GR3 Sensor DUST -Real Problem Or Not?

[@mattisulanto]

Robin's GR3x video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ap_HpHV6rZhpq6c

[@funkyuk1]

no, don’t check your camera now at a small aperture against a white wall. you aren’t noticing anything currently. it will only drive you nuts because you now know it’s there. 👍🏼

[@jeffdrew625]

Thanks! Have a great day!

[@mattisulanto]

Many thanks to You.

[@Brightsparks1960]

I had the dust spot issue on my Sony RX1R sensor. I fixed it by taking out the battery and using a vacuum cleaner with small crevis tool inserted into the battery compartment and switched on the vacuum. The suction 'pulled' the dust off of the sensor -problem solved. May be worth a try!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. That can work, I suppose.

[@bmprosser74]

@@mattisulanto I agree with Vincent that actually does work! I have 4 Ricoh cameras and I do the same thing and it works very well! If the dust is bad I vacuum them a few times.

[@Leicam10]

@@dee_seejay Use some gaffer tape if needed. Tape up the camera together with the vacuum cleaner pipe and let it go for few seconds.

[@1bHEv6pWo]

Thanks!

[@mattisulanto]

Thank You!

[@Misodread]

Thanks

[@mattisulanto]

Thank you!

[@stephenjones9246]

I have the GRIIIX and heard about this issues before I bought the camera, I generally return it to a lightweight neoprene case before it goes back into my pocket. If I take it out on a rainy day, I keep the Ricoh in a plastic bag when not in use. Amazing results from such a tiny camera.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your tips.

[@ofmetalphilosophy4837]

It's the perfectionist approach to photography seeing imperfections and pondering upon them. These imperfections may be simply dust, or noise in a photo, or imperfect composition, colour, not having enough pixels (8mps are more than enough btw) etc.... I could compare this to worrying about getting your shoes dirty so you stop wearing them...If you want to do photography, deal with all these "imperfections", they're part of it.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your thoughts.

[@michaeldees6488]

I cannot tell you how much this comment helped me. I just bought a used Ricoh GR ii as my first camera. Everything seemed perfect until I did the white background test and spotted a few small spots. Upset I tried to initiate a return and was about to by a new GRiii for almost double the price when I read this comment. I’m now happy with MY camera Imperfections and all. Thank you

[@jeffdrew625]

Good thoughts and advice! Dust, fingerprints, airborne particulates have been the bane of photography and precision gear for centuries now. We always need to compensate and adapt for it. I don’t miss the days of print rescues with inks, toners, brushes compared to today’s digital magic!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. True, removing a couple of dust spots from a digital photo is nothing compared to spotting prints with a fine brush and ink.

[@dublbude]

Is precision gear centuries old? How old is the very first camera?

[@GrahamAtDesk]

My Lumix M43 bodies shake the sensor when they power up, and in over a decade of owning them, I've never encountered dust on their sensors. My GR has had a dust spec on since a year after I bought it, and my APS-C DSLR constantly needed attention from my rocket blower. Having the camera shake the sensor automatically seems to do a great job, to me.

[@Segador-uk]

Sonys are sensor magnets. My GR I was plagued with dust after I protected it so much. A desert storm... Now I protect my GRIII with a filter adapter and a filter. So far, so good after more than one year.

[@avapopova]

Which filter and adapter are you using?

[@marcomarcon5802]

Very sensible argument, furthermore dust spots can be easily fixed in post. However, we are all human and if we notice dust in an almost new camera with a fixed lens, it's hard not to feel a bit disappointed, like in the Princess and the Pea story. BTW I wish I kept my GR3, it's such a unique camera

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. Sure, there should not be dust, but it's really hard to prevent 100%.

[@cditfurth]

Great pictures btw. Thank you.

[@mattisulanto]

Thank you too!

[@gerdbackhaus5182]

Vielen Dank. Das war für mich eine hilfreiche Einsortierung des "Dust"-Problems. Ich kann jetzt besser schlafen ;-)

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks and glad to hear the video was helpful.

[@RyougiVector]

The color grading in your recent videos reminds me a lot of the positive film profile from the GRIII. I dig the earthy tones in the warmer climate you're in.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. It's a LUT that I made for the Sony A7IV and it works nicely.

[@theprinceentertainment6401]

From my own experience I can conclude that dust on compact cameras with fixed lens is quite a common issue. Dust will appear eventually, though it could take years. Some years ago I purchased a used Nikon Coolpix A which had such a problem: dust made itself visible at F4 and beyond. Since it is quite sharp even at F2.8, it is not a big issue. I have also first generation Sony RX100 which shares the same problem: dust particles appear at F4. My oldest high-end compact is Canon G1X which has also some dust on the sensor but it starts to appear only at F16. Usually it is not a major issue in taking pictures.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. It can't avoided if you use your cameras.

[@rodb8124]

Thanks for the video! You raised some good points. Especially the one that people may put the camera into pants pocket due to its size and you can’t do that with other cameras. I know I’ll pull a lint ball out of my pocket from time to time. 😊

[@walkingmanvideo9455]

This one reason is why I have yet to own a Gr series camera.

[@thanyawong]

It might be dust in Ricoh factory. It is fixed lens without zoom. It is possible but very difficult that dust will get inside camera. Ricoh must check and correct problem.

[@mattisulanto]

That's the first time I hear that argument.

[@nunya2036]

Great video, excellent explanation on how to not worry too much about dust spots on the GR3, maybe buying a nice little bag to place it in before putting into your pants pocket to help alleviate getting lint and dust on the camera and sensor.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. I'm sure a bag could help a lot.

[@Leicam10]

The bag could maybe help but probably not. The dust is often pumped in by the moving lens when turning it on and off and in some case when focusing. Leica Q has the same type of problem taking in dust from its macro ring.

[@Michael_Butler]

Great video. Thank you for this. I spent what I feel is a lot of money because I wanted the Ricoh GR III to take with me everyday, everywhere. And I admit as soon as I started hearing about dust I stopped wanting to have it in my pocket. Now even before your video I have started carrying it everyday but mostly in a small camera bag. But I am still not satisfied. I wanted to use it as a pocket camera where i canbtake it out, turn it on and shoot. And I think I'm just going to start that. I'm just going to use the tool I bought. We get caught up on so many things sometimes. Thanks again.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. My advice is, enjoy your GR and don't worry too much😀

[@gainde1137]

Just use a good smartphone.

[@StephenStrangways]

Don't be afraid of cleaning sensors: what you're actually cleaning is a piece of glass 0.5 to 4 millimetres thick, that is the top-most layer of several layers. It's not some magical, delicate, mysterious "sensor" - it's just glass.

[@williamstatt8651]

I don't believe he is worried about cleaning a sense of. I think he is talking about the difficulty of taking the camera apart to get to the sensor.

[@StephenStrangways]

@@williamstatt8651 I'm referring to 3:15, titled "Risks involved" where he's talking about, and showing, cameras with lenses removed, and saying there is risk of damage in using anything other than a blower.

[@mattisulanto]

That is true, but there still is some risk always and our skills to do things vary. You may be able to easily do things that are difficult to me and vice versa.

[@StephenStrangways]

@mipmipmipmipmip it's not super easy to scratch. It's quite difficult to scratch. Just blow any dust/sand off before wiping it, and use something perfectly clean, like a freshly-opened sensor swab, to do the cleaning, as that is guaranteed to not have any particles on it that you could drag across the sensor and scratch it. Even then, you'd need an awful lot of pressure to cause a scratch. Just be smart about it, and gentle, and it will be fine. Don't go rubbing it with the corner of your shirt while you're out on a shoot, for example.

[@gurugamer8632]

@@StephenStrangways do you use uv filter to protect dust going in?

[@dogblessamerica]

I use a Nikon D600, notorious for spots of dust/oil on the sensor, and my copy has more than its fair share. I'll get it cleaned some day but the dust spots only show up at smaller than f8 apertures and aren't hard to remove, so I'm in as absolutely no hurry

[@ArvinWiyono]

I recently purchased the Ricoh GR3X after using the Fujifilm X100V. After a week of use, I noticed dust on the sensor when shooting beyond f7.1. I was surprised at how fragile the camera was, especially considering its price. This was a contrast to the X100V, which had a solid build quality and weather resistance. I resolved the dust issue by following advice found online (*cough the vacuum cleaner trick *cough) and moving the dust to the edges of the sensor. I also purchased a lens filter and cap. I have since come to appreciate the Ricoh GR3X and it has become my go-to camera. Its compact size makes it convenient to carry with me at all times. I agree with many of your points, but I still believe that Ricoh should address the dust issue in future versions of the camera. This will improve customer trust in the product quality, which will benefit Ricoh as well.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing. Maybe I'll try that vacuum cleaner trick too, if the dust becomes offensive.

[@antoniomaruccia7416]

Totally agree!. Dust is a common problem, my cameras including SLRs suffer about it as well (I wrongly assumed that Reflex were less exposed due to the protection provided by the mirror). But I have to say that the latest models, with the dust removal function, have partially minimized the problem, and I don't understand why manufacturers don't implement the same feature on compact cameras as well. lately my LX100II has shown this problem and, honestly, I am very annoyed (although cheaper than interchangeable lens cameras) about it happened after only a few months of usage. I think manufacturers should be sensitized to this issue.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks.

[@j4n0sp]

Sold mine because of dust. For Street photography with zone focusing and F11-F16 plus black and white makes the dust extremely visible.

[@lim2001burger]

Also adding that Lightroom and other editing software have tools for removing dust spots, so provided there isn’t a lot of them (or it’s on a complex part of the photo) sensor dust is not a big deal.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. That is true. Few dust spots are not a big deal even if they show up in the photo.

[@PasqualeGalasso]

Grazie, hai ragione.

[@RonScibilia]

I keep a lens hood and UV filter on my GR II and III. That helps, I think. Yes, you can't pocket the camera any more but I keep mine in a small photo bag anyway so it doesn't matter.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. That is one solution.

[@HatefYaminiOnline]

Excellent explanation. Thank you.

[@mattisulanto]

You are welcome!

[@yaupie]

Thanks very much for your sharing on this issue. Looking forward to your sharing about the AF issue of GR3/GR3X highlighted also by Robin Wong.

[@mattisulanto]

What AF issue? I don't think there is any issue, my photos turn out sharp every time.

[@vanlee0831]

As long as dust won’t hurt the camera , I could accept it !

[@Apollostowel]

I'm a recent Ricoh GRIIIx hdf owner, so keeping an eye on this dust issue. But I've already had a huge dust issue way back with an Oly xz-1 (or is it zx-1, that camera). Olympus in Finland fixed it, no issue, it was very easy to see the dust, just big ole spec right in the center. I assume Ricoh would do the same, so I take care of my stuff and worry less!

[@mattisulanto]

You go the HDF. How do you like it so far?

[@Apollostowel]

@@mattisulanto I dig it! I like the dreamy light diffusion, and I can just turn it off if it doesn’t look right. This is my first foray into Ricoh (other than a film camera my parents got back in the day. They couldn’t use it, it was too difficult for them so they’d hand it to me) and it’s been a lot of fun! I can’t compare it to the usual ND filter but I like the results with the hdf.

[@beltenebrosgr1904]

Very helpful video... Thank you Matti!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks.

[@jonbarnard7186]

I've been shooting Ricoh cameras for years, and I don't recall ever shooting one at F16. I also rarely use them for taking photographs of white walls, or the sky for that matter. I guess this is why I've always been puzzled about the so-called dust problem.

[@0zaree100]

I finally noticed a single 'thick' dust particle in the center-right side of my Ricoh GRIII Street Edition. It's noticeable on f/13 to f/16. I first noticed it while taking a skyline shot on a clear blue day.

[@mattisulanto]

Nothing to be worried about😀

[@iaincphotography6051]

How much for Sony to clean it ?

[@LukeTaylorPhotography]

I've used the GR III for a about 6 months now and I've shot thousands of pictures. I store it in my pocket without a case. I haven't experienced any noticeable dust issues.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@benadrylpumpkinpatch]

I've been using gr's for about 8 years since the gr ii, now the iii. Like you, I maybe have some dust but never notice it. I keep the camera in a case (unzipped! Just for a little protection) in a small outer section of my backpack, or else unprotected in my pocket. Honestly what concerns me more than dust is the durability of the gr. My first gr ii just completely died with the lens in the open position after a couple years of use (at the worst possible time - in the middle of a six-week trip to Japan and Taiwan!). My next gr iii stopped working after dropping it on a wood mulch trail. I replaced it with another iii which is occassionally falling asleep with the lens in the open position and having trouble waking. Definitely my favorite camera of all time, but doesn't feel super reliable.

[@benadrylpumpkinpatch]

I also love shooting sunstars and frequently shoot at f16 and still don't notice any dust.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. Yeah, the retractable lens is a minor concern to me also.

[@davidderuyver6519]

I have my griii since it came out. I always put it back in its pouch. Putting it in a pocket will collect more dust. The gr3 is victim of what makes it great… but it is nothing compared to dust on medium negatives😊 Also post process software can correct spots in a matter of clicks… so indeed not a big problem…

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. It's not a big real world problem.

[@InArcadiaSum]

I found some on my Pany S5 when I was making some pinhole photographs, and that's guaranteed to make them show up.I've never noticed any problem with Fuji X100 series/X70 fixed focal lens cameras, but I understand that it can be a problem with fixed zooms such as the Pany LX100, which can draw dust in with the lens movement. I think Panasonic improved the gasket on the LX100 II; I hope so! I have seen a couple of cameras where the owner has taped over any unused open ports such as the microphones, but I have no idea whether that makes any difference for dust as against water.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your insights.

[@mindseyeproductions8798]

My nearly new G9 (3 months and not even 500 photos) I found to have spots on images; sent it to Panasonic for examination; they returned it saying "sensor very dirty" I am extremely careful about keeping a lens or a cover over the opening to prevent issues, and only after 3 months and cranking up the Fstops it was dirty? and after receiving it back from Panasonic "cleaning" the same spots were still there; I just don't push the Fstops anymore and spots are almost invisible now.

[@mindseyeproductions8798]

I use a vacuum with a light suction to suck the dust away; rather than blowing the dust further into the cameras niches.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks.

[@StarrysLostandFound]

Nicely presented information and advice

[@mattisulanto]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marcocariboni6701]

Hi Marty I think that a Fuji x-100V with a adapter UV filter in the top was full sealed....Cheers MC

[@funkyuk1]

key things here: 1) you never noticed 2) don’t shoot into the sun @ f/16 3) Robin clearly got your camera dusty. Bill him appropriately 😉😁🤣

[@mattisulanto]

My GR3 is also dusty, as the photos in the video prove, and Robin never touched that, so I suspect he can't be blamed for the GR3x either😀

[@sodiumlights]

Pockets are great collectors of debris. The GR is also much more pocket friendly than most cameras of that calibre.

[@jorgefigueroa2231]

That's why I have a lens cap. I never go without it.

[@galenfong4377]

The assembly of the camera is normally done on the dust free environment. If the dust is there after the assembly, it means the manufacturing process has problem. From the user’s standpoint, it is better than the dust went in after using for a period of time. If the dust went into the camera after using a period of time, I think users should have concern about the sealing of the camera. Because the number of dust may increase in the future and the water may also go into the camera. If I were you, I will send the camera for servicing before the expiry of the warranty especially you have a few cameras to use. My 2 cents opinion.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your opinion.

[@colorhouse-r7q]

... especially when the built in ND adds some more Parmesan to the Dust Risotto ... YUMMMMMMMMM !!!!!!

[@Mooro4u]

I bought the GRIIIx secondhand 10 days ago and yesterday was my first chance to shoot in bright sunshine. The joys of living in Ireland. There is a piece of fibre either on the sensor or in the lens elements that appears as a large smug on the image from f4.0 upward. The fibre comes more into focus the higher the f stop and it is in the left of centre of the frame. It is so frustrating. Even though I had only used the camera a few times I loved it. Because it is larger than a dust spec it is very noticeable in photos. Ricoh have no service dept in my country so not sure what to do next. You never hear of dust and fibres being an issue on the Fuji XF10 and that camera isn’t weather sealed either. I know people are saying that the dust can be cloned out but with this fibre it covers a far larger area than a spec of dust. I think I will just return the camera.

[@mattisulanto]

You should definitely return the camera if you can.

[@iwx2672]

So how do we solve this, we can only use Photoshop blur to fix this?

[@walterzannoni]

Dear Matti, if you say that with analog the problem of dust was less, you've never worked in photolithography. Both in the good old days of enlargers and four-color selections, and with scanners, dust slipped everywhere. When you mounted the slides on the scanner cylinder you had to invoke all the saints. Now at least the photoshop stamp is enough and everything falls into place ;)

[@mattisulanto]

I have not worked in photolithography. If you watched the full video you must have heard me saying though, that in the darkroom dust was a bigger problem. I also specifically mentioned that dust was never a big problem with 35mm and medium format cameras. I could not possibly mention every single aspect of analog film related process in the video. I merely wanted to point out that in camera dust was not a big problem before digital.

[@walterzannoni]

@@mattisulanto great Matti 😊

[@walterzannoni]

@@mattisulanto hi Matti, my english is poor. I didn't mean to criticize you at all. it was meant to be a joking answer dug into my memories. I appreciate you very much

[@mattisulanto]

@@walterzannoni Sometimes I over react, because I get so many subpar comments😀 No harm done, no hard feelings.

[@kbstabs5982]

2 and a half years have passed and I'm still waiting to see evidence of dust in my GR III. And I'm not very carefull about it. I often put it in the door pocket of my car because I always want it available. I dont use a case.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing. The dust issue really is not a real world issue.

