The Ricoh GR II is among a long line of compact cameras that stretches back to pre-digital days. They’ve always been something of a niche offering, not going for mass-market appeal. They’ve been designed more as the kind of thing a pro photographer might keep in her bag as a small, convenient backup that still manages to take great photos. Or as a discreet street shooter, and it’s no wonder that they’ve developed something of a cult following among street photographers. They don’t have all the bells and whistles of some cameras, but they do put an emphasis on image quality and the availability of manual controls.
Like its immediate predecessor, the GR, the GR II has a 16.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and no optical low-pass filter. It has a fixed 28mm f/2.8 lens. There’s a macro button that allows you to shoot close-ups. You can also screw on an external lens to get a wider angle.
I’ve been shooting with the GR II for a while now and taken it with me to Australia, Mexico, Portugal, Myanmar (Burma), and Thailand, as well as having it on me on jaunts much closer to home.
It’s one of those cameras that’s just so easy to throw in your pocket to have with you all the time. To complement the review, here’s a collection of sample images. I’ve included a selection taken under different conditions and with different types of scenes.
For the most part, they were shot in RAW, and generally with the aperture priority mode. They’ve been processed in Lightroom, generally with minimal editing.
I’ve included the exposure settings below each shot, and you can click on each image to open a full-resolution version.
Sample Photos Taken with a Ricoh GR II
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₂₅ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 800 | ¹⁄₁₅ sec at ƒ/6.3 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 160 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 2000 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₆₀₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ 1 ⁷⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₆₀ sec at ƒ/6.3 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ⁷⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₆₀ sec at ƒ/5 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ⁷⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 9000 | ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₇₅₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 800 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ 1 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₆₀₀ sec at ƒ/4 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ⁷⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 400 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 800 | ¹⁄₁₅ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 400 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 1100 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₄₅ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 800 | ¹⁄₂₅ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ 1 ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₆₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ 1 ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/7.1 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 1250 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ⁷⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₂₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₂₅ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 640 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 560 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ⁷⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | 2.5 sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₉₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 280 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/5.6 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₇₅₀ sec at ƒ/5 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/7.1 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 400 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 400 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ 1 ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 125 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 1600 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₃₅₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ⁷⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 800 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 640 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ 1 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₂₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/4 | Exposure Bias: ‒ 2 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₂₅ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ 1 ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 1600 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 800 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ⁷⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₆₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 200 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 800 | ¹⁄₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₉₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | 120.0 sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 280 | ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at ƒ/9.0 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 800 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ 2 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 1100 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 1600 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 640 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/5.6 | Exposure Bias: ‒ 1 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 400 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/3.2 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₁₂₅ sec at ƒ/2.8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 100 | ¹⁄₉₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 560 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: ‒ ³⁄₁₀ EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 10000 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/8 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR II. Exposure details: ISO 25600 | ¹⁄₂₅ sec at ƒ/16 | Exposure Bias: 0 EV
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David Coleman
I'm a professional freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my travel photography here. More »
Thank you so much! You will love Armenia -it’s one the nicest places I’ve ever been. Take care and if you get the GR III please show us what it can do :) I guess I’m not ready (yet) to sacrifice the flash…
Excellent photos! I can only agree about this fantastic camera! I’ve been hesitant for a while due to the hype around but when I bought it, it was love at first sight! Nowadays, it’s my one and only camera that I use for a bunch of things: from street and travel photography to events and sports. Honestly, 99% of my travel blog photos are shot with the Ricoh (https://Letterstobarbara.com) and I can’t think of any other camera that I’d like to have. Thanks for sharing.
Great photos, was these all handheld?
Most of them were handheld, yes. The four exceptions are the last two of the street scene at night and the two shots of Sydney Harbor at night/dusk.
Thanks! And agreed. Although fingers crossed it’ll be topped by the GR III due to be released soon.
Love your shots from Armenia! I’ve not been there yet but hoping to get there soon.
Thank you so much! You will love Armenia -it’s one the nicest places I’ve ever been. Take care and if you get the GR III please show us what it can do :) I guess I’m not ready (yet) to sacrifice the flash…
Excellent photos! I can only agree about this fantastic camera! I’ve been hesitant for a while due to the hype around but when I bought it, it was love at first sight! Nowadays, it’s my one and only camera that I use for a bunch of things: from street and travel photography to events and sports. Honestly, 99% of my travel blog photos are shot with the Ricoh (https://Letterstobarbara.com) and I can’t think of any other camera that I’d like to have. Thanks for sharing.