Ricoh GR III ISO Range Examples

The Ricoh GR III has an ISO range from 100 to 102400. Here are some high-resolution practical examples of how that translates in real-world shooting.

Ricoh GR III
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The Ricoh GR III has an ISO range from 100 to 102400. That very broad range is one of several upgrades from the GR II—the previous model, the GR II, had a shorter ISO range that maxed out at ISO 25600. It sure sounds like an impressive upgrade—102400 is the same upper limit that Sony’s flagship models have, for instance.

But while the ISO numbers give you a good sense of the light sensitivity of the sensor, it doesn’t tell you anything about the image quality that comes out on the other end. There can be large variations between cameras. And as you climb further up the ISO ladder, image degradation such as image noise, lower dynamic range, and shifting colors become more and more noticeable.

So, where is the practical limit where the image degrades too much to be useful? There’s no right answer to that—it’s going to vary by photographer preference, scene, and intended use. My threshold might be different if I’m shooting for a magazine editor than if I’m shooting for personal use, for instance.

If it comes down to getting the shot or not, I’m willing to live with much more image noise. Ditto if I’m converting to black and white. But for everyday shooting with the GR III, ISO 20000 is probably my practical upper limit. Beyond that, the noise just becomes too intrusive for my tastes. But that’s going to come down to personal preference, and one of the great strengths of the GR III—and the entire GR range, for that matter—is that it’s so flexible to accommodate a wide range of tastes and preferences and shooting styles.

For many street shooters to whom the GR III would appeal, for instance, technical image quality is much less a priority than catching an interesting moment or story. And, after all, I’d much rather have those high-end options available than not.

But that’s why I’m posting these examples here: in case anyone wants to get a sense of what images from the GR III look like at particular ISOs.

Unlike some cameras, the Ricoh GR III doesn’t make an explicit distinction between the sensor’s native ISO range and an extended ISO range, and it’s not immediately clear where the threshold is between the sensor hardware’s native sensitivity and where the camera’s built-in processing engine takes over to apply a software-powered boost. But if you shoot in the very high ISOs, you’ll quickly notice that the image quality drops off markedly at the top end, with much more image noise, much less dynamic range, and much less accurate colors.

Ricoh GR III Compact Camera
  • 24 MP CMOS Sensor with accelerator unit helps achieve remarkable image quality; 3 Axis; 4 Stop Shake...
  • 3 inches Air gapless Capacitive Touch LCD Screen makes controlling the GR III event easier with complete...

Ricoh GR III ISO Range Performance Tests / Practical Examples

Here are some practical examples of the performance throughout the ISO range. I’ve previously posted some examples focusing specifically on the high-ISO performance (ISO 6400 and above). You can find that post here.

This is a scene I often use for its smooth tonal gradations, from highlights to shadows and colors that can really show up any ISO problems.

There are some things worth noting when looking at these. Like most cameras, the GR III applies noise reduction to its JPG images. By default, at least—it is possible to turn it off. That noise reduction setting also applies to the JPG thumbnail previews that are embedded within the DNG RAW files, but it doesn’t have any effect on the underlying RAW data.

In taking these shots, I used the RAW+JPG setting with the default noise reduction. I haven’t done any post-processing on these—they’re just as they came directly out of the camera. But the versions you see below were generated directly from the JPG files, so you’re seeing the effect from the camera’s built-in image processor.

You can click on each image to open a full-size version for a closer look. You can also use the links in each caption to download the original, untouched JPG and DNG versions. The JPGs are around 1.5MB; the DNGs range from around 30MB to 45MB.

Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 100. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 125. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 160. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 200. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 250. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 320. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 400. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 500. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 640. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 800. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 1000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 1250. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 1600. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 2000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 2500. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 3200. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 4000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 5000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 6400. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 8000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 10000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 12800. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 16000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 20000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 25600. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 32000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 40000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 51200. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 64000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 80000. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG
Ricoh GRIII ISO Range Sample Images
This photo was taken with a Ricoh GR III at ISO 102400. Download original RAW (DNG) file | Download original JPG

Price & Availability of the Ricoh GR III

Check the current price and availability of the Ricoh GR III at:

Ricoh GR III Compact Camera
  • 24 MP CMOS Sensor with accelerator unit helps achieve remarkable image quality; 3 Axis; 4 Stop Shake...
  • 3 inches Air gapless Capacitive Touch LCD Screen makes controlling the GR III event easier with complete...

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2023-09-26 at 15:47. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Ricoh GR III Accessories & Replacement Parts

Here are the model numbers of some of the core accessories and replacement parts for the Ricoh GR III.

Ring Cap

The ring cap is the small plastic ring that attaches around the lens. Chances are, it’s fallen off. While you do have to remove it to attach the lens adapter, it’s a poor design that tends to fall off and get lost far too often. I’ve lost a couple of them now.

The camera will work just fine without it. But that will leave some contacts exposed around the lens barrel, which isn’t ideal.

The official replacement part is overpriced. But you can also pick up much less expensive aftermarket versions. They’re also available in different colors, so you can bling up your camera with a personal touch—or make it look like the Street Edition.

