Why I’m NOT buying the GRIII HDF from Ricoh
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- The Ricoh GRIII is a wonderful camera for when you need a small, pocketable, discrete camera with an outstanding lens and sensor.
Ricoh recently launched the HDF version of the GRIII at a higher price tag than the original. There are now four models in the GRIII range:
Ricoh GRIII - 28mm Full Frame Equivalent lens, 24MP APS-C (Sony) sensor and a built in ND filter
Ricoh GRIIIX - As above but with a 40mm Full Frame Equivalent lens
Ricoh GRIII HDF - Same as GRIII but with a HDF filter instead of the ND filter
Ricoh GRIIIX HDF - Same as GRIIIX but with a HDF filter instead of the ND filter
In this video I will explain why I love the Ricoh GRIII so much and why I will NOT be buying the new Ricoh GRIII HDF. Or the GRIIIX HDF.
These are the filter accessories I am using:
Nisi GRIII Filter Adapter 49mm amzn.to/3UySb5J
Nisi Filter System for GRIII amzn.to/4aduK7J
K&F Concept 49mm Black Diffusion 1/4 Filter amzn.to/3JTgPcb
Ricoh GRIII Leather Soft Case amzn.to/44xAiZD
Links to some of the gear I use to make videos:
Camera amzn.to/4b7DKwH
Lens amzn.to/3yb7xWH
Tripod amzn.to/4bvsfyN
Key Light amzn.to/3JVBbli
Fill Light amzn.to/3y9D77c
Key Modifier amzn.to/3JQR50i
Fill Modifier amzn.to/3UxCwDD
Background Lighting amzn.to/3QEyHvv
Microphone amzn.to/3UCGc7i
Boom arm amzn.to/4dMpmvB
C Stands amzn.to/3UQxaow
B Roll Camera amzn.to/4bsvS8D
Table Light amzn.to/4bmAOMi
Table Light Modifier amzn.to/3K0MvfL
Tripod Head amzn.to/3URFuUR
These are Amazon affiliate links that help the channel at no additional cost to you.
This video is not sponsored. By anyone. :-)
I believe that the current demand for black mist, high diffusion and other similar effects filters is a passing trend only. Am I right or wrong?
Sorta / mostly. Anything that soften ups the image has always been popular. Especially now that our camera's are so incredibly sharp. But I do think the whole retro and film 'A e s t h e t i c' thing where everybody wants to shoot with an x100v and a diffusion filter using a kodachrome recipe is at peak popularity now.
I do like that retro look sometimes. Not for everything I do though. And sometimes I feel like a hipster when I do it. So I'm more likely to do it for some shots taken in a social setting, less for when I try to do something artistic. Personally I just run my pictures through Analog Efex Pro or Silver Efex Pro if I want a filmic look. Nik Collection is still out there for free from when Google owned the rights to it. Just the later versions are paid (as it now belongs to DxO). Shouldn't be too hard to find thanks to archiving websites. IDK if you can emulate that Diffusion effect perfectly in software though.
Yes, it reminds me of the trend for 'Photomatix' HDR from fifteen years ago.
I’ve owned every model since the grdiii. The apsc versions are great. My own observations are that I found the 28mm equivalent more useful than the 40mm (x). You can always add an ND Filter or a mist. So neither is a deal breaker for me. Mine usually has the filter adapter fitted anyway. Plus a high quality plain filter. I’ve never noticed any image suffering because of it , and I believe it does help keeping dust out. When possible I’ll charge in camera and also download via usb or WiFi. I think the battery door is probably the biggest cause of dust ingress. I’ll generally be shooting at f8 with manual focus set for maximum dof. Not really worried about high iso. ND Filter is set to auto. But at f8 I’m not sure if it’s ever kicked in. In my opinion the touch screen is the best out there, but it’s usually turned off. I mostly use it for landscapes while hiking and the lack of any weather sealing has never been an issue for me. And I do live in a particularly wet part of the country.
If you really must use the video, turn off ibis and use touchscreen focus. It’s a shame the latest versions lost the ability to pause recording. And in good light the video ain’t terrible.
I’ve probably been very lucky, I’ve never had any problems with build quality. Dust yes, on several. Spat my dummy out every time it happened (x3). But soon calmed down because it’s easily lost in post. And last of all my favourite picture mode is the cool version of bleach bypass. But it was most pleasing to me on the GRDiv. Before I lost it I had the Clear view viewfinder from the States. A bit clumsy when fitted but extremely effective. I would get another but they no longer post to GB. My only wish could be sorted with firmware I think. The ability to set up the camera by qr code. Sigma and GoPro have this facility. And because some picture recipes are quite complex and involved this would be a great addition. Just store the codes on your phone gallery and you’re good to go. A big Ricoh fan.
