Ricoh GW-4 21mm Wide-Angle Conversion Lens for Ricoh GR III Test & Review

Ricoh has introduced a specialized wide-angle lens for the Ricoh GR III, expanding the standard 28mm lens to a broader 21mm. So if love the GR III but wish it had a wider lens, this might just be the fix you’re after. I’ve been testing it out on the GR III. Here’s how it works and what the real-world results look like in practical terms. I’ve found that it does an excellent job optically, but it comes with one important negative.

Ricoh GW-4 0.75x Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III
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Filed Under: Compact Cameras, Reviews

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The Ricoh GR III has a fixed 18mm prime lens. 1 On the GR III’s APS-C sensor, that’s the equivalent of around a 28mm focal length of a full-frame (35mm) camera. So it’s a medium-wide perspective.

While you can’t switch out the lens on the GR III—it’s fixed—there is a way to get a wider perspective. Ricoh makes a dedicated wide-angle conversion lens that clips onto the front of the camera. A few years ago, I reviewed the previous model for the GR II.

There’s a new model just for the GR III—it’s the GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens.

Ricoh GW-4 0.75x Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
This is with the GA-1 and GW-4 attached to a GR III but without the rubber lens hood.

This lens clips onto the front of the camera. It’s basically a hunk of glass—there’s no aperture, focusing, or other controls on the lens itself. You can often pick up conceptually similar lenses billed as wide-angle lenses very cheaply, and they’re often pretty terrible. But don’t let that put you off—Ricoh has made sure that this model is several steps up from those in quality. And, frankly, it’d want to be if only because it’s not cheap. Ricoh has set the MSRP at $250, and then you’ll need to spend another $50 on top of that for the adapter ring. So all up, you’re looking at $300. This is not a lot for a good lens, but it is quite a lot for a lens like this that is just solid glass.

Ricoh GW-4 Wide Conversion Lens
  • For GR III Digital Camera
  • Provides 21mm Equivalent Focal Length
  • Magnification: 0.75x
  • Requires GA-1 Adapter for Use (not included)
Ricoh GA-1 Adapter
  • Required for GW-4 Wide Conversion Lens

It takes the camera’s standard 28mm perspective to a significantly wider 21mm perspective. I have some examples below on what that translates to in visual terms.

Pros

  • Surprisingly good optics
  • Useful wide focal length if you like wide-angle perspective
  • Reasonably priced

Cons

  • Adds significant bulk and weight compared to the size of the camera
  • Have to buy the GA-1 adapter separately

It just clips on the front of the camera. It adds quite a bit of size and weight to the GR III, so you’re probably not going to be able to just slip the camera into your pocket anymore. To switch between the 28mm and 21mm perspectives, you remove the lens; there’s not a more convenient way to switch between them.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the quality. Adding a thick layer of glass to the lens will undoubtedly have an effect—and typically a negative one—but the engineers at Ricoh have done a good job with this lens to make sure that the negative effects are minimized. The quality remains very good, and there’s a minimal amount of light dropoff. There’s not much in the way of lens distortion or bowing, the edges and corners are still quite sharp, and there’s not much in the way of chromatic aberration (purple fringing). I’ve included some practical examples below.

Essential Accessory: Ricoh GA-1 Lens Adapter

If you’re going to buy the GW-4, make sure you also buy the GA-1 lens adapter as well. You won’t be able to use the GW-4 lens without it.

Ricoh GA-1 Lens Adapter for the Ricoh GR III. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com

The GW-4 is a lightweight plastic adapter barrel. It contains no glass and has only minimal electronics. It’s a multipurpose adapter in that it includes a traditional 49mm diameter filter thread (but a plastic one, so it’s not as robust as a metal film thread), so you can use it to attach regular screw-on filters (ideally, use 49mm ones, or you can use a step-up or step-down adapter.

Ricoh GA-1 Lens Adapter for the Ricoh GR III. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
It’s nearly entirely plastic. There’s a latch lock on one side to lock it into place and some metal contacts on the other. There’s no glass—it’s just a spacer.

I don’t understand why Ricoh doesn’t include it with the GW-4. By all means, offer it as a separate accessory if you want—after all, it works with other Ricoh lenses, and it’s a common way to add filters to cameras like the Ricoh GR-III—but the GW-4 can’t work without it. It’s also overpriced—$50 for what is mostly some flimsy, lightweight plastic.

Ricoh GW-4 0.75x Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
The GW-4 0.75x Wide Conversion Lens is at left, with the GA-1 adapter at the right.

