Ricoh GR III HDF Evaluate: Pocket-Sized, Subtle Nostalgia



Ricoh has skilled a lot success within the compact digital digital camera market with its GR collection. Drawing on a prolonged heritage of its GR 35mm movie cameras, the newest digital model is the favored GR III, and inside that, is the GR III HDF. The key change with the $1,067 GR III HDF model versus the unique GR III (or its many iterations) is the alternative of the usual 2-stop ND filter meeting with a pro-grade diffusion filter as a substitute. In any other case, the GR III HDF is comparatively unchanged however I’ll spotlight among the small tweaks concerned. All the things that makes the GR nice is right here once more. They’re compact, understated, and good-looking cameras. Ricoh GR III HDF: The way it Handles The GR III is the epitome of the succesful pocket digital camera that’s even smaller than its predominant competitor, the Fujifilm X100 collection. At its coronary heart, we have now a venerable 24-megapixel APS-C-sized sensor mated to a really sharp 28mm full-frame equal area of view lens. It gathers sufficient gentle with a most f/2.8 aperture and takes completely beautiful photographs, even when the sensor is getting a bit of lengthy within the tooth. The Ricoh GR III HDF makes wonderful photographs however the technical specs are falling behind the competitors. Regardless of its diminutive proportions, the Ricoh GR III has good guide management dials and sufficient customization to please extra superior photographers. New for the HDF model is a change within the shade of the shutter button, which now sports activities a gunmetal end as a substitute of primary black. The menus are useful however not essentially specified by essentially the most intuitive means and there may be nonetheless no change to the again panel show. The GR III HDF nonetheless has the identical 3-axis IBIS as the opposite GR III cameras and the identical 2GB of in-camera reminiscence as a useful backup in case of card failure or forgetfulness.
A brand new silver-colored shutter button is enticing however hardly a significant improve in any means. If I need to do landscapes with lengthy exposures I’m going to make use of a stronger ND filter regardless. I’ve to say that autofocus efficiency continues to be unimproved and a bit of on the gradual aspect. Single autofocusing is first rate and the GR III HDF nonetheless has the preset distance Snap-In focus function which is fast on the road when focusing accuracy isn’t as important. It’s the continual monitoring AF that also struggles to maintain up with the motion however total the GR III cameras focus properly sufficient for many conditions. I do discover the GR III cameras to begin up in a short time which is ideal when a quick seize shot is required. One in all my favourite issues in regards to the GR collection is its 18.3mm f/2.8 lens. It’s sharp and vast, and never a 35. Snap Focus returns on the HDF model and could be useful for seize photographs on the streets. The HDF model brings two new choices in digital camera, though these options will probably be coming to the opposite cameras within the lineup shortly. First, is a zone focusing autofocus mode whereby the consumer can transfer round a bigger AF field to drive the digital camera to focus in a common space. The second is the power to now customise as much as three white steadiness settings full with adjustments to paint temperature and shade tone. You possibly can nonetheless customise any of the preset white steadiness settings as properly. The autofocus efficiency is ok for on-the-street pictures so long as topics are pretty nonetheless.
When it comes to video, the GR III continues to be, sadly, behind every other cameras with 1080p60 video being essentially the most demanding format accessible. A video digital camera this isn’t, and I might enterprise to say that the GR III is just not solely firmly aimed on the stills photographer but additionally sorely in want of updating. Switching the HDF filter on and off with a single button press is the way in which to go. However will you miss having the 2-stop ND filter? Ricoh GR III HDF: Is the HDF Filter Fashionable, or Corny? The GR III HDF goes to shoot nearly precisely the identical as the unique GR III digital camera save for one main change, and that’s to the built-in filter meeting. The usual GR III has a built-in 2-stop ND filter which is born out of necessity greater than it’s creativity because it has a most shutter pace of 1/2,500 second which might create points with overexposure on vibrant days. The ND filter means that you can shoot at f/2.8 with out points on the sunniest of days. Past that, two stops are of restricted use creatively and I might go to a filter adapter with stronger ND filters if I have been taking pictures panorama, for instance. Right here you’ll be able to see a shot with and with out the HDF filter. The impact is normally fairly delicate and gained’t be to everybody’s liking. The HDF filter provides a bit of little bit of glow and romance to sunlit scenes. What the HDF digital camera provides as a substitute is a diffusion filter that harkens again to the gentle focus look of images from my childhood; suppose dreamy marriage ceremony portraits or ephemeral landscapes with a wholesome dose of 80s nostalgia. I’ve to confess, I appreciated the look of among the sunny backyard photographs and inside areas. Any vibrant specular highlights will tackle a gentle glow and highlights will are inclined to blow out a bit of. Pores and skin will probably be a bit of softer and total distinction will go down a bit. It’s a enjoyable search for the occasional shot and Ricoh is banking on the truth that sufficient folks will get pleasure from it to justify the digital camera’s existence. The presence of the HDF filter additionally implies that the digital camera can’t be utilized in vibrant conditions with out utilizing a darker aperture or including extra ND filtration. Conversely, one may use a regular Ricoh GR III and add on a diffusion filter to get primarily the identical look because the HDF.
I just like the HDF filter for the occasional shot however I may actually replicate the look in publish, or go even stronger if desired. A Superb New Characteristic, However A GR IV Would Be Preferable I needed to ask myself if the comfort of getting the HDF useful was price shedding the power to shoot at f/2.8 out within the solar. I’ve come to the conclusion that the diffusion look is enjoyable for the odd shot however might be one thing I might use much less and fewer over time. And sure, you’ll be able to add a diffusion look in publish with many various modifying packages. As a lot as I benefit from the compact GR III digital camera normally, the updates to the autofocus and white steadiness are very minor and I really feel prefer it’s time for a GR IV with extra substantial boosts to efficiency. Regardless, the GR III is insanely common proper now and manufacturing can not fulfill the demand, so whether or not you want the brand new HDF model or not, Ricoh goes to be simply effective. Interiors with numerous specular highlights are place to strive the HDF filter. Discover the haloes round any gentle sources. Are There Options? The Fujifilm X100 V or X100VI can be the modern different alternative for the GR III, however carries with it the identical drawback: they’re nearly unattainable to get proper now. The Fujifilm line is bulkier however has a extra trendy collection of sensors and has means higher video capabilities. The f/2 lens is brighter and the Fujifilm cameras have higher autofocus efficiency, too, however the worth is likewise considerably larger. Ought to You Purchase It? Possibly. The one folks shopping for the HDF model would be the few who discover the subtle look actually interesting or somebody who desires a GR III — any GR III — and is keen to compromise the ND filter.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

dadelios.com
Logo
Compare items
  • Total (0)
Compare
0
Shopping cart