Review: Ricoh GR IIIx Compact Camera for Travel

The Ricoh GR IIIx is a highly capable and incredibly portable compact camera, well-suited for travel photography. It features a 24 megapixel APS-C sensor paired with a 40mm equivalent f/2.8 lens. We named its older sibling, the ‘Pocket Rocket’ Ricoh GR III, in our list of the best compact cameras—and the GR IIIx is just as impressive. 

The GR IIIx delivers exceptional image quality, sharpness and low light performance in a remarkably tiny and pocketable body. 

This Ricoh GR IIIx review will cover:

• The Main Standout: 40mm Ricoh Lens

• Usability and Handling

• Shooting with Snap Focus

• APS-C Sensor and Image Quality

• The Ricoh GR IIIx Compared to Smartphones

• Ricoh GR IIIx Sample Images

• Ricoh GR III vs GR IIIx: Which Should I Buy?

Ricoh GR IIIx Key Specs

• 24-megapixel APS-C sensor

• 40mm-equivalent f/2.8 fixed lens

• Built-in ND-filter

• Built-in 3-axis image stabilisation system

• Hybrid phase-detection and contrast-detection autofocus

• 262g

Pros

• Truly pocketable size

• Extremely lightweight

• Lightning-fast start-up speed

• Wonderful optics

• Image stabilisation

• Magnesium alloy body

Cons

• No viewfinder

• No weather-sealing

• Battery life not the best

The Main Standout: 40mm Ricoh Lens

The key differentiating factor between the Ricoh GR III vs GR IIIx is that the Ricoh GR III has a 28mm-equivalent lens, while the GR IIIx has a 40mm-equivalent lens. Why is this difference in focal length significant for photographers? There are a couple of reasons.

First, the 40mm lens provides a slightly tighter field of view. This is better for environmental portraits and street photography, where you may want to isolate subjects more effectively.

Second, the 40mm focal length is an excellent compromise between wide-angle and the ‘standard’ 50mm perspectives. A 40mm lens offers a natural, nearly distortion-free rendering that closely matches the human field of view. Perfect for any photographer looking for a ‘naturalistic’ way of shooting. 

In terms of lens quality, the lens on the GR IIIx is exceptional. The lens is perfectly designed for this camera's sensor, and the photos are so sharp and detailed. It is a remarkable combo. Even shooting wide open at f/2.8, the lens is tack-sharp. 

The 40mm lens on the Ricoh GR IIIx makes it an incredibly versatile and portable setup.  The camera’s lens is well-suited for travel, street and environmental portraiture—and even some landscape photography—while maintaining excellent image quality in a discreet package. The lens is truly the Ricoh GR IIIx’s standout feature. 

Usability and Handling

The Ricoh GR IIIx is designed with excellent usability and handling in mind. The camera is a joy to operate, especially for one-handed shooting. 

The camera features a solid magnesium alloy body, which feels reassuringly sturdy yet remains highly portable at just 257g. Its compact dimensions (109.4x57.6x35.5mm) allow it to slip easily into a jacket pocket or small bag. For a camera that produces such high-quality images, we can only marvel at how small it is. 

Battery Life

The GR IIIx's battery life is only rated at approximately 200 shots per charge, so we recommend carrying spare batteries. 

Smaller cameras usually mean smaller batteries, so you'll have to compromise on battery life. However, we think Ricoh made the right decision to prioritise the camera's portability. In any case, most photographers are used to carrying around spare batteries.

Customisation

The GR IIIx offers extensive customisation options. You can assign most buttons and dials to preferred functions.  On the top dial, there are also dedicated customisable ‘U’ buttons. These allow photographers to tailor the camera's operation to their specific shooting styles. We found the customisation options most useful for street photography, as you can quickly switch between different exposure and focus modes. 

The textured rear dial falls naturally under the thumb. You can use the rear dial to adjust key settings—like aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation—with ease. Ricoh offers an optional metal thumb grip, which you can attach to the hot shoe mount for enhanced grip and stability. We highly recommend the thumb grip for an even better shooting experience. 

Shooting with Snap Focus

The Ricoh GR IIIx features a handy snap focus mode, which can greatly aid street and travel photographers in capturing fleeting moments.

The snap focus function allows the user to pre-set a fixed focus distance. Simply turn the focus ring on the lens, or press the snap button on the camera body. Once set, the camera will instantly focus at that pre-determined distance—whenever the shutter button is pressed, and with no autofocus delay.

This instant manual focus is incredibly useful for candid street photography, where subjects are constantly moving and lighting conditions can vary. By pre-focusing at a common shooting distance, like five metres, photographers can react quickly and capture decisive moments—without waiting for the autofocus to acquire focus lock.

Snap focus mode is also beneficial when shooting from the hip, or at awkward angles where you can’t see the screen. With focus pre-set, users can frame and shoot simply by pointing the camera. 

APS-C Sensor and Image Quality

Let’s talk about the sensor and image quality on this pocket rocket of a camera. It is equipped with a 24 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor. Most similarly-sized cameras—like the Canon G5 X II—opt for a much smaller 1-inch sensor.  Ricoh has managed to squeeze in a much more capable sensor, and it honestly shows.

Why are APS-C sensors better than 1-inch sensors? You get much better low light performance, dynamic range and resolution. And, with the GR IIIx, you get those benefits in a very small body, plus a very useful built-in ND filter to help with bright sunlight you are likely to encounter whilst travelling.

We were particularly impressed by the GR IIIx’s low light capabilities, which are a traditional weakness of compact cameras of this size. We found that you can reliably shoot up to ISO 6400 without noticing much noise at all. Even beyond ISO 6400, where grain is more present, the grain doesn’t look too bad. With Lightroom and other software getting better at noise reduction, you can more confidently shoot at high ISOs if you want to, but be careful with it. 

