Ricoh GR Pocket-Size Compact Digital Camera, 16.2MP, Full 1080p h.264 HD Video Recording, 3.0" Transparent LCD, USB, HDMI

2015-10-09T09:54:36

I have had the GR2 for about three weeks now. I will cite the shortcomings first: images are noisy at anything over ISO 1600. Oddly, they seem more noisy than my micro 4/3 Olympus OMD EM1, at the same ISO even though the Olympus has a smaller sensor. Counterbalancing that shortcoming is a very noticeable increase in resolution and detail compared to the EM1. If DXO Optics Pro will ever get around to adding the GR2 files to its list of RAW files, I can deal with the noise effectively, I expect. I find that the files respond well to a good bit of sharpening, but that is a matter of personal taste. I have read many find the low light focusing to be slow, and it is, but not any slower than a lot of compact cameras, I think. The lens is very sharp and the camera can be totally silent. The snap focus feature is very handy for street photography. I look forward to using the camera for travel photography.

Dennis M.

2015-10-09T09:54:35

I have had the GR2 for about three weeks now. I will cite the shortcomings first: images are noisy at anything over ISO 1600. Oddly, they seem more noisy than my micro 4/3 Olympus OMD EM1, at the same ISO even though the Olympus has a smaller sensor. Counterbalancing that shortcoming is a very noticeable increase in resolution and detail compared to the EM1. If DXO Optics Pro will ever get around to adding the GR2 files to its list of RAW files, I can deal with the noise effectively, I expect. I find that the files respond well to a good bit of sharpening, but that is a matter of personal taste. I have read many find the low light focusing to be slow, and it is, but not any slower than a lot of compact cameras, I think. The lens is very sharp and the camera can be totally silent. The snap focus feature is very handy for street photography. I look forward to using the camera for travel photography.

Dennis M.

2014-08-09T21:00:00

Good: Small, customizable, one handed-shooting, amazing IQ, DNG files, strap lug at all four corners, bright screen, comfortable to hold. Bad: No external charger included, could use some more customization options (can never have enough), menus/customization options can be difficult to decipher at times as manual isn't totally comprehensive, moving lens mechanism can lead to dust on sensor, wish it had a built-in optical finder. Overall: I'm pleased and glad to see many firmware updates...hope they keep coming. I'm concerned about dust on the sensor as this seems to be a problem that previous GR series cameras didn't exhibit...costly repair.

SHIMON M.

2014-06-23T21:00:00

The perfect small but powerful camera. A great sensor. Great lens. Great control. Well thought out.

mnhoj

2014-04-21T21:00:00

Perfect digital option for lovers of film.

BRIAN C.

2014-04-09T21:00:00

I really wanted to love this camera, I've had several Ricoh cameras in the past and they were great. Unfortunately, this one has severe color desaturation problems, even when in "Vivid" mode, even using raw. Faces in dim indoor lighting were grey and desaturated. Editing the photo in raw did no good, as there was desaturation, and you cannot bring up the color where none exists. The curtains got redder, the walls got browner, but the face remained grey. The only solution, really, would be to paint a flesh tone over the greyed out face. This, of course, I was unwilling to do, so I returned the camera with disappointment. Loved the blackout look of the camera, and the size, but it would probably ONLY work for black and white shooters.

Marana

2014-03-06T19:00:00

The image quality out of this little camera is simply stupefying. I gave it a "test drive" in the store, but only when you bring this out in the world and start silently snapping away does it show its strengths! I am still astounded on a regular basis with the images that this thing cranks out. The resolution of the screen is a little misleading (you literally cannot check for critical focus because the pixelation obscures any fine detail…) but worry not! Drag your extremely compatible .dng files into Lightroom and prepare for the best. My other cameras are collecting dust as we speak, while I hit the streets and don't think twice with the GR in my jacket pocket. My only regret is that I didn't buy this right when it came out so I could have phased all of my other gear out sooner.

JimBeaux

2014-01-01T19:00:00

I Love love LOVE this camera...so does my Professional photographer husband!!!! (he wants to take it from me, i just know it....! :) the quality is outstanding all 5 stars!!!! You will not be disappointed. Many features i am still learning but VERY impressed with my knowledge so far!!!

Beach g.

2013-10-20T21:00:00

I had the GRD II, before spending a few years with the Pentax K-7, and now I'm glad to be back. So nice to be able to throw this camera in my bag and not even realize it's there. And it takes great pictures, in most cases sharper than the DSLR.

Justin

2013-10-13T21:00:00

Since I have the GR, I have it all the time with me - this is impossible with DSLR. IQ is really great (I find it usable up to ISO 1600, but I would use ISO 6400 if I had to) and what I especially love about this camera is customization. I don't like only two things - no viewfinder (but that's no such big problem, as one can buy an external one, and viewfinder only makes the camera bigger) and battery life.

kenny

2013-10-13T21:00:00

I was looking for a pocketable camera with dslr features and a decent sensor. The GR is it!

rosserx

2013-08-05T21:00:00

I use this for street, documentary, and candid type shots. I really love the feel and how small it is. It easily slips in a front pocket. I love that it has a leaf shutter and can sync with an off camera flash up to 1/4000 of a second. One downfall that I came across today (8/6/13) is that I was on a shoot and the ISO was set at 400. I needed to drop it down to 100 but I could not. I could move the ISO higher but not lower. I did not have this problem before today. I have contacted Ricoh and I am in the waiting process of hearing back from them. It may just be a bug of some sort that can be fixed in a firmware update (hopefully). If not there is a defect and they should replace it. If I had not run across this problem I would have given it a 5 star rating.

SCOTT A.

2013-07-23T21:00:00

Bought this for when i don't want to carry my DSLR around, but want something i can carry that is pocketable. I have been through several small point and shoots and, up to now, have loved the small size but always felt disappointed with the image quality. No more. This camera rivals my Canons for IQ and has more settings than i really need for picture taking. Love the 28mm lens view and the ability to crop to 35mm. Focus is very good and the images have to be seen to be believed for their sharpness. I shoot in RAW and do next to zero sharpening in post processing. When selecting this camera, IQ was first and foremost on my list, and to get this quality and be able to carry it in my pocket just blows me away. I also love the feel of the camera in the hand. It goes everywhere with me.

JAMES C.

2013-07-22T21:00:00

Ricoh GR is a perfect everyday camera. It is small and light, doesn't take up space in your bag. very easy to control with one hand. Color looks great. the camera body is not plastic which makes it feel a lot more sturdier than other camera.

azure

2013-07-22T21:00:00

Fantastic IQ, form factor, flexibility. Low-light AF leaves a bit to be desired. Highly recommend.

ecco5

2013-07-01T21:00:00

The image quality is astonishing, really sharp, equal to my 5D mk iii easily. And even though it looks like it won't fit, it goes into my jeans pocket no trouble. Only downside is finicky focus, still getting the hang of it. And that you can't get an additional battery for it yet, there're still out of stock. If you shoot a lot, you WILL NEED this extra battery.

STEVEN F.

2013-06-25T21:00:00

Image quality is very good and overall the camera is very compact, has very good external control, and is pocketable. Focus is quick enough to not be any concern at all most of time, but will occasional hunt in low light, and not achieve focus sometimes in macro. I have had two occasions where the camera locked-up, for which I had to momentarily remove the battery to restore operability. I also do not understand the logic behind not having the fastest shutter speed available at maximum aperture, as isn't this exactly when you would want it. So some quirks, but overall the more I use it the more I like it.

Jeff m.

2013-06-18T21:00:00

This camera is amazing, pure and simple. Ricoh's control interface is a joy to use, once you get used to it, and have customized it to fit your needs, which DOES take awhile I must admit. But once you've got the hang of it, you'll wish every camera was a Ricoh. Images are sharp and beautiful, and great ISO performance, all in a light, portable package, which is exactly what I wanted. I now take this camera everywhere, and I've taken more photos with it in the last two weeks than with my DSLR in the last 6 months. Cons: This camera is fantastic for my needs, but it's not perfect. The autofocus is slow in low light, and you'll pretty much want to put it on center-point focus and leave it there. The SOOC jpegs are decent, but dom't have the vibrancy or excellent noise reduction of companies like Fuji or Olympus. Color accuracy isn't always perfect either. But if you shoot RAW like me, it's no issue, and even for jpeg shooters it's not a big deal, because you can correct a lot of these issues in camera by changing noise reduction settings, color vibrancy, etc. for your jpegs. Overall, I still give it 5 stars because you sacrifice very little for what you gain with this great little camera.

Ricoh S.

2013-06-16T21:00:00

Street Photography, Architecture/Landscapes, Travel. This camera is fantastic. Smallest camera to feature APS-C sensor, excellent built quality, but what separates the GR from the competition are the menus and ergonomics. All the controls at your right thumb's disposal with a straight forward user interface and professional settings (well, minus the effects modes but those are still fun, regardless). Everything is customizable, down to what particular icons are shown on the LCD screen to two customizable function buttons or even if the power button illuminates or not while on. There is a minor nuisance as stated by others in regards to the auto focus lag in dim light. This is, by some part, due to the contrast detection (rather than phase detection found on DSLR - size being the factor) but I foresee Ricoh issuing a firmware update to issue some of this lag in the near future (Ricoh is quite good at functional firmware updates every six months or so for the life of the camera - two years until a new model is issued. Another benefit of owning a Ricoh GR). Huge fan of this camera, just take a few pictures with it and you will see how great it is taking photographs using a camera engineered and created by a company who consist of passionate photographers themselves.

TYLER A.

2013-06-10T21:00:00

How you use the product - camera that is always with me, low key documentary photos, family photos, travel. Things that are great about it - size (truly pocketable), features and customization (allows DSLR like usability), high ISO and dynamic range (compared to previous versions of GR). Things that aren't so great about it - AF is a little slow esp. in low light, high ISO could be better after 1600 (still, this is currently the best high ISO performer for the size)

DMITRY K.

2013-06-10T21:00:00

the best street camera fast af-in good light- and snap mode af hunts in dim, flat light (reason for 4 stars only) great sensor and fantastic lens high speed sync Ricoh got it right with this one

GERHARD Y.