[@JessDemant]

If you lose the ring around the lens it can put dust on the sensor and I also always have a cover on the lens when I'm not using the camera and I've just tested my GR3 and haven't found any dust on the sensor yet!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. The ring does not cover any seam or gap, so I don't see how it could protect the sensor. Covering the lens can help, I'm sure. Happy to hear you have no dust inside your GR.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

I’ve had this dust issue on every compact camera that has a lens that expands in and out since 2001. But in 18 years never my Olympus cameras. Between the weather sealing and the mechanism that shakes it I don’t think I ever will. But I’ll never own a compact style camera again that isn’t weather sealed like my 100v

[@gurugamer8632]

do you use uv filter to protect dust going in?

[@mattisulanto]

No.

[@gurugamer8632]

@@mattisulanto your videos are excellent and inspire me to use the GRIIIx I bought few days ago.

[@jeffslade1892]

The Nikon D600 was infamous for throwing oil onto the sensor. Fortunately ours has not done that but oily smuts will not blow off as dust does. Je n'accuse pas but maybe the Ricoh is spraying shutter oil about? My GH4 was used mounted 'in prime' on a Newtonian telescope i.e. open to the elements. After which numerous sticky black smuts were found on the sensor which took some serious cleaning off. Since then I have used a CLS clip-in filter that also protects the sensor. My E-PL7 commonly rides in a trouser or jacket pocket with the PZ14-42 mounted. It does have ultrasonic dust cleaning but neither are weather proof. But the light box remains free of dust, so does the lens. Perhaps they have better dust sealing? When not in use it lives in a felt 'jewellery bag', they trap dust but need brushing out from time to time (as does a lens pouch).

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing. The GR has a leaf shutter and I don't think it can spray oil like a focal plane shutter in the D600.

[@brianwarnerarts]

Luminar has an auto dust and power line remover. Of course that's an extra cost, but the software works great and takes seconds to work , without having to do anything manually. I went shooting for the first time in years, with an old Fuji x-T2 and I ended up with dust on the lens. While its easy to clean a lens, the results are the same - dust can unknowingly attach and affect shots. I just look for a software solution to auto remove it.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@MichaelGerrard]

Very helpful. One reason I have been a bit hesitant to get a GR, are the stories about dust. I understand what you are saying but it is still upsetting if you buy a camera for close to 1000 dollars and within a year it has dust on the sensor. A solution is to add a tube and filter but then you have a camera form factor similar to a GM1 with a Oly 17mm F1.8. I hope Ricoh will make it better for the next GR.

[@jariperho]

I loved my GR II, but it slowly started to gather more and more dust on the sensor and nothing helped to remove it. I would rather remove the retractable lens feature, if that was the only solution.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. So many ways to contemplate this, but let's hope Ricoh can do something about this in the future.

[@GrahamAtDesk]

​@@mattisulanto We've been hoping they'd do something about it since the GR came out, and that must be getting on for a decade ago now. I'm not hollding my breath!

[@WSS_the_OG]

What a troublemaker that Robin guy is, haha. Yeah, a little bit of dust isn't a problem unless, as you said, it happens to be in that critical location, which is so seldom. I guess the location of the dust would matter too. If it's dead centre, or on one of your major intersection lines (rule of thirds), then sure. Another thing I've noticed is that lens scratches are hardly noticeable either. I did a little shooting with a pretty beat up lens, and was amazed that you couldn't tell. Now, when buying used lenses, I don't let some minor scratches put me off; they hardly affect the image at all.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing. Lens scratches indeed have little impact on the final photo and usually nothing to be worried about.

[@caw25sha]

With film dust is mostly a problem during the developing stage where it can stick quite persistently when the film is damp.

[@mattisulanto]

You have to dry your films in a dust free place.

[@martinohesse]

Yes, dust is an issue because GRIII is not easily serviceable as the Sony you show in the video. I do the service to my fuji cameras without any problem but the GR III is not easy to service. At 4000 shots I already had got noticeable dust at F7.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Mekchaibang]

I came here because I am one of them 😅 I saw a spot on my pictures then I have some kind of OCC Now Ive learned that keep shooting, get good pictures, use it until you feel your camera is worth for you.