Metal Ring for Ricoh GR III GR3 GRIII Camera, Anti-Lost Spare Accent Ring...
  • 【Compatibility】: Designed for Ricoh GRIII (only).This decoration ring is made of high quality...
  • 【Easy to use & Protector】:Easy installation and removal and Protects lens barrel exterior.

USB Cable

The GR III has a USB Type-C connector port. When you get a cable, you can get them with another USB Type-C connector on the other end or a more traditional USB Type-A connector. Which you choose depends entirely on what you’re plugging into. For example, some newer laptops only have USB-C, while most other computers have USB-A.

Anker USB C Cable, [2-Pack, 6ft] Premium Nylon USB A to USB C Charger Cable...
  • The Anker Advantage: Join the 50 million+ powered by our leading technology.
  • Enhanced Durability: Improved construction techniques and materials make a cable that lasts 12× longer.

Battery & Charger

It’s a rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated at 3.6V 1350mAh 4.9Wh.

There are some other cameras that also use the same battery—notably, some Olympus cameras (the Olympus model number for the same battery is LI-90B). So they’re quite widely available. You can get the official Ricoh version. There are also aftermarket versions that can be much better value but work just as well.

Wasabi Power DB-110 Battery (2-Pack) and Charger for Ricoh GR III, GR IIIx,...
  • COMPATIBILITY - Works with these popular Ricoh cameras that use DB110 batteries: Ricoh GR III, Ricoh GR...
  • BATTERY & CHARGER SPECS - Premium Grade-A cells rated at 3.7V, 1300mAh for longer run-time and battery...

You can charge the battery in the camera (using a USB-C cable). There are also external battery chargers available. They’re especially useful if you’re using spare batteries, so you can charge and shoot simultaneously.

This is used to power the camera for longer shoots, such as time-lapse, or if you happen to be using the camera for live streaming as a webcam. It connects via the camera’s USB-C port.

Wide-Angle Conversion Lens

  • Wide-Angle Lens: GW-4
  • Lens Adapter: GA-1

Ricoh has produced a wide-angle conversion lens that takes the standard 28mm view down to a 21mm (in 35mm equivalent). While it does add some extra bulk to an otherwise small camera, it works well and adds a more dramatic, wider view. I have an in-depth review of it separately.

Something to be aware of, though, is that you will also need to pick up the lens adapter separately. For reasons I really don’t understand, the wide-angle conversion lens doesn’t come with the adapter, and both are required to make it work. So make sure you pick up one of those at the same time.

Remote Shutter Releases

  • Wired Shutter Release: CA-3

This is the official Ricoh remote shutter. It connects to the camera via a USB cable, and it’s a simple shutter release (i.e., there’s no timer or intervalometer).

You can also find aftermarket shutter releases for the GR III.

JJC Camera Shutter Release Cable Remote Control for Ricoh GR IIIx GR III GR...
  • Easy to operate, Half-press to focus, Full-press to shoot
  • Fits macro photography well, eliminates camera shake

External Viewfinders

  • Standard External Viewfinder: GV-1
  • Mini External Viewfinder: GB-2

The Ricoh GR III doesn’t have a built-in viewfinder. But they make two versions of an external viewfinder that slides into the camera’s hot shoe. It covers both the standard 28mm view as well as the 21mm view if you’re using the wide-angle conversion lens. There’s also a mini viewfinder; that model seems to be hard to find.

Screen Protector

The back screen of the GR III is quite exposed, and if you lie the camera on its back, the screen comes in contact with the surface. Even if you’re putting the camera in your pocket, there’s a risk of keys or coins scratching the screen.

There’s no official screen protector, but there are good aftermarket versions. The one I use is this one. It’s essentially a consumable that protects the screen. If you scratch the protector, you can quickly and easily replace it with another from the pack.

ULBTER GR III Screen Protector for Ricoh GR III Digital Camera, 0.3mm 9H...
  • ✪LCD Screen Protector perfectly fit for Ricoh GR 3 DSLR Camera . Not for other model. Easy to install...
  • ✪9H Hardness - Longer tempering time, which made the screen protector has a higher hardness. Prevents...

Carrying

You can, of course, use the GR III with just about any camera case or bag. But Ricoh does make a dedicated soft-case that fits snugly around the camera and offers some protection even if you’re toting the camera around in your pocket. I’ve been using one for a couple of years, and it’s held up very well, and it keeps my camera safer from bumps and scratches.

Again, there’s no particular reason you have to use the official GR neck strap, but there is one. The main part is leather, and it even has a discreet, embossed "GR".

If you do use a different strap, be aware that the strap loops on the camera are very small and won’t take thicker (i.e., stronger) attachment loops. So you might need to use some D-rings as well.

There’s even an official "GR" leather hand strap! But, again, aside from the branding, there’s no special reason to use the official strap. If you do use a different one, you might need D-rings if the thread doesn’t go through the camera’s small attachment loops.

External Flash

The GR III doesn’t have a built-in flash. It supports the Pentax P-TTL flash protocol.

Pentax External Flashes:
David Coleman / Photographer

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 »