Ricoh GRIII (digital) Vs Olympus XA2 (film) Which is best, digital or film?

The Ricoh GR III is one of my favourite all time cameras, but now that I am back shooting film, could a compact film camera be better.
To find out I set out on what would be an epic time to make a film comparing the two cameras. I travelled around the North East of England from coast to country taking photographs with both cameras.
In this video I show you photographs from both cameras and many direct comparisons. Find out what I learned from the experience.

[@andrew_veale]

Those film photos look so much nicer 😭 I love my griii though!

[@imAnsar]

great video. i like the griii very much. nothing beats the film shooting experience

[@nickward2922]

Good comparison. Focal length and white balance aside there is a marked difference between the film and the GR and the film looks much better to my eyes.

[@photoexplorer]

The film is Kodak gold and some of the cheapest you can buy, with Portra or Ektar it would be even better. Film colour is the reason that I am going back to it and investing in film equipment. High resolution digital has lost what film and photography is all about.

[@stevegates2]

Great video, and informative.

[@photoexplorer]

I appreciate that. Thanks.

[@jonbarnard7186]

Great video. I used to own and XA, but mine had a little focus lever under the lens, so it must have been the XA1. The slider on the side controlled aperture, rather than zone focus, if my memory serves me well. It also had a little detachable flash that screwed on the end. That was years ago. I used to load it with B&W print film. I had a darkroom at the time, so it didn't cost me much to process. I wonder what happened to it? I have also owned 3 versions of the Ricoh GR, and currently have the GRIII. Love these little pocket cameras.

[@photoexplorer]

You definitely had the better XA. That is the camera everyone wants. The original Ricoh GR would be great to use today as I also have the the Ricoh GRIII and love it. I reviewed it last year against a Fuji X100V and I believe it was better than the Fuji.

[@Ibibiogal]

With the right adjustments to your JPEG colour profiles, I think you can get the GR iii to replicate the mood and feel of film better. That’s all we can hope for. I think if you can do that, it doesn’t matter what it was shot on, as long as it’s a good picture.

[@photoexplorer]

It usually does, but for this comparison I did not edited either camera’s photographs to give a straight out the camera comparison.

[@petepictures]

Film is always the preferred one for me.

[@photoexplorer]

The unique nature and character of each type of film is the magic of film. Digital simply mimics film. It seems strange that digital photography has advanced photography and yet all camera manufacturers are striving to create colours and characteristics of old film technology.

[@brandos4785]

the film camera looked infinitely better to me. limitations are a good thing sometimes

[@kostyafedot551]

XA series have reached the edge of failing apart from regular use. Mine lasted for couple of years. Then non repairable main exposure meter failure. I have GRD II and GRD now. They will get me same amount of exposures as I got with XA and more.

[@photoexplorer]

It’s the problem with old technology. The same issues exist with all electronic cameras of a certain age- they will break and fixing them could be impossible. This is not so bad on a cheaper XA but some photographers who have spent thousands on a Mamiya 7 must live on a £3500 knife edge wondering will this be the day it breaks.

[@kostyafedot551]

@@photoexplorer With XA, just as with Minox 35 (which was always non reliable under regular use) it is more than just electronics age. It just too small for been reliable over time and under regular use. Where are plenty of older cameras with electronics which just works, because electronics where not compromised to achieve tiny size.

[@photoexplorer]

@@kostyafedot551 The years in which the cameras were made, were certainly not the pinnacle of electronics.

[@tomb3374]

Maybe a dumb question. Which camera is camera A vs camera B?

[@photoexplorer]

A is the XA and B the Ricoh

[@crsantin]

Digital for me. Film is too much of a hassle to work with.

[@photoexplorer]

It’s sometimes the hassle I like but I mostly shoot digital.