[@haywoodjablomi2529]

My Griii sensor is covered in dust yet again after having it sent off to be cleaned by Ricoh the first time, I've kept it in a small, sealed dry bag whenever I wasn't using it since then. Now it's out of warranty the options are pay to have it cleaned every few months when it inevitably gets dust on it again, risk opening it up and cleaning it myself or never be able to shoot over f6.3 as over that is when it's most visible. I loved this camera so much when I got it and praised it to everyone, now I just feels like a waste of £800 and I wish I'd bought something else

[@Classical416]

Thanks for the feedback. The lack of weather sealing is holding me back from buying the GR3. Hope the GR4 improves on that.

[@jcc2941]

So my conclusion is..... don't let Robin borrow your gear LOL

[@timnewby1546]

I keep a lens adaptor and skylight on my gr3 and carry a man bag rather than putting it in my pocket. Pockets tend to gather so much debris!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing. A small bag is a good idea.

[@glennsak]

Much love to Robin but he has a tendency to over exaggerate. Sorry it didn't work out for him. I still love my GR3x as it continues to be the perfect camera for me.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. The GR is not for everyone, but for some it's the best.

[@jeffslade1892]

Where a compact camera lens extends, dust gets in. One cleaning method is to suck dust out of the lens with a vacuum cleaner and a hood that goes over the lens. This works for dust but not stubborn oily smuts. The only option then is to take the camera apart and clean the sensor. (mft cameras have excellent dust clearing off the sensor but dust still accumulates in the light box for the puffer). It is worth cleaning a sensor, with a sensor cleaning kit, but only when necessary, not as a routine job. It does take due car and diligence, and a delicate touch. N.B. !! - If you are not confident in taking a camera apart, and more importantly putting it back together - do not do it. You will need jewellers small screwdrivers, it /cannot/ be done with normal tools. And other special tools such as those found in mobile phone battery changing kits. Here is Graham Houghton dismantling a Lumix compact. (I would probably use a green baize felt cloth (they stop valuable bits disappearing into another dimension) as jewellers do, little dishes grouping the screws, and cotton 'museum' gloves to protect the camera from you). kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp_QqKdmm9eNpNU

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your tips.

[@Leicam10]

Since Ricoh themselves speak of the GR as a snapshoter and has the Snapshot mode that is almost like zone focusing. F stops larger then f5,6 could be useful.

[@mattisulanto]

Yes of course and especially if your pictures often include a lot of light colored flat areas you may be able see the dust spots too.

[@paleosetimagazine7481]

Your dust is moist. Put your Ricoh in a zip-lock bag along with a desiccant packet (or two). Those are the ones with the "do not eat" warning on them and they come in everything like shoe boxes and electronics. Most people throw them out right away. Leave the camera in the bag over night. It will draw the moisture off the dust on the sensor and the sensor cleaning function will do the rest.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. I have to try that.

[@amermeleitor]

As for the Sony RX100, there are a pair of tutorials in KZbin about how disassemble the camera and clean the sensor. Isn't that difficult, even for a non techie people, you be aware the first time, the the second time you feel it easy

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for the tip. I have disassembled a couple of cameras and even managed to put them back together in the past. However, in the video I was merely trying to verbally illustrate that cleaning a fixed lens camera sensor is not something you can do in a whim.

[@Magnum0peth]

What about the lackluster shutter life? Been reading in various places that it's about +-30K clicks. Has anybody have further info on this? If true, for a 1000€ camera, this, together with stuck lenses and shutter buttons, is really appalling on a 3rd generation body. Made me instantly more at ease I didn't buy one earlier.

[@mattisulanto]

You should not believe every rumor you hear😀 I personally know many who have well over 100K shots on their GR and zero issues. Those who have issues are the most vocal and distort the reality.

[@Magnum0peth]

@@mattisulanto Granted they may be a minority but, primarily they are costumers of a product. I know I would be vocal if I spent 1K on a 3rd gen product that would be a brick after a couple of years of regular shooting. I don't think Ricoh understand the amazing product they have developed and what they stand to lose if they don't rectify issues that are well know since the 1st GR. I'd like nothing more than to love this camera, it's the ideal form factor with top notch IQ. But I'd wager few people would be willing to buy the same camera again if he's unlucky enough to be in the 'minority group'. And honestly, it doesn't help us, consumers, swiping well-known flaws under the rug like they're something of a fluke. We should be pushing companies to do better.

[@mattisulanto]

@@Magnum0peth Well, any camera can brake or become a brick. My friend bought the Sony A7RV which became a brick after a few weeks of use. I'm sure you can find many unhappy stories regardless of the brand if you really start looking for them. Anyway, I hope you can find a suitable camera for your purposes and I hope it doesn't become a brick😀

[@wickie4801]

I think it's a problem in general of such cameras like the GR. The lens barrel moves forward/backward and so dust comes in. For me one reason not to buy such cameras. You can't solve this problem really. So better using cameras with interchangeable lenses - my opinion. These you can better clean. Or using cameras with no zoom.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing your view on this.

