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Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR III Comparison

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Ricoh GR II

16 MP | APS-C (23.7 x 15.7 mm) CMOS Sensor

Ricoh GR II
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Ricoh GR III

24 MP | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) CMOS Sensor

Ricoh GR III
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Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR III Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing GR II and GR III, two Large Sensor Compact cameras by Ricoh. Both cameras have APS-C sensors but Ricoh GR II has a 16.0 MP and Ricoh GR III has a 24.0 MP resolution. Ricoh GR II was introduced to market in June 2015 and Ricoh GR III was launched in September 2018. As you can see, GR II is 3 years older than GR III. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

GR II and GR III are members of Ricoh's GR series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Ricoh GR Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
Ricoh GR III
2018 24.0MP - APS-C fps 109 x 62 x 33mm 257g
Ricoh GR II
2015 16.0MP - APS-C 4.0 fps 117 x 63 x 35mm 251g
Ricoh GR
  
2013 16.0MP - APS-C 4.0 fps 117 x 61 x 35mm 245g

Here is a brief look at the main features of Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Ricoh GR II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-06-17
  • 16MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 28 mm f2.80 Prime Lens
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (optional) viewfinder
  • 4.0 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 251g. 117 x 63 x 35 mm
  • Replaced Ricoh GR Compare

Ricoh GR III Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2018-09-25
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • 28 mm f2.80 Prime Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 257g. 109 x 62 x 33 mm
  • Replaced Ricoh GR III Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Ricoh GR II over Ricoh GR III
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Viewfinder
Optical (Optional) vs Optical (Optional) Better framing and control
LCD Screen Resolution
1.230k dots vs 1.037k dots 18% higher resolution screen
Weight
251 g vs 257 g 6 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
23.14µm2 vs 15.28µm2 51% larger pixel area
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices


Reasons to choose Ricoh GR III over Ricoh GR II
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max Sensor Resolution
24 MP vs 16 MP 50% more pixels
Max ISO
102.400 vs 25.600 300% higher Max ISO
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds

Common Strengths of Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Max Aperture - Tele
2.80 vs 2.80 Fast lenses at tele
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Built-in ND Filter
Yes vs 2.0-stops Use larger aperture under strong light
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Focal Length - Tele
28mm vs 28mm No Tele reach
Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR III: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Ricoh GR II has external dimensions of 111.7 x 61 x 34.7 mm (4.61 x 3.27 x 1.38″) and weighs 251 g (0.55 lb / 8.85 oz) (including batteries). Ricoh GR III has external dimensions of 109 x 62 x 33 mm (4.29 x 2.44 x 1.3″) and weighs 257 g (0.57 lb / 9.07 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III. Ricoh GR III is 3mm narrower and 2mm thinner than Ricoh GR II but it is also 1mm taller.

Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR III Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III.

Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR III Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III.
Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR III Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Ricoh GR II is 6g lighter than the Ricoh GR III but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

GR II
GR III
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

GR II
GR III
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Ricoh GR II nor Ricoh GR III provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR III: Sensor Comparison

Ricoh GR II has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.7 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features GR Engine V processor. On the other hand, Ricoh GR III has a 24.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Ricoh GR III's sensor provides 8MP more than Ricoh GR II's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

One other difference between these two cameras that is worth mentioning is that Ricoh GR III's sensor doesn't have an anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the GR II and GR III sensor size comparison.

Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR III Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III Cameras


Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR III Lens Specs Comparison

Ricoh GR II features a 28 mm F2.8-16.0 Prime lens whereas Ricoh GR III features a 28 mm F2.8-16 Prime lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 28mm and have the same max aperture of f2.80 at this focal length. Both cameras have a tele angle reach of 28mm and have the same max aperture of f2.80 at this focal length.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

GR II
GR III
Widest - Canon G1 X II
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

GR II
GR III
Longest - Panasonic ZS200
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

GR II
GR III
Fastest - Leica Q
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

GR II
GR III
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Ricoh GR II for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Ricoh GR III for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.7 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Optical (Optional) Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Ricoh GR II for Street Photography

GOOD

Ricoh GR III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.7 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Optical (Optional) Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Optional External Viewfinder
Read the details

Ricoh GR II for Sports Photography

POOR

Ricoh GR III for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Optical (Optional) Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
28 mm Tele Lens
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Wireless Connection
Optional External Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
28 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Ricoh GR II for Daily Photography

GOOD

Ricoh GR III for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.7 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
251g
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
257g
Read the details

Ricoh GR II for Landscape Photography

POOR

Ricoh GR III for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.7 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR III: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Ricoh GR II and Ricoh GR III scores compare:

Ricoh GR II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #40 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #369 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Ricoh GR III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #37 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #347 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Ricoh GR III has a higher Overall Score than the Ricoh GR II and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Ricoh GR II
Ricoh GR II
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Ricoh GR III
Ricoh GR III
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Ricoh GR III vs Ricoh GR II Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Ricoh GR II Ricoh GR III
Brand Ricoh Ricoh
Announced 2015-06-17 2018-09-25
Body Type Large sensor compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C APS-C
Dimensions 23.7 x 15.7 mm 23.5 x 15.6 mm
Area 372.09mm2 366.60mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 4928 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 102,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 9 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28 mm (1x) 28 mm ()
Max Aperture F2.8-16.0 F2.8-16
Macro Focus Range 10cm 6cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 1,230k dots 1,037k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (optional) Optical (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 3.00 m (at Auto ISO) no built-in flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 4.0 fps n/a
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 251g 257g
Dimensions 117 x 63 x 35mm 109 x 62 x 33mm
Battery Life 320 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 80 not tested
DxO Color Depth 23.6 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 13.7 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 1078 not tested
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