The GR III was always going to be a tricky release for Ricoh to pull off. The GR II was so well-loved that a rushed or poorly thought-out successor might have seriously upset a core of loyal users that Ricoh can ill-afford to lose.

Street shooting and casual photography; or travel photography where a small and light camera; with a medium-wide lens is very useful

Any work that requires long shooting sessions; long focal lengths; or low light shooting; where the GR III's autofocus system can struggle

The smartphone may have replaced a dedicated camera for many, but the Ricoh GR III is here to remind us that's not universally the case. The latest in Ricoh's series of super-pocketable street shooters, it packs the highest resolution sensor yet – and, at $899, the highest price tag too.

APS-C sensor in a tiny form-factor; OIS is excellent; Image quality handily bests smartphone cameras

Expensive; Autofocus can be frustrating; No EVF

The Ricoh GR III will make you rethink whether a smartphone camera is ‘good enough.'

Compact and stealthy design; Great image quality; Built-in ND filter; Good control layout for the class; USB-C charging and power

Poor battery life; No viewfinder; Price may limit appeal

The Ricoh GR line of cameras has a history dating from the film era, with several models released over the years. In the age of digital sensors, the GR line is synonym with compact, elegant bodies featuring advanced controls and, most importantly, an APS-C sensor.

24 MP APS-C sensor meets expectations; In-body image stabilization and dust removal; Excellent fast aperture; wide lens; Superb build quality in a tiny format; Effective and high-quality touchscreen; Excellent center sharpness at all apertures; closely followed by edges and corners; Fast and...

Strong vignetting if left uncorrected (absent with in-camera correction; No weather resistance; Movie mode no more than adequate; Battery life underwhelming; Unpleasing bokeh at times; Immature wi-fi apps

Ricoh recently announced the latest in their series of high quality, ultra-portable digital cameras, the GR III. Smaller than its predecessor, this new Ricoh compact camera has a 24-megapixel APS-C format CMOS image sensor, 28mm (equivalent) prime lens and a host of features normally found on...

Ricoh might not be the first brand that pops to mind when thinking about photography, but its GRII camera won the hearts of photographers around the world with its excellent image quality, sturdy but stylish build, and enviously compact body.

With smartphones getting better in taking snapshots of your family gatherings and travels, it is tough to look at compact cameras as an alternative. Not when you have to bring one more piece of equipment for a trip.

The Ricoh GR III got enhancements under the hood, but I'm not sure how that will translate into actual use and functionality. I understand the low profile look, but I think some of the functionality and practicality aren't jiving so far with how I've seen folks use the previous camera.

The GR III is the latest premium compact camera in Ricoh's classic GR series, which dates back to 1996. It's fair to say the world has changed a bit since then, but the GR range has always been a unique, timeless breed.

APS-C sensor inside pocketable body; Practically no distortion from lens; Sharp and contrasty LCD screen; Very good control over noise at high ISOs; Great detail across frame; even at f/2.8; Effective Shake Reduction system; Generally fast and responsive in use; Touchscreen is useful and responds...

AF can be indecisive and unintuitive; Poor video quality and no 4K recording; Colours a little flat on standard settings; LCD screen fixed in place; Battery life is quite poor; Dynamic range could be better; Expensive

If you're a fan of the GR line you'll love what Ricoh has done here. With fast operation, dependable image quality, a crisp and responsive touchscreen and an even smaller body than before, the GR III has masses going for it.

Very good detail in images; Effective Shake Reduction system; Very fast operation; Tiny; rugged body; Low image noise at moderate ISOs

Terrible battery life; Autofocus could be better; Vignetting even at smaller apertures; LCD screen doesn't tilt; Relatively poor video recording