21mm vs 28mm on the Ricoh GR III / With and Without GW-4 Wide-Angle Conversion Lens

Here are some side-by-side examples without and with the GW-4 lens.


Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III



Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III



Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III



Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III


Photos Taken with the GW-4 Wide-Angle Lens on Ricoh GR III

Here are some real-world examples. These were all taken with the GR III and the GW-4 (and the GA-1, of course). They were shot in RAW (.dng). I’ve processed them in Lightroom, but I haven’t applied any of Lightroom’s sharpening, lens distortion, or chromatic aberration fixes.

You can click on each image for a full-size version for a closer look.

Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
This shot, and the others on this page with the statue of Abraham Lincoln in golden sunlight, were taken at sunrise around the equinox. The golden light isn’t done in post-processing—it’s how it looks and these are directly out of the camera. I have more on these types of shots at the Lincoln Memorial and how to take them on my DC Photo Guide site. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
I often shoot this scene to test lenses and cameras because it tests several things at once. The relevant ones here are sharpness at the edges and corners and chromatic aberration. I’m surprised at how sharp it remains at the corners and how little chromatic aberration (purple fringing) there is. I haven’t boosted the sharpness in post or applied any chromatic aberration fixes. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
This shot is closer than the other one like it on the page, but it’s due to moving closer to the scene, not any change in focal length. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
Again, pretty straight lines even at strong angles to the corners. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
Again, this scene is one I often shoot in part to test for chromatic aberration in the windows at the top. But there’s really not much here. There are also lights shining directly at the lens, but there’s no issue here with flaring. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
Even from the corners, the lines remain impressively straight. I would have expected more bowing and distortion. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
Lots of bright light sources that could provoke chromatic aberration. There’s a little in the spotlights at the top, but it’s not bad. I haven’t made any fixes in post to correct for it. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
You can see some bowing in the railing at the bottom of the frame, but it’s not as much as I would have expected. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Ricoh GW-4 0.75 Wide Conversion Lens for the Ricoh GR III Sample Image. Photo by David Coleman | havecamerawilltravel.com
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel

Things Worth Knowing About the Ricoh GW-4 Wide-Angle Lens Adapter

The front of the lens has a screw-on filter thread. It’s a 72mm diameter, so you can use standard 72mm screw-on filters or a step-up/step-down ring. You can leave the rubber lens hood on, although it makes operating a circular polarizer difficult and gets in the way with a step-up ring.

Key Specifications

ModelGW-4
CompatibilityFor Ricoh GR III camera. Requires Ricoh GA-1 lens adapter. (NB. The GA-1 is sold separately)
Magnification0.75x. On Ricoh GR III, it comes to around 21mm focal length (35mm equivalent).
Angle of ViewApprox. 90 degrees (diagonal)
Lens Construction4 elements in 3 groups
WeightApprox. 8.5 oz / 256 grams
Filter Diameter72mm
Filter TypeScrew-on threaded
Lens HoodSoft rubber slip-on lens hood included.
Zoom?No. It’s fixed magnification.
Autofocus Compatible?Yes. Focusing is handled by the GR III’s built-in lens as normal.
Manual Focus Ring?No. Focusing is handled by the GR III’s built-in lens.
Aperture Ring?No. Aperture is handled by the usual in-camera controls.
ModelGA-1
CompatibilityFor Ricoh GR III camera. Required for using GW-4 Wide-Angle Lens.
Filter Size49mm
Filter TypeScrew-on threaded
Weight0.4 ounces / 11 grams

Price & Availability of Ricoh GW-4 Wide Conversion Lens

When I bought mine, the GW-4 was a new product. Since then, they’ve been turning up on the used market as well, so I’ve included some good places to try below. 

But wherever you buy it, don’t forget that you need to get the GA-1 lens adapter as well.

Buy New

I’ve actually bought two of these over the course of a few years. I bought one at Amazon and the other at B&H Photo.

Ricoh GW-4 Wide Conversion Lens
  • For GR III Digital Camera
  • Provides 21mm Equivalent Focal Length
  • Magnification: 0.75x
  • Requires GA-1 Adapter for Use (not included)
Ricoh GA-1 Adapter
  • Required for GW-4 Wide Conversion Lens

Buy Used

Some good places to try for used copies of the GW-4 include:

  1. The focal length self-reports in the EXIF information as 18.3mm.[]

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2023-09-27 at 13:16. 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 »