[@mistergiovanni7183]

Agree with you, I think exactly the same. You can't have a girlfriend (or boyfriend) who doesn't show you her little thing 😵‍💫

[@RobShootPhotos]

You look tired, are you sure you didn't loose sleep over this? Joking! 🤣 I agree about the depending on what settings you are shooting at. As you know I'm into macro photography and I picked Olympus for that exact reason among other things. When there is dust, you will see it. That might explain why Robin Wong is a bit more sensitive to seeing this also. In five years I only had to actually do a swab cleaning once.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing your opinion and jokes always welcome, of course😀

[@alexhuezo1434]

I have a GR 2, I love that little camera but it has dust on the sensor. I wanted to get the 3 or the X but I decided not to, I don't want to spend $1000 on a camera that in a couple of months will have dust on the sensor. I hope Ricoh comes up with a better system.

[@mattisulanto]

Every camera has dust on the sensor sooner or later😀

[@alexhuezo1434]

@@mattisulanto I agree, but you can't get to the sensor on this camera, that means that with time you'll get more dust. Those dots look awful on photos.

[@MortAllachie]

I love my GRIIIx, and I will not look for dust until it shows up in the pictures, and when it does, I will just clone it out in post if needed 😊

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. Great minds think alike😀

[@bamsemh1]

Well, sensor dust is a free filter 😅 but yeah, I guess closed systems are harder to get repaired on warranty 😬 just like zoom lens dust 😕

[@JamesMincey]

Every single fixed-lens point and shoot I've owned over the past couple decades eventually got dust stuck on the sensor. It's so frustrating! It's too bad that none of the water & dust proof cameras like the Olympus Tough or Pentax/Ricoh WG series cameras never have higher quality sensors or lenses. I probably would still be shooting with a P&S if there was!

[@mattisulanto]

Every camera gets dust on the sensor, that is a fact.

[@mindcave]

Sensor dust was a raging issue on the very first version and RICOH has since released 3 new versions and they have done NOTHING about it. I had mine cleaned and less than three months later it was covered in thick dust blotches again and I gave up on it. It sat in the shelf and never got used again. Would have taken no more than 2000 shots with it. Money down the toilet.

[@mattisulanto]

Sorry to hear that. I have had no dust issues so far after many thousands of photos.

[@jeffdrew625]

Tag #2: Greetings all! Ricoh just announced a new, limited edition, GRIII with cool case for just pennies per day! DPREVIEW has the run down and press release. As I was whining about 2 weeks of cloudy nights, below freezing temps, and dusting off my ‘scope, I realized the universe is a dusty place! Have a great day & Happy New Year!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! Lot of stardust flying around😀

[@RobertLeeAtYT]

The trick is to use distilled water with Photo-Flo in the rinse. Sorry, couldn’t resist. As for the GR, I suspect the accordion lens mechanism doesn’t help. Every time it extends probably sucks in a fair amount of air - just more opportunity for contaminants to ingress. I am impressed though on Robin’s video just how thin the GR is. It’s more compact than the GM-1 with the kit zoom. Just goes to show there’s seldom a free lunch.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. No camera is perfect, unfortunately.

[@Nerdzombiedisco]

I vacuumed out the dust in mine. Took 5 seconds.

[@DoKaTS]

How?

[@Nerdzombiedisco]

@@DoKaTSvacuum hose and a waterbottle with the bottom cut out.

My Gh5 got very Bad spots in the censor... I Buy usted, My lost.

[@ruuddirks5565]

I have still nightmares from dotting out dust spots on 35 mm prints.

[@mattisulanto]

I have done that many many times also. That can happen if you are not careful in the darkroom.

[@mr_cramberry]

Ricoh is silly to not have the gr series weather resistant ipx certified

[@mattisulanto]

You are right, but it would probably also make the camera bigger and more expensive.

[@fongtan]

well, i had olympus sp100ee, very nice camera, but the dust is too obvious, sent to olympus then and they said it is beyond their power to repair.

[@mattisulanto]

Sorry to hear that.

[@kailimedia]

It is not a problem if it allows us to clean the sensor ourselves

[@76Jvt]

73 / 5.000 The GR has more than one problem. And one of them is dust on the sensor.