I bought a Ricoh GR III two weeks ago and decided to buy the non-HDF version. Watched some videos about the HDF and that didn't convince me. Very happy with my purchase so far. Also saved me some money 🙂
Good choice 👍
Thanks for this, your experience is much appreciated. Soon to be an ex Nikon d750 user, -my gym membership ran out, like a lot of photographers my age I began with 35mm film, developing in a darkroom. Digital Imagery from the very beginning was a Godsend, because of the time it saved. I've also done the lightroom editing thing for years and once again, its taking up my valuable time. I'm 70 now, so time matters even more these days :-) Great out of camera jpegs sounds excellent to me. I'd rather be out shooting any day. The balance of this model sounds to be exactly what I'm after. A high quality walkabout camera, that still has plenty of creative manual control, -plus the built in ND as a bonus. Your experience of its competitors is invaluable. Many thanks for the enjoyable video!
Glad you liked it! I generally shoot raw with the GRIII but the film simulations on GRIII are very good. There is also an app called Ricoh Recipes (free) has a collection of different simulations that is growing all the time. If you are looking to shoot jpegs with it, those simulations are worth exploring.
My GR iii is battered now - the front lens cover has broken off, there's dust on the sensor and the control wheel doesn't work properly. I did have the GR iii x for about a week too but sent it back, and I still wonder whether I should have kept it or not.
This new HDF thing really does seem too gimmicky for me - but I'm also resisting buying a replacement GRiii / GRiii x because it's been around for so long -- and I wouldn't be happy to buy a camera, only for a new GR iv to suddenly make an appearance.
How many images has your GRIII taken so far? My LCD is showing some strange violet color on the pixels on the left edge, so maybe my screen is about to fail. I am on
@@ThisIsJulianC It's actually under 10,000 and I've had it for about three years!
I had one of those stick-on filters to protect the lens, but it cracked somehow, and when I tried to remove it, I pulled off the entire front of the lens cover.
That made way for dust to enter, but I never pursued a proper repair (was skint at the time, or more accurately, resented the thought of spending money that I wanted to spend elsewhere).
The control wheel is just temperamental, like it doesn't always do anything when I spin it - but I also think that's due to dust getting into it.
Basically, if I replace it (with an 'x'), I'll need to be more careful, probably wrap it with plastic film, keep it in a case and just be a hell of a lot more careful if I put another glass filter on it.
The image quality, however, is still superb and my LCD fine - I just need to 'spot' any dust marks when shooting at low aperture.
You are absolutely right and I am also keeping my two normal Ricoh GR cameras 👍
👍👍😀
Superb advice. Thank you!
I'm gonna buy one and here's why: I just want a new GR III. My current one I've had for a while and I don't know when it'll die, and they're becoming harder to come by (Adorama has a few at the time of this writing, B&H is out of stock). So I'm gonna buy the HDF not because I care about the new filter on it, I just want to have a GR III for as long as possible. One day these cameras will be gone and let's not kid ourselves--a GR IV isn't coming any time soon, if ever.
If you have the current firmware you can see how many images your GRIII has taken since new, that will be a good guide to age in terms of component wear (shutter) rather than years. I gave some thought to your idea, it makes a lot of sense if you are a frequent GRIII photographer. I use the ND more than any other filter, but if I was going to buy a second GRIII like you, I'd look at the GRIIIX HDF. Then I get the 40mm FF focal length and the HDF filter too. I would be more likely to use a HDF filter in a street environment which is also where 40mm comes in to its own.
@@ThisIsJulianC I have almost 28,000 actuations on my current GR III. Which is nothing! But I guess I still want another one. On both my Nikon D750 bodies I have 320k clicks and 292k clicks and they're probably just about dead soon.
thanks for your adivce on helping me to decide which gr camera to get😃
Glad it helped! Which one did you decide on?!
I have an XT-5 . For what i use my camera for i only used and ND filter twice in 1 year or had a need for one. I been wanting a smaller travel camera and Getting the X100VI is not and option since its just a bit small and making it weather sealed and adding a diffusion makes it much bigger (defeating the travel point). But in my case the Ricoh is just the perfect size and i seen people add filters to there camera making it a little more bulky and we are back to square one. Maybe im just the perfect customers where the Mist filter is better use for my case than using ND filter. If i need to use a ND filter i rather use my X-T5. The only thing that has be hold up on purchasing any Ricoh GR camera is the lack of weather sealing on the front lens. "I have no dust on my sensor" " I do have dust in my sensor", both camps swear one or the other and its obvious its better to have it than not. In an ironic twist i think you might have just sold me on a Ricoh GRIII HDF.
