I’ve been on the fence about the Ricoh for years and just can’t find the rationale to pull the trigger, but I’ve been close. For me, shooting street is just fine with a bigger camera, but I wouldn’t complain if I had a smaller one but the lack of viewfinder would bug me. I’m big on composing that way and use it almost exclusively. The sharpness of the lens on the Ricoh is nice though, and your photos with it are awesome. It’s funny I left a similar comment on a post just before reading this about how gear does matter as long as pushes you to shoot more, glad to see more sentiments towards that.
Ok that makes me wanna get one! Looking to replace my em10 IV so love its more compact that that. Can i ask you…does the screen flip out vertically at an angle or does it flip outward horizontally if that makes sense..mostly shoot from hip so incredibly useful to me..
I've seen output from a lot of photographers who use this camera and it's clearly extremely capable. You've pulled together a really interesting article on (and some very nice shots taken with) a camera I genuinely wish I could get on with. Let me explain....
No viewfinder. I don't see a viewfinder as something that would hold me back. Quite the opposite. Since birth, I have one eye which can't focus and barely works (a "lazy" eye). My other eye has a strong + prescription. I have to wear glasses or a contact lens all day, every day. A viewfinder is essential for me as I struggle to compose a shot unless I have a viewfinder. Probably as a result of this (as well as being uber-clumsy) I struggle to shoot with my iPhone. More about this later.
28mm lens / POV: I used to carry a Leica M (film) and a Leica M (Digital) and 4 lenses (28mm, 35mm, 50mm and 90mm). I wanted to simplify my set-up without sacrificing creativity, so I bought the original Leica Q. Great camera, BTW. This gave me a native 28mm lens and the ability to crop (digitally) to cover the focal lengths I'd had previously. However, I soon realised that I was cropping to 35mm on a regular basis. I wanted a 35mm Leica Q, dammit.
Then Leica produced the Q2 - a much larger pixel count - which helped with resolution on the digital crop - so I got one of those and spent a lot of time cropped to 35mm which gave me a similar pixel count to the original Q at 28mm. However, the perspective was still the same as the native 28mm - just cropped in a bit. I learned to live with it.
Then Leica brought out the Q3. Even more megapixels but not sufficient other enhancements to tempt me to trade up.
Ta-dahhhhh....the Leica Q3 43 arrived. All the familiar features, a slightly better lens, same 60MP sensor as the Q3 and the tilting screen. I got one and I love it. But no 28mm option. No matter, I have a Fuji X-Pro2 and an X-T5 with lenses which are the full-frame equivalent of 21mm, 24mm and 28mm if I ever want / need one.
I'm happy to travel light but, when I was working, I commuted 90mins each way to work and back daily, and my preference was to carry a shoulder bag with my laptop and my camera gear. Now I'm retired, the laptop stays at home most of the time but the Q3 43 (or X-Pro2 and a couple of primes) and my iPhone are part of my EDC.
I've recently acquired a Leica Lux Pro grip. This connects, magnetically, to my iPhone (and makes it a lot easier to hold and control) and Bluetooth pairs up to the Leica Lux app. This, I'm hoping will replace the need to carry an additional camera with a 28mm lens / POV. I'll have to get used to using the iPhone's screen instead of a proper viewfinder but the phone screen is a lot bigger than most camera screens and it's a compromise that I can try to work with.
If Ricoh ever produces a "GR" with a viewfinder (even a hot-shoe connected EVF) I might just consider one.
