Ricoh GR Pro Reviews

As much as we like to save money, the Coolpix A is a better overall camera than the Ricoh GR. The Nikon’s images are sharper and colors more accurate. The fact the Coolpix has built-in image stabilization while the GR does not is definitely a factor. Also the lack of a focus ring takes away half the fun of shooting with an enthusiast camera. The Ricoh can take solid photos with enough light but in dim settings it doesn’t have the ISO chops of the Nikon. We’ll give Ricoh credit for making the effort in the growing large sensor/fixed focus arena but Nikon gets the prize in this shootout (Sony’s RX1 outshines them all, but, based on price, that camera is playing in a different ballpark). If the GR were one-of-its-kind, we’d probably give it higher marks. Unfortunately, it isn’t the only game in town. Bottom line – the GR is a fine camera, but the Coolpix A is worth the extra money.

If you're a fan of large sensors and fixed prime lenses, things are really starting to look up for you. For years, your selection of cameras has been fairly limited. This year, that's finally changed, with the debuts in quick succession of the Nikon Coolpix A and Ricoh GR. Both companies have clearly had the same photographer in mind with their creations, and on paper the two cameras are incredibly hard to separate. By reviewing both models side by side, we hoped to be able to come up with a clear favorite. (It's always nice when we can give a clear answer to what's probably our most-asked question: "Which camera should I buy?") As it turns out, though, both cameras are exceptionally close, and capable of turning out great images. Brand preference, then, is likely to play a big part in your buying decision. That's not to say that there aren't areas of differentiation. For one thing, the Ricoh GR is significantly less expensive, lighter, and has a more comfortable body in-hand than does its Nikon rival. It also offers much faster burst shooting, but only if you're willing to shoot in raw mode and live with a dramatic reduction in burst shooting depth. The GR will also likely still be shooting for a fair while after the Nikon runs out of battery. And although we don't see either camera as very well-suited to movie capture, Ricoh doesn't hide its movie mode in the menu system.

A camera with a fixed 28mm lens and no built-in viewfinder is never going to be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're in the market for a responsive, full-featured, understated and pocketable camera that delivers outstanding still images, then look no further than the new Ricoh GR. In a departure from all previous GR models, the Ricoh GR (V) features a larger APS-C image sensor that delivers great results. There's almost no noise from the base sensitivity of ISO 100 all the way up to 3200, with the higher settings of 6400, 12,800 and even to a lesser extent 25,600 all perfectly usable for smaller prints - very impressive for any 1.5x sensor, never mind one housed in a humble compact camera. The tack-sharp 28mm lens and the on-trend absence of an optical low-pass filter both improve the image quality further, with the option of the ubiquitous Adobe DNG RAW format if you want to take control, complete with in-camera RAW processing.

If you've been stroking your chin about buying a fixed focal length compact camera with a large sensor then we're not surprised: the choices in this niche market are limited, while each available option has its limitations. Fortunately the Ricoh GR sits up there among the best of them in - for us it's better than the Nikon Coolpix A on account of its price tag alone. If image quality is number one on your list then the GR sure is a winner and we've been stunned by the super-sharp lens quality. Add in bundles of customisation and it feels like a pro street snapper in use. So what's the catch, why isn't it quite good enough to achieve super-stardom? The autofocus system isn't great - particularly in low-light - while rather clunky manual focus and a battery life that assists in strangling the Ricoh GR's potential are to blame. Image quality is in the bag, there's no doubt about that, but as a full package it falls into some of the traps that its similar competitors do too. That has a two-fold effect - it stops the GR from being a five-star product while simultaneously making it the best of its kind.

DSLR image quality finally comes to Ricoh's well-respected enthusiast compact. The GR retains its predecessor's excellent and customizable user interface, making it a pleasure to use as a pocketable wide-angle photographers' camera. The JPEGs are occasionally a little muted but the Raw files, feature set and lens quality mean it's capable of outstanding results.

It's affordable, it's lightweight, it's durable and has a fast lens with some serious imaging innards. If you're looking for a good camera to take with you on trips or carry around with you all day this is what you’re looking for. If you're a budding photographer looking to learn technique and don't want to blow your stack on a DSLR just yet, you’d be hard pressed to find a better option. Currently, the closest thing to a mirrorless fixed lens camera like this is the Nikon Coolpix A and it retails for $300.00 more. Specs-wise they break down arguably the same, with the GR being a little lighter. Other mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses, like the NEX-3N, are less expensive and less compact. If you want a camera that's nearly as portable as your cell phone that takes infinitely better pictures, look no further.

The Ricoh GR (V) is an impressive upgrade to the previous GR Digital model, with a 16 megapixel APS-C sensor, the Ricoh GR suddently becomes much more attractive, with an extremely sharp 28mm equivalent lens, the camera delivers excellent image quality. It's also available for noticeably less than other APS-C sensor compact cameras, and would make a great pocket camera where image quality rather than zoom is of the highest importance. The Ricoh GR gives you a high level of customisable with 3 function buttons, as well as quick access to settings using the ADJ button. With numerous focus options, including snap focus, the Ricoh GR can be used as the perfect street camera, with a subtle and compact design as well as an ultra quiet shutter we can't think of a more suitable camera. A 21/28mm equivalent optical viewfinder is available and the rear LCD screen can be switched off completely giving the camera the feel of using an 'old skool' film camera, which the original Ricoh GR was. With the new APS-C sensor and impressive image quality the new Ricoh GR lives up to the 'GR' name, and is highly recommended.

The Ricoh GR fixed, wide-lens, large-sensor compact is one of those rare cameras that does just about everything right.

It's interesting to use the Ricoh GR so soon after the Nikon Coolpix A - although both camera set out to do much the same thing, the way they go about it is very different. We'll be looking more closely at those difference - both in operation and performance - in more detail in the near future, but the previous page should have already provided a taste. In common with the cameras it's descended from, the GR offers an awful lot of user customization. Once you've set up the behavior of the ADJ menu, the two Fn buttons and the Effects button, you should find the camera behaves exactly as you want. Or, if your shooting requirements are prone to change, you can register a series of customization presets. The result is a camera that it will take a little while to get the best out of but, like a pair of good shoes, will start to conform to you if you persevere a little. The result is a camera that can be incredibly fast to use, once you've got used to everything it can do. In the meantime, the camera will detail along the bottom of the screen what each button does.