Shame On You Ricoh! The Reasons I Won't Buy a GRIIIx

[@LensForgotten]

Thanks for the shout out of my comment/question..... I totally understand your point of view on this..... I felt like asking because a year ago you were on a long run of nothing but GRIII shooting and it abruptly stopped, so it raised my curiosity. Like your no BS, straight up attitude.... Great stuff..

[@DozierGraphic]

lol yeah I made it a point to shoot as many videos as I could to build the channel, but of course that can only last so long. I'm sure I'll get a wild hair soon enough and get back out with it. Thanks for the contribution.

[@sl-rt5kv]

The GRIII certainly has the limitations you mention, but for me it's a great camera. I can't think of any other camera that offers such excellent controls and takes such fine pictures in such a small package for anywhere near this price. The camera excels at landscapes and as a travel camera, in addition to street photography. I splurged and got the Ricoh case for this camera which fits this camera like a glove, and sits securely on my belt where the magnetic closure makes it exceptionally easy to retrieve. This is the camera I always have with me, even if I bring another larger camera along. Bottom line is I get a relatively high percentage of pics that I like with this camera, the limitations notwithstanding.

[@DozierGraphic]

Excellent summation! Thanks!

[@dingdingdingdiiiiing]

I second that, the camera has limitations, accept them and adjust the use accordingly. and the camera is worth every penny. While I don't have a problem carrying it in a pocket, it requires a thin case as it's home whenever not in use, else you will have to deal with the dust. The back wheel might turn out to be a problem and that would be a very legitimate reason to be mad at Ricoh, such failures should not happen at this price point. Then again, remember the Leica's unbelievable sensor corrosion issue? Wheel issue is a trifle in comparison and much less outrageous. But yeah, still.

[@mistergiovanni7183]

Jason: I think your opinion is well founded. I think like you that it is unacceptable that a camera of that price has so many construction problems and the guarantee of dust on the sensor. I cannot validate that attitude of the manufacturer, it has been on the market for years and the usual problems never improve. Thanks!

[@DozierGraphic]

And they just keep putting out 'boutique' models with the same flaw, yet won't try to improve the glaring issue. I still believe it's a way to 're-charge' the consumer. A large percentage of people who will spend this money on a limited camera can also afford the meager $300+ to get it fixed by the manufacturer. Every third repair is like selling a single camera, WIN for ricoh, FAIL for customer service and concern!

[@MaxMautner]

Glad to see you back!

[@DozierGraphic]

Thanks my friend! Always appreciate the support!

[@LeeIveson]

An inciteful video. I'd been looking at the GR cameras recently for the first time, so this clears a few things up for me personally. And your bang on with what you said about it being a pocket cameras, which it would no longer be with that 40mm lens on the GRiiix.

[@DozierGraphic]

Thanks Lee! You would certainly have some fun with the III, I just can't get excited about the X though.

[@_g_r_u_m_p]

you’ve got about 30seconds where there’s no audio. 6:28-6:58

[@DozierGraphic]

Yep, just caught it and is being fixed! Thanks for taking the time to point it out my friend!

[@stevieb7121]

Another great vid and another feature of the GR that I didn't know about - CROP. How have I missed this? Given that my current favourite field of view equates to about 40mm (FFEQ), the GR has been sitting in the cupboard lately.... Time to get it back out for some experimentation. Thanks again!

[@DozierGraphic]

Just remember it's a crop, not a zoom - but who cares, it's all fun! Thanks for the comment!

[@16Mbvillain]

The plastic wheel on the back of my GRIII also went buggy - and it is such a pain in the ass at times. I wish RICOH would just have a firmware update that allowed you to turn off the rotation function on that wheel..

[@DozierGraphic]

Yeah it’s basically impossible to shoot w manual focus as it’s entirely dependent on the wheel.

[@jacobthomson9369]

Good stuff man.Very interesting.