Thanks for your comments. I truly love using the GRIII, if you are likely to use a mist filter more than the ND then of course the HDF will make more sense for you. It is still a GRIII so you may well come to like using it as much as I do.
I have read and heard of dust-on-sensor stories but after 4 years and thousands of photos I have not come across it on any of my images.
Thank you for this presentation. Much to consider. I doubt I would use the ND filter (I currently have one on my Fuji x100f which I’ve used once in 6 years. So I’m considering the HDF. That said your point about LR editing & attached filter has me pondering saving the money. I’m going for the 40mm x version. I just don’t shoot that wide. Thanks again.
I use the ND filter but I am not using the GRIII in the way that it was intended, I frequently hike with it and use the ND to slow down water. I do not think more people use GRIII for that. I took a nice waterfall image with it this past weekend using the ND filter. If you are going to use GRIII for more street and urban photography then maybe the HDF filter would be a better filter option for you once the pricing calms down. If I was to replace my GRIII today I would get GRIIIX, I am frequently cropping in with the GRIII and like you I think I would enjoy the 40mm equivalent of the GRIIIX more if I used it. Thanks for your comments and appreciate the feedback.
@@ThisIsJulianC that’s valuable. Much to consider.
I've been thinking about buying a Ricoh GR for a while now. But I can't decide whether to buy a GR III or a GR IIIx.
If I needed to replace my GRIII today I would seriously look at the GRIIIX. Whenever I take my A7CR out for general photography I usually have the 40mm f2.5 on it. I would only replace my GRIII however if something happened to it, I would not simply add a second Ricoh.
The best way to use the GRIII, and the other GR models for that matter, is that you don' take anything else with you. Maybe a couple of spare batteries but that's it. That's liberating when you're used to carrying around a system camera. I think that's the main reason it's so popular. I don't even want to decide what filter to use. In use, it is as close as you can get to invisible. I'm used to covering up the white lettering on my cameras with gaffers tape, because I hate the noisy branding. You never have to do that with a GR.
Agree. And especially on the two batteries, probably the only complaint I have of the GRIII is the terrible battery life.
Hi, Julian can you tell me do you ever get dust problems with this camera?
No I haven’t
I saw on Samuel Streetlife's video that attaching a lens filter above Ricoh GRIII's lens would attract additional reflections - not ideal.
When and what situations do you use the ND filter?
I use the ND for wide aperture bright scenes and water images when hiking. Any filter attached outside a lens and not directly attached to it will have some reflection/flare risk, so it is always a compromise. In my case I use an ND filter more than a diffusion filter.
this is a great video
Thanks 🙏
You are smart... thats why
🤣🤣👍
I'm really hoping GR IV instead of paying another GRIII at prices of 2024 but technology of 2018 😔.
Ricoh historically have had very long update cycles. Not sure what they would upgrade on GRIII to get a GRIV. Sales are high on GRIII still and no one is demanding any video features. Personally I prefer that to the one year upgrade approach of Apple and GoPro.
@@ThisIsJulianC yes i also love the post sale service providing firmware updates and so on. But i do think some stuff could be improved after almost 6 years like better focus tracking, neewer sensor with less noise and a design less prone to dust collection. Also that rear wheel which is starting to have big issues with many cameras...
I don’t wanna sound dumb but if I get HDF if I just turn that off it’s the same as the GR iii???
Correct, except you will not have the ND filter of the GRIII.
@@ThisIsJulianC I would love to know your opinion on which one is more versatile the GR iii or GR IIIx
@@noneyourbusiness2509that’s covered in the video 👍
Nice video. Odd title as I'm not sure if it's clickbait or a pun that never happened.
Thanks. Well I did not buy the new GRIII HDF version, and decided to stick with my original GRIII instead. My only issue with the title is it is too many words 😅
@@ThisIsJulianC Except that you title the video with the name GRII (as in 2) HDF, which is a camera that doesn't exist, and never will - so of course you're not gonna buy it. Thus my double take and thoughts of clickbait. Either way, your video was well argued. Thank you!
You’re right. That was a typo. Corrected now. Well spotted 👍😅