JPEG

Straight out of the camera, the Ricoh GR IIIx impresses with its excellent colour rendering. The images exhibit natural, accurate hues. They’re pleasingly saturated, without appearing overly punchy or exaggerated. This faithful yet visually appealing colour science is ideal for travel photographers. If you’re on the go and don’t have time to edit, the GR IIIx JPEGs offer a refined look, straight from the camera.

But the GR IIIx's versatility extends beyond just standard colour photography. The camera also offers a wide array of black-and-white picture profiles, which allow users to dial in their preferred monochrome look. In camera, you can achieve anything from soft and subtle contrast to bold, high-contrast styles.

RAW

When shooting in DNG RAW format, the GR IIIx's sensor really shines and we get the best dynamic range out of the camera. The DNG files exhibit a slightly darker baseline exposure, with richer colours compared to its standard JPEG output. The exposure provides an excellent foundation for dramatic editing and post-processing. We were able to recover a significant amount of highlight detail, which would have been irretrievably blown out had I relied solely on the JPEGs. 

Overall, while its compact size might suggest modest performance, the GR IIIx punches well above its weight in terms of image quality. Low light, high ISO shooting, dynamic range, and fine detail rendition are all a cut above what's expected from a pocketable camera.  The GR IIIx rivals the quality of much larger and more expensive interchangeable lens systems. This imaging prowess is a key strength and makes the GR IIIx so appealing to travel photographers.

The Ricoh GR IIIx Compared to Smartphones

Smartphone cameras are improving, but there are a few inherent weaknesses in their design. While smartphone technology aims to address these weaknesses, standalone cameras are at a natural advantage.  

For example, the GR IIIx has a much larger sensor and a far better lens. These factors enable a much higher image quality, more control and greater creative options than a smartphone. 

Usually, a smartphone is smaller and more convenient than a traditional camera. However, the GR IIIx is even smaller than many flagship smartphones. It's easy to pull the GR IIIx from your pocket and start photographing. 

Overall, thanks to its size, sensor and lens, the Ricoh GR IIIx is superior to practically any smartphone as a photography tool.

Ricoh GR IIIx Sample Images

Vibrant Colour

The Ricoh colour science strikes a great balance between punchiness and realism, never appearing overdone or exaggerated. Reds, blues and greens have a rich, saturated quality that gives photos an almost three-dimensional feel. 

Skin tones also render beautifully warm and lifelike. Even in challenging mixed lighting situations, the GR IIIx maintains impressively consistent colour fidelity without odd tint shifts. 

With a little editing, you can get some really amazing colours from the Ricoh GR IIIx. Just look at these delicious bubblegum colours!

Overall, the brilliant yet nuanced colour performance is a real strength. The GR IIIx's photos look dynamic and eye-catching, with minimal processing required from the photographer.

Macro Mode

With Macro Mode enabled, the GR IIIx can focus down to an impressively close 10cm—just under 4 inches—from the front of the lens. The macro mode allows photographers to get up close and personal with tiny subjects like flowers, insects and textures, as well as any other details that would otherwise be missed.

Perhaps best of all, activating Macro Mode on the GR IIIx is simply a case of twisting the focus ring to the closest setting. You don’t need to use the menus or press any buttons. This intuitive, hands-on control makes it easy to quickly switch between standard and macro focusing as needed.

Ricoh GR III vs GR IIIx: Which Should I Buy?

The key difference between the Ricoh GR III and GR IIIx lies in their lens focal lengths. The GR III features a wider 28mm equivalent, while the GR IIIx has a 40mm equivalent lens. So, really, it comes down to which focal length you prefer.

The GR III, with its wider lens, is more suitable for landscapes and cramped interiors. The GR IIIx's longer 40mm reach is a better fit for portraits, street photography and a more classic field of view.

Beyond the lens differences, the GR IIIx also features slightly improved autofocus tracking performance and image processor to the GR III. But they are marginal differences, which you’ll likely not notice. 

Both the Ricoh GR III and IIIx compete with other premium compact cameras—like the Fujifilm X100V, which sports a 35mm equivalent f/2 lens as a middle ground between Ricoh's two offerings. See our Fujifilm X100V review for more. 

Also in this class are the Sony RX100 VII and Canon G5 X II, which have more versatile features like zoom lenses and much better video. 

Ultimately, by offering two distinct focal lengths in a pocketable package, Ricoh caters to different photographers' needs and preferences within the premium compact camera category.

Who Might Buy the Ricoh GR IIIx?

The Ricoh GR IIIx isn't a do-it-all camera. For a more well-rounded setup, you'll want a much bigger DSLR or mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses.

However, the GR IIIx is a tool that excels at specific genres. Street photographers will absolutely love its discreet, unobtrusive compact body paired with the ability to capture fantastically sharp images straight out of the camera. Travel and landscape shooters who prioritise portability will also be well-served by the GR IIIx's pocketable form factor. Features like the built-in ND filter and efficient image stabilisation further enhance its appeal as a compact, go-anywhere camera that reduces the need for bulky tripods.

Ultimately, as our Ricoh GR IIIx review has shown, it represents a tailored and excellent experience. The GR IIIx is an outstanding tool for photographers who want good image quality and a decent prime lens in a truly compact form factor.  

Looking for more travel photography content?

This article is part of the MPB Guide to Travel Photography, our comprehensive look at the travel photography genre with advice, recommended camera equipment and interviews with some of the most exciting travel photographers today.