[@DozierGraphic]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@pictishblood5688]

The wheel on my mine failed but I managed to fix it One of the screws fell out and I live in an area in Europe on the Atlantic with extremely changeable weather I think a drastic change in temp caused the lens housing to distort and it caused the plastic front of the lens to pop up on one side like a bottle cap I love the IQ and the distinctive quality, lovely noise it has but this was pretty unacceptable

[@DozierGraphic]

Can't say I've ever had anything, especially a screw, ever fall off any other camera lol

[@kkurrent66]

Pictish Blood

[@toby-vt7nz]

Spot on. After 7 years I’m done with Ricoh. The cost of service and cleaning is a joke. Plus poor aftermarket service by a third party monopoly outfit in Europe. I clean the sensor myself but that the rubber gasket between the screen and sensor is disintegrating. Price of repair is the same as I paid for the camera. It was a love affair but it’s over.

[@DozierGraphic]

I have to echo everything you said. So many people have these stories, but they're yelled down in forums by fanboys. I tried to be objective as a first time user with a new camera, to a couple years using the same camera and how it held up. Just giving my experiences - both good and bad. LOTS of good of course, can't deny that!

[@Lukaz1989]

You keep saying the dynamic range is so good that cropping into the image is not an issue.. can you explain what the connection between the ability to crop and the dynamic range of the sensor is? I‘m not sure I understand how those two things are connected. I do agree with your point on build quality, if that wheel issue is so common they should have at least made a revision 2 of the GR3 with that problem addressed and it shouldn’t exist on the GR3x in the first place.

[@DozierGraphic]

I say a lot of things in the videos while rambling that could be mistatements - and while I'm not sure the part youre referencing, my guess is I meant "the 'sensor quality' is so good that cropping the image is not an issue." Meaning, even while cropping in tight in editing, there is not a lot of noticeable noise or pixels. If so then my mistake. Hope that helps.

[@gurugamer8632]

In my GR IIIx I can’t see negative film option I only see positive film why is that?

[@DozierGraphic]

Can't answer that my friend, I've never used a IIIx.

[@Vixeh]

I think it was included in a firmware update, youll have to download the latest firmware.

[@duanemcclun]

Hi Jason Unfortunately it is the same reason why I never have purchased a Ricoh because of the same complaints I have read continually on social medium. I can't justify spending $1,000 for a camera with those manufacturing flaws. I l very much enjoy your videos!! Keep the videos coming my friend!! Best wishes Duane

[@DozierGraphic]

Well said! Too many negatives and fragile components for that kind of money, but for less than $400 - well worth it if you have an urban area to explore!

[@Princep555]

I pocket mine (gri) and take it everywhere, I don’t even worry about all that stuff you said. I have the first one and it’s nothing to worry about. I can see why you get negative feedback though.

[@DozierGraphic]

The GRi can be picked up from ebay for less than $350 - at that price, I wouldn't care as much about the care of the camera either. But you're missing one big factor - the GRI has NO crappy wheel. That's what pisses me off - the i and ii have perfectly functional up/down/left/right dial on them that almost never fail. They decided to 'upgrade' to a faulty wheel they know is defective (which is why they charge extra to fix it) instead of using something that has stood the test of time. And can you elaborate on the 'negative feedback'? I rarely get any. Surprised I got literally NONE on this video lol I'm honestly looking at the GRI however as a replacement for my GRIII. I see nothing at all wrong with the i or ii.

[@SPTSuperSprinter156]

@@DozierGraphic I wish the GRI/GRII was that cheap in my country. In the UK, second hand they run not much cheaper than the GRIII. I ended up getting the III because I wanted the touch screen and some other features, but really it was a decision driven by the fact the much older versions cost almost the same on the second hand market. Let's see if it was the right decision.

[@DozierGraphic]

@@SPTSuperSprinter156 There's no question the III is a great camera - you'll love it! And I do miss the touch screen already, but I'm surviving without it lol Also, if the price for the I or II was close to the III then you certainly made the right decision. Enjoy!

