This is the most exciting camera release this year for me. Ricoh announced a few hours ago that they will shortly be releasing a new variant of their successful Ricoh GR III pocket camera, the Ricoh GR IIIx. It is virtually the same camera except for a newly designed lens: a 40mm equivalent f2.8. Also buried in the announcement is a new lens accessory and a new viewfinder.
As a big fan of my Ricoh GR (2013) I always wondered what a longer focal length would feel like on the camera. To recap on the previous GR camera, the lens is incredibly sharp and that large APS-C sized sensor provides background blur when needed. Designed primarily for the more niche street photographers, I use mine happily for family documentary work and landscape/adventure photography. For these uses the 28mm equivalent lens works very well, but my 43mm limited lens on my Pentax K-1 is my absolute favorite for capturing family moments. When a 40mm Ricoh GR was rumored early this year, my ears perked up.
Assuming the Ricoh GR IIIx new lens maintains the same stellar image quality as the prior models, I think we will have a keeper. I actually think it was a really smart idea to release an almost identical camera to the GR III. For one, there’s not much wrong with the GR III in most fans eyes. The things that people do gripe about (battery life, video quality, etc) would take much more redesign and development. By releasing the GR IIIx with a new lens, Ricoh is giving fans what they have been asking for quickly and with comparatively little investment.
In addition to the Ricoh GR IIIx there are also some interesting new accessories. Most excitingly, the official Ricoh release notes reveal a new teleconverter specifically for the GR IIIx that will take it to a 75mm equivalent* (Ricoh GT-2). This will be the first teleconverter for the APS-C GR variants and I think promises to be very interesting. I own the wide angle converter (21mm equivalent) and the quality is astounding. A new adapter was also announced (Ricoh GT-2) for the teleconverter. It remains unclear to me whether or not you can attach an older GW-4 adapter and the wide angle lens as well, and what effect it would have.
*Update: It’s been a few hours since the release, and the 75mm teleconverter has been further explained in the Japanese language only broadcast announcement. The converter does not cover the full APSC sensor, and thus when putting it on the camera goes into it’s 16mp crop mode, turning the field of view into effectively 75mm equivalent.
Other new accessories for the Ricoh GR IIIx include a new viewfinder (GV-3) and some new leather soft cases.
Time will tell whether the new GR IIIx will be as successful as it’s predecessor. It offers something no other camera does: Jean-pocketable APS-C camera with a 40/2.8 lens. Do street photographers prefer this focal length over 28mm? Or will it become an even more niche camera than the mainline Ricoh GR series? Will people trade out there 28mm Ricoh GR, or decide they now need both? Your guess is probably better than mine, so I’ll leave my opinion here silent for now.
As for myself, I will seriously consider picking one up sooner rather than later. A rare thing if you follow me and understand I’ve never bought a camera newer than two years old. Family documentary photography is the photography that matters most to me, and this camera looks like it will have everything I love and 12mm more.
I have never used a Ricoh GR, but I certainly see the appeal! The 40mm focal length would be a big reason for me to seriously consider purchasing. My first prime lens was a 50mm, then I picked up a 28mm. The 28mm stayed on my camera 75% of the time. That was until I acquired a 35mm in the last year and that is my current go-to focal length. I think 40mm makes a lot of sense for the GR.
Agreed, that’s a huge statement for you to consider purchasing a *gasp* new camera?! 😅