Ricoh Gr Ii: The Ultimate Travel Companion?

is ricoh gr ii a good travel camera

The Ricoh GR II is a compact, lightweight, and affordable camera with a DSLR-level APS-C sensor, a 28mm lens, and a built-in flash. Its small size and weight make it ideal for travel photography, as it can fit in your pocket and go unnoticed. The GR II has a superior colour JPEG, easy exposure-compensation buttons, and macro functionality. However, it lacks image stabilisation and has average video quality and low-light autofocus. The Ricoh GR III improves upon the GR II with image stabilisation and better image quality, but it removes the built-in flash. Both cameras are highly regarded for street and travel photography due to their size, image quality, and ease of use.

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Ricoh GR II/III's compact size, weight and affordability

The Ricoh GR II and GR III are compact, lightweight, and affordable cameras. They are designed to be highly portable, fitting easily into pockets and small spaces. The Ricoh GR II measures 117.0 mm x 62.8 mm x 34.7 mm and weighs approximately 251 g with the battery and SD card, or 221 g without. The Ricoh GR III has similar dimensions, measuring 109 x 62 x 33 mm and weighing 257 g with the battery and SD card.

The compact size and weight of the Ricoh GR II and GR III make them ideal for travel, street, and everyday photography. They can easily fit into pockets, making them convenient to carry around. The cameras' performance and image quality are also impressive, with features such as high-speed autofocus, built-in Wi-Fi, and RAW image processing.

In terms of affordability, the Ricoh GR II and GR III are priced competitively, offering advanced features and excellent image quality at a reasonable cost. While the exact prices may vary depending on the retailer and the included accessories, the Ricoh GR III, for example, can be found for around $1,000.

Overall, the compact size, weight, and affordability of the Ricoh GR II and GR III make them attractive options for photographers looking for a versatile and capable camera without breaking the bank.

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The camera's ergonomics and ease of use

The Ricoh GR II is a highly ergonomic camera, with its optimal hand size being neither too big nor too small. You can comfortably walk around all day with the camera in your hand without experiencing hand cramps. The camera is also lightweight, weighing just 250 grams, which is only 50 grams heavier than an iPhone and falls within the same weight range as most smartphones. This makes it easy to carry around during travel and ensures that it doesn't add any extra weight. The camera's compact size also means that it can fit into your pocket, making it convenient to take with you wherever you go.

The Ricoh GR II has a simple and intuitive menu system that is easy to read and navigate. The yellow-black user interface makes it quick to change settings, and it offers extensive customisation options. The camera also has an easy-to-use user interface, making it user-friendly and accessible.

The camera's buttons and dials are ideally placed, allowing you to easily change settings such as aperture, exposure compensation, ISO settings, and JPEG simulations with just one hand. The Ricoh GR II also has a fast startup time, so you can quickly turn it on and capture spontaneous moments. Additionally, the camera has a snap focus feature, which allows you to set a predetermined focus distance. This is especially useful for street photographers or when you need to capture a shot quickly.

The Ricoh GR II also includes some additional features that contribute to its ease of use. For example, it has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, making it easy to transfer images to your smartphone. It also has a macro mode that allows you to focus on objects as close as 2 cm from the lens, expanding your creative possibilities. Overall, the Ricoh GR II's design, button placement, customisation options, and additional features make it a user-friendly and ergonomic camera for travel photography.

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Image quality, colour and sharpness

The Ricoh GR II has a superior colour JPEG, producing the best in-camera processing for juicy colours. One source states that the 'positive film' colour preset is the best in-camera processing for vivid colours.

The camera also has a supreme monochrome mode. One source states that they have a strong portfolio of monochrome photos shot on the GR II, with RAW flash, and processed with their presets to yield a phenomenal monochrome image.

The GR II lacks an anti-aliasing filter, meaning photos are far sharper. One source compares photos shot with a Leica 35mm lens to those taken with the GR II, and notes that they cannot really tell the difference from a sharpness perspective.

The GR II has a 28mm lens with f/2.8, which is wide enough for travel photography and excellent for documenting life without shots looking tight. The lens is also insanely sharp.

The GR III also has great image quality, with a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor. The GR III's sensor can deliver remarkably crisp, contrasty, and detailed images. The GR III's lens is capable of tack-sharp images with an impressive, soft bokeh.

The GR III has a 28mm full-frame equivalent fixed lens, which is wider than the preferred 35mm, but the combination of the lens and sensor leaves a lot of opportunities for adjustments in post-production.

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The 28mm lens and its suitability for travel photography

The Ricoh GR II is a compact camera with an 18.3mm F2.8-F16 lens, which is approximately 28mm in full-frame terms. The 28mm lens is a wide-angle lens that is ideal for travel photography as it allows you to capture expansive scenes and landscapes, as well as street scenes and intricate architectural details.

The wide-angle field of view of a 28mm lens offers a sense of immersion, bringing viewers right into the scene. This makes it perfect for travel photography as it adds context to your shots and ensures that no part of the scene is left out, even in tight spaces. The dynamic, real-world look that a 28mm lens provides makes viewers feel like they are there on the street where the photo was taken.

Additionally, 28mm lens options tend to be compact and lightweight, which is ideal for travel photographers who want to go unnoticed and carry their gear all day without being weighed down. The 28mm lens is also versatile, allowing you to capture a variety of scenes without distorting the perspective too much. It is perfect for environmental portraits, street scenes, landscapes, and more intimate shots.

However, there are a few potential downsides to using a 28mm lens for travel photography. Firstly, you may need to get quite close to your subjects to fill the frame, which may be uncomfortable for some photographers. Additionally, composing clean shots with a 28mm lens can be more challenging due to the wide perspective.

Despite these potential drawbacks, the 28mm lens is an excellent choice for travel photography, especially for those who want to capture immersive and dynamic scenes that truly showcase the beauty of their travels.

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The camera's 'dull' and 'boring' design

The Ricoh GR II is a highly capable camera, but its design is rather dull and boring. It looks like a toy camera and is as unassuming as possible. This is a highly desirable feature for street photographers, who want to remain as subtle as possible so as not to disturb the scene they are capturing. The camera is small, compact, and lightweight, weighing just 250 grams. It can fit in your pocket, and its matte-black design is timeless, resembling old-school film cameras. However, its design is not aesthetically pleasing and does not arouse excitement. It is a small, black rectangular box that does not stand out in any way. The Ricoh GR II is a camera that you can take with you everywhere, but it will not turn any heads with its looks.

Frequently asked questions

The Ricoh GR II is a good travel camera for advanced photographers who like to shoot in manual mode and need a camera at all times. However, it may not be the best option for professional photographers who need several shots with different lenses.

The Ricoh GR II is lightweight, compact, and fits in your pocket. It has a DSLR-level APS-C sensor, a 28mm lens, and a fast autofocus in daylight. It also has full manual control and shoots in both RAW and JPEG.

The Ricoh GR II does not have a viewfinder, image stabilization, or low-light autofocus. It also has average video quality and a dust issue that can affect image quality over time.

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