[@jack-5667]

J'ai eu le GRII que qui m'a été remboursé sous garantie (18 mois après l'achat) car plein de poussières sur le capteur. J'ai acheté plus tard le GR3 en tenant compte de vos conseils et en adaptant le GA1 et un filtre. Et pour l'instant je n'ai pas de poussières sur le capteur mais je suis comme vous, je fais extrêmement attention aux conditions d'utilisation et de propreté. J'ai aussi des problèmes avec la roue qui dysfonctionne. Je n'ai jamais eu de tels problèmes avec mon Fuji X100T. Vouloir faire un appareil avec un objectif qui se rétracte conduira toujours à aspirer des poussières sur le capteur. Pour moi c'est une erreur. La construction reste fragile et ce point doit être amélioré plutôt que de vendre des GRIII et X de toutes les couleurs. Par ailleurs je trouve que les images du GRII étaient plus nettes. Donc tant que je peux me servir de l'appareil je le conserve mais je ne renouvellerai pas car je suis déçu par la qualité du boitier pour le prix. J'attendrai plutôt que Fuji mette un stabilisateur dans un boitier APSC à objectifs interchangeables. Sinon je reste fidèle à mes boitiers Nikon D7000, D700 et D850. Merci Jason pour votre expérience que je partage.

[@bertrandroessli7862]

Les capteurs des Fuji x-t5 et x-s10 sont stabilisés.

[@jack-5667]

@@bertrandroessli7862 Merci, oui je sais, mais c'est plutôt dans le format du X100 que j'attends une stabilisation future avec comme le XE4 une possiblilité de changer d'objectif. Mais tant que mon GR et mon X100T fonctionnent, il n'y a pas urgence pour moi.

[@DozierGraphic]

(English) Thanks for taking the time to explain your situation Jack! I have to agree, if you have a II, I don't see the need to upgrade. The IBIS comes in handy for late evening/night photography, but not something I do a lot of. For street photography, IBIS isn't necessary as you're typically shooting above 1/400-1/500 anyway. So I'm sure the II would cover all other uses. (French) Merci d'avoir pris le temps d'expliquer votre situation Jack ! Je suis d'accord, si vous avez un II, je ne vois pas la nécessité de mettre à niveau. L'IBIS est pratique pour la photographie de fin de soirée/de nuit, mais ce n'est pas quelque chose que je fais beaucoup. Pour la photographie de rue, IBIS n'est pas nécessaire car vous photographiez généralement au-dessus de 1/400-1/500 de toute façon. Je suis donc sûr que le II couvrirait toutes les autres utilisations.

[@RandumbTech]

"I don't use Sony" Yeah, we know. At 5:38 it's quite obvious with your face out of focus for 10 seconds. 🤣

[@DozierGraphic]

Sony is hardly the leader in video. Are you trying to say sony never loses focus? If so, that would be inaccurate.

[@wd5jlr]

I could have bought the GR3x for the same price, but I chose the GR3.

[@DozierGraphic]

Very cool! Do you like the 40mm viewpoint?

[@wd5jlr]

​@@DozierGraphic I shot my GR3 at 35mm crop for a while to see what it is like. Plenty of resolution and DR as you say so I can always go that way, but I guess I feel hedged in at that focal length on the street. It was a difficult decision between the two cameras at first. Everyone is different of course, but I think the 28mm was the right choice for me and street photography and that is what I want it for. 40mm is more normal and I can see why many go with the 40mm. Like you, I doubt I will buy the 3x for another thousand dollars, but maybe having multiple versions of the camera isn't really more expensive than multiple lenses for one camera body. I have watched many GR3 videos and I appreciate yours being more advanced than another reading off of specs. Thank you.

[@peregrineclarke]

Totally agree with your comments re the GR3 & 3X. I had both (yeah bought into all the hype) and quickly realised I hadn’t made a smart move. So I sold both, lost money, duh! Ended up buying the GRII which in my opinion is far better than either of its predecessors, lesson learned…. Love the channel and your images 👍😀

[@DozierGraphic]

Thanks! While it doesn't have IBIS, I know quite a few people think the II hits the sweet spot in both quality and price.

[@peregrineclarke]

@@DozierGraphic No IBIS is a downside but I only use it for street photography or more casual work, I just keep the shutter above 1/200 and max the ISO at 3200 and the images are spot on.

[@DozierGraphic]

@@peregrineclarke good point!