Ricoh GRIIIxRicoh GRIIIx

This blog post is a reflection on the usability of my Ricoh GR IIIx for street photography. I bought the camera in August 2022, but I hadn’t truly put it through its paces until a recent trip to Edinburgh in mid-July.

I chose this pocketable compact camera mainly for its small size. From experience, I’ve found that if you're trying to take candid photos of strangers, pointing a larger camera in their face is a sure way to ruin that "fly on the wall" approach you’re aiming for.

Early Street Photography Experience

I first dipped my toe into street photography in 2013 during a trip to China, visiting both Shanghai and Beijing—two vast urban environments where photographing people became a natural choice. I used my Canon 5D III on that trip, a real workhorse over the years. I still use it occasionally, but for street photography, it’s simply too heavy—especially paired with the 24–70mm zoom lens. It’s also too conspicuous unless you're shooting from a distance with a longer lens.

In 2016, I bought my first mirrorless camera: the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II, a 16MP Micro Four Thirds camera with a 24–80mm f/2.8 lens. The body is very small and light, but the metal zoom lens adds a lot of bulk. While I could’ve switched to primes, I preferred the versatility of the zoom and its focal range. Despite liking the operational layout of the camera, it’s still a bit too noticeable on the street. Image quality also struggles, particularly in low light, and the 16MP resolution limits my ability to crop.

I haven’t given up on this Olympus—it served as a backup in Edinburgh this summer.

Back to the Ricoh GR IIIx

The GR IIIx is light, compact, comfortable to handle, and delivers surprisingly good image quality. It also has a touchscreen, zone focus capabilities, decent autofocus, and a suite of features that make it a powerful little camera. I chose the GR IIIx version specifically for its 40mm equivalent lens, which suits how I see the world on the street—neither too wide nor too zoomed in. A kind of “Goldilocks” focal length. The GR III offers a 28mm fixed lens, but that felt a bit too wide for my taste.

Camera Set-Up for Street Photography

Here’s how I typically set up the Ricoh for street photography:

• Shooting Mode: Aperture Priority (90% of the time)
• Aperture: f/8–f/11
• ISO: Auto (capped at ISO 6400)
• Minimum Shutter Speed: 1/250s (to freeze motion)

This setup ensures sharp images of people in motion and maintains image quality.

As for focusing, I alternate between:

• Centre-weighted autofocus
• Touchscreen focus and snap
• Zone focusing, which was a big reason I chose this camera. Setting a specific focus distance that locks in every time you press the shutter makes it ideal for quick, reactive shooting.

For metering, I switch between:

• Multi-Segment
• Highlight-Weighted (which gives a high-contrast look with dark shadows and well-exposed highlights)

If needed, I use exposure compensation (EV) to underexpose by up to a stop. The EV dial is conveniently located near your thumb, making real-time adjustments easy.

Button customisation is another strength of the GR:

• Fn button: Toggles between autofocus and zone focusing
• Video button: Reassigned to adjust zone focus distance

This custom setup makes switching focus modes fast and efficient.

LCD vs. EVF Experience

The Ricoh doesn’t have an EVF—only an LCD screen. You can, however, attach an optical viewfinder to the hot shoe (which I did), mainly for use in bright conditions. While handy, it’s not super accurate—more of a framing estimate.

Personally, I miss having an EVF. I prefer the immersive experience of looking through a viewfinder, with all the real-time data and framing precision. It helps me feel slightly detached from my surroundings, which lessens the awkwardness of photographing strangers.

This became clear when I used my Olympus again—looking through its EVF, I instantly felt more in control of framing and more comfortable in general.

The Ethics and Emotions of Street Photography

This raises deeper questions about my relationship with my subjects. My approach is mostly detached and non-engaging. I rarely speak to the people I photograph or acknowledge them. That’s the nature of candid photography: it’s reportage—documenting moments in time without interference.

The Ricoh enhances this approach. It has the look of a point-and-shoot camera from the late '90s to early 2000s. It's unobtrusive, devoid of flashy colours (depending on your ring cap choice), and doesn’t scream “professional.” If anything, it makes me look like someone using a cheap, outdated camera—which is exactly what you want to remain discreet and invisible.

Ricoh GRIIIxRicoh GRIIIx

Accessories

Before my Edinburgh trip, I picked up two accessories:

1. External Viewfinder (Ricoh GV-3)
   Ricoh GV-3 Viewfinder
   Useful in bright light but somewhat overpriced. A “nice to have,” not a necessity.
2. Squarehood Lens Hood (from Sweden)
   Squarehood Product Page
   This is a well-made lens hood with anti-scratch glass and glare coating. It’s designed to protect the sensor from dust, a known issue with the Ricoh’s retractable lens. The only downside: it makes the camera more noticeable. I may not keep it on all the time, but it’s an excellent dust deterrent.

Final Thoughts and Future Gear Goals

The Ricoh helps me blend in—it’s like holding a camera that doesn’t announce itself. It’s small, lightweight, capable, and full of thoughtful features for street and general photography.

That said, I’m considering an upgrade to a full-frame, high-megapixel compact camera. Two models I’m eyeing:

• Leica Q3
• Sony A7CR

Both feature 60MP full-frame sensors. The Leica is fixed-lens (28mm or 43mm versions), while the Sony supports interchangeable lenses.

Leica Q3 vs. Sony A7CR: Pros & Cons

Leica Q3 – Pros:

• Stunning image quality (60MP full-frame sensor)
• Iconic, minimalist design with superb ergonomics
• Built-in 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens
• Fast, intuitive shooting for street work
• Exceptional colour science

Leica Q3 – Cons:

• Fixed lens limits versatility
• Very expensive
• Slower autofocus, fewer features compared to Sony

Sony A7CR – Pros:

• Compact with interchangeable lenses
• Top-tier 61MP full-frame sensor
• Advanced autofocus and subject tracking
• Great for video and hybrid shooters
• IBIS and broad lens compatibility

Sony A7CR – Cons:

• Cluttered menus and less intuitive ergonomics
• Less emotional or tactile shooting experience
• Build feels more functional than luxurious

The Leica Q3 is for purists who want to hold something beautiful, simple, and be part of the Leica mystique.
The Sony A7CR is a versatile technical powerhouse—small, fast, and feature-packed.

For now, I’m still waiting for the perfect camera: compact, good-looking, lightweight, with stunning image quality, IBIS, killer autofocus—and maybe the ability to make my dinner and clean the house while it's at it...