a bunch of JPEGs. Video mode, however, is terrible—limited to 1080p at 60fps with no stabilisation or advanced features—so forget it if you want video capabilities.
Battery performance (and cost-saving tip)
Being a small camera, the Ricoh GR IIIx uses a small 1350mAh battery pack. Consequently, you will only get a modest 150-200 shots per charge in real-world conditions. It’s not too much of a problem to carry a spare battery though, given the small size.
The only issue is, the Ricoh DB-110 is not cheap. But, I have a little savings tip for you, which I’ve taken advantage of myself. The OM System (formerly Olympus) LI-92B battery is the same as the Ricoh DB-110, but can normally be had cheaper. So if you want to save a few euro or dollars or other currency of choice, but don’t want to risk ruining your camera with bargain-priced rip-off batteries, the LI-92B is probably (I can’t guarantee this, of course) going to be a safer yet somewhat lower-cost option.
Overall Experience and Recommendation
The main strengths of the Ricoh GR IIIx in daily use are its small size—it fits in your pocket and is easy to take anywhere—yet it delivers photo quality and performance rivaling high-end APS-C cameras, or even low-end full-frame setups in sharpness. The 40mm prime is perfect for me, but if you prefer wider, consider the GR III or add-on converters for wide-angle or telephoto options.
Drawbacks include the fragile rear wheel, with reports of failures, and dust issues that plague the series. Battery life could be better, and video is a non-starter. Would I recommend it for street or everyday photography? Absolutely—it’s great for city and casual shooting. But it’s not for everyone. Don’t buy if you’re just starting out; use a phone or cheaper camera to learn composition first. Once you’re serious and want a small camera with tons of customisation, tack-sharp images without AI gimmicks, this is fantastic.
In summary, the GR IIIx has transformed how I approach photography on the go. It’s not perfect, but for enthusiasts seeking a discreet, capable companion, it’s hard to beat. If Ricoh addresses the durability niggles in future models, it’d be even better.