[@mattisulanto]

Wise words and I'd like add that every camera, every product, has more than one problem that depend on who is judging😀

[@jameslevine6137]

My GRiiix got full of dust so quickly. But I only notice it occasionally, and it's so easy to correct the spots in post when I need to.

[@macsprotte1436]

No problem with a Olympus.

[@TheGreenEggFarm]

The GR3 never appealed to me at all. It's ugly and looks like the last of the automatic film cameras for the masses from the late 90's. I am in my 50's and I need glasses only to read, so I don't wear them outside, therefore I need a viewfinder all the time and this camera does not. Any camera that has an automatic closing mechanism is not a reliable camera>....dust...water...etc... Like the Sony RX100 series> Great camera but you should not put it in your packet or take it to the beach. Thanks for the video Matti!

[@gmuk101]

Doesn't matter because there is no alternative

[@mattisulanto]

Well said!😀

[@moogsmiley4157]

except when you shoot f8 from the hip then its annoying as hell. never buying GR again! Get Canon GX7 never a problem!

[@jjampong]

I guess the lesson here is, don't be friends with Robin Wong :))))

[@AMore429]

A camera that’s advertise as a ‘pocket camera’ that can’t be put in the pocket. Ricoh, kings of false advertisement 😅

[@mattisulanto]

Haters gonna hate😅

[@YannisSinadinos]

That's what I really like in all latest olympus cameras... We never see dust on the sensor since they have am effective sensor cleaning tech.

[@mattisulanto]

I took a test shot on Robin's Olympus E-M1III and there was plenty of dust on the sensor. Never say never😀

[@YannisSinadinos]

@@mattisulanto haven't seen any in my EM1.3 OM1 EM5.3! I am careful when changing lenses still the sensor cleaning works well. All my fuji's in the past had a lot off issues with sensor dust

[@alex-reay]

EM5-II user for nearly 8 years and EM1-II x2 user for 5 years, almost every day. Never seen dust on my sensors.

[@royhobbs785]

Buy a camera with a lens separate

[@druid6605]

I have a sad story too, have it to richo for servicing and those buggers took 16th tha and still didn’t clean the camera. Rubbish servicing in India.

[@mattisulanto]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[@druid6605]

@@mattisulanto thanks for the reply matti, there is nothing anyone can do about it. :) so I just smile and move on.

[@mattisulanto]

@@druid6605 Positive attitude!

[@druid6605]

@@mattisulanto yep, also throw the gr away. No more pain.

[@DA-yd2ny]

I bought one and am very disappointed. Autofocus and weather sealing is very poor for a camera for that price. I bought one and wholeheartedly recommend anybody to look away and keep their fingers from that camera. There are much better and cheaper cameras for street photography.

[@mattisulanto]

To each their own, what works for me may not work for you. I hope you'll find a camera that you like😀

[@mistergiovanni7183]

Hi Matti, It is not complicated to clean a camera sensor (those who are exposed). You are creating a monster that does not exist. Before the sensor there is a glass, that is what you clean, first with air and with the camera facing down, not as you show it in the video. If air is not enough, there are special brushes that are charged with statically by air blower and then passed through the sensor (Visible Dust pencil). If that wasn't enough you can use a wet cleaning system. but always looking with a magnifying glass system with built-in light to see where the dirt is and apply the cleaning right where it is needed. I think a lot of people still don't know how to clean their sensor. And you don't have to resign yourself to not taking photos with diaphragms larger than f 5.6 either. It seems to me that people get a little obsessed with size and the idea of ​​putting things in their pockets, One of the worst places to put a camera. There are cameras almost as compact as the GR that are not as obnoxious and show you the sensor, plus you can change lenses. Ricoh should give you a vacuum cleaner with the purchase of the camera and 5 free cleaning services. Only then would I dare to buy from the dusty GR. Thanks!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your tips.

[@HARTBLANCH]

On GR III and GR IIIx (not on GR II) in the menu you have the possibility to clean the sensor with the anti-dust system. You can also set it to automatic, so it will clean itself each time the camera is turned on... 🙂

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for the tip. I'm aware of the feature and have set to automatic since the beginning.

[@AMore429]

People always trying to justify poor workmanship or poor design. Sometimes I think these guys Pentax stock 😅

[@mattisulanto]

Haters gonna hate😅

[@tonyhayes9827]

I guess being fixed lens you cant clean the sensor?

[@jancusters2450]

There is also a function on the GR3 which enables you to clean the sensor. See in the menu and you can remove dustspots in postprocessing. I use Luminar neo, dustspot remover.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for the tip, but I'm aware of that cleaning function already😀