Hi Joshua. The Leica Lux Grip is the only way that I'll consider using my iPhone as a camera on anything like a regular basis. Having slightly arthritic hands, and being generally clumsy, I struggle to hold, focus and control the iPhone as a camera. It's also allows me to use the iPhone screen as a viewfinder - which helps as I find most rear screens on real cameras too small. The grip attaches to the iPhone by a magnet. My iPhone is protected using a Peak Design camera case and the grip attaches to this just fine. I'd initially been concerned that I'd have to remove the phone case - which is something I didn't want to do. The grip connects to the Leica Lux app (available only via the Apple App Store) via Bluetooth. When you buy the grip, you get one year's subscription to the "Pro" version of the app, free. Thereafter, it's currently about £70 per year. The free year is redeemed by using a code which is entered into the app. There is a totally free version of the app but, although this is okay, it doesn't allow access to all of the app feature, of course. One of the main benefits of the app is the range of Leica Lux "looks". These are Leica's equivalents to, for example, Fuji's in-camera film simulations. They only work as JPEGs - which is fine - and I do actually like most of them. I think there are eight of them - mostly colour but some useful B&W ones. When using the "Pro" version the impact of each of the looks can be varied between 0% and 100%. The grip contains 3 buttons. One is dedicated to firing the shutter. The other two can be configured to control other functions as you wish - level, grid, etc. The grip is charged via USB-C to USB-C cable. I haven't fully tested the duration of a charge, yet. As far as lenses go, that's limited to which version of the iPhone you use. It's not compatible with anything other than iPhones and I'm not sure whether that's likely to change.
As far as the Q3 43 is concerned, I love it. It's a standard Q3 (body) but with a 43mm Apo-Summicron f2 attached. The body is covered with a mid-grey leather to distinguish it from the Q3. The only thing that frustrated me (past tense) is that the lens hood supplied is not deep enough (front to back) to allow standard filters (49mm diameter) to be used and still allow it to be attached. It's an easy fix. I bought a third party (JJC) metal lens shade via Amazon and problem solved. The JJC hood is a more traditional round / vented hood but it works perfectly. I had a spare 49mm lens cap which helps keep the dust off. All good. The original Leica lens hood not fitting is a frustration but I prefer to have a protection filter on the lens at all times. I also like to use a CPL and ND filter, occasionally.
I had a 3 year fling with the GR from 2014. Then one day, I realised it was just a bit of fun and nothing serious. So, I settled down with a viewfinder and a couple of lenses. Enjoy your love affair, while it lasts. 😉
I always buy cameras...but in the end, my love is for the GR that I've been using since 2014.
It's just such a great camera.
I’ve been on the fence about the Ricoh for years and just can’t find the rationale to pull the trigger, but I’ve been close. For me, shooting street is just fine with a bigger camera, but I wouldn’t complain if I had a smaller one but the lack of viewfinder would bug me. I’m big on composing that way and use it almost exclusively. The sharpness of the lens on the Ricoh is nice though, and your photos with it are awesome. It’s funny I left a similar comment on a post just before reading this about how gear does matter as long as pushes you to shoot more, glad to see more sentiments towards that.
Thank you! I don't always think gear is important, but yes, I’m a firm believer that if gear can push you to learn, yeah it’s worth it.
Ok that makes me wanna get one! Looking to replace my em10 IV so love its more compact that that. Can i ask you…does the screen flip out vertically at an angle or does it flip outward horizontally if that makes sense..mostly shoot from hip so incredibly useful to me..
The screen doesn't flip out at all sadly. But you can get a top-down style mount for shooting from the hip that helps.
Ok good to know..thank you Joshua!
I've seen output from a lot of photographers who use this camera and it's clearly extremely capable. You've pulled together a really interesting article on (and some very nice shots taken with) a camera I genuinely wish I could get on with. Let me explain....
No viewfinder. I don't see a viewfinder as something that would hold me back. Quite the opposite. Since birth, I have one eye which can't focus and barely works (a "lazy" eye). My other eye has a strong + prescription. I have to wear glasses or a contact lens all day, every day. A viewfinder is essential for me as I struggle to compose a shot unless I have a viewfinder. Probably as a result of this (as well as being uber-clumsy) I struggle to shoot with my iPhone. More about this later.
28mm lens / POV: I used to carry a Leica M (film) and a Leica M (Digital) and 4 lenses (28mm, 35mm, 50mm and 90mm). I wanted to simplify my set-up without sacrificing creativity, so I bought the original Leica Q. Great camera, BTW. This gave me a native 28mm lens and the ability to crop (digitally) to cover the focal lengths I'd had previously. However, I soon realised that I was cropping to 35mm on a regular basis. I wanted a 35mm Leica Q, dammit.
Then Leica produced the Q2 - