Ricoh GR, Ricoh’s compacts line longstanding, owns APS – C equivalent to the DSLR but with a very compact size, can fully jeans pocket. Firstly we look through specifications, design, and structure of the unit.
Digital
– Resolution: 16.2 megapixels.
– GR Lens.
– Focal Length: 18,3mm (equivalent to 28mm in 35mm standard).
– LCD Display: 3.0 inch.
– Lcd resolution: 1,230,000 pixels.
– ISO Sensitivity: 100-25600.
– Movie HD: 1920.
– HDMI: yes.
– Size: 117mm × 61mm × 34,7mm (horizontal x length x thick).
– Weight: 215g (body only), 245g (including battery and memory card).
– Battery: Lithium-ion DB-65.
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It can be seen stretching from GR1 aircraft launched the first film in 1996 for the latest current GR. Ricoh’s philosophy remains the same one designed for GR, still 1 compact design with 28mm fixed focal length associated with the arrangement of buttons ensure fast and easy operation has strong support for the photographer specializes in street photography genre.
Not so, according to the trend of digital cameras today, to meet the needs of those who use compact camera, but does not sacrifice convenience image quality, the integration of APS-C sensor really has created one new revolution for Ricoh GR camera, making it the first choice for the photographer worthwhile, for families and for those who need a small camera to wander.
Design and Build Quality
The GR is 4.7 x 2.5 x 1.3 inches (119 x 61 x 33 mm) and weighs about 7.9 ounces (220 g). It fits in a jacket pocket. Inside is an APS-C sensor, the kind you’d normally find in a much bigger camera. The body is plain and easy to overlook, so on the street nobody pays it any attention.
The body is metal. A textured grip on the front gives your fingers something to hold, which matters on a camera this small.
There’s a shutter button, a mode dial and a handful of function buttons you can assign yourself. The 3-inch screen has 1.23 million dots and is fine for framing and checking shots. It isn’t a touchscreen, so tap-to-focus is out. Whether that bothers you depends on what you’re used to.
Lens. The lens is a fixed 28mm f/2.8. It’s sharp and contrasty, and there’s no zoom. That’s a real limitation, and if you shoot portraits or distant subjects it will frustrate you. But a single focal length also forces you to move your feet and think about framing, and plenty of GR owners see that as the point.
Performance and Features
Image quality
The 16.2-megapixel APS-C sensor is why this camera exists. It delivers good detail, dynamic range and color from a body that fits in a pocket, and it holds up in awkward light. Together with the lens, images come out sharp with little distortion.
Low light
The sensor is large, and f/2.8 helps you keep ISO down indoors or at dusk. Noise reduction is effective, and at very high ISO you’ll see noise, but the files are usable for most purposes.
Autofocus
Focus is fast, with little hunting. You get single-point, multi-point and macro modes. It’s quick enough for street work, where the moment you want lasts a second or less.
Shooting modes and customization. Manual, aperture priority, shutter priority and program modes are all there. The function buttons and saved settings let you put your usual setup a button press away, which is useful when you’re shooting quickly.
Flash and Wi-Fi
There’s a small built-in flash, good for filling shadows but nowhere near as powerful as an external unit. Built-in Wi-Fi lets you send photos to a phone for quick sharing.
Battery
You get roughly 290 shots per charge. That’s enough for a day of casual shooting, but if you’re traveling or shooting a lot, carry a spare. The battery is removable and charges with the supplied charger.
User Experience
Ease of use
The GR is quick and uncluttered. The menus are short, the controls respond immediately, and the camera is comfortable to hold even after a long walk.
Playback
Reviewing photos is straightforward. You can zoom in, check histograms, look at metadata, and do basic cropping and rotating in camera.
Travel
This is where the GR is strongest. It goes everywhere because it’s easy to carry, and people barely notice it, so candid shots are easier to get. The metal body handles daily use without complaint.
Pros
Very small and light
Excellent image quality for its size
Fast autofocus
Customizable buttons and settings
Good in low light
Built-in Wi-Fi
Cons
Fixed lens
No touchscreen
Battery life is modest
No 4K video
Verdict
The GR is one of the best cameras you can carry every day. It gives you APS-C image quality in a body that fits in a pocket, and it’s fast and unobtrusive on the street or while traveling. It’s not for everyone. You give up zoom, a touchscreen, 4K video and long battery life. If you can live with those, you get a lot of camera for the size, and that’s the trade the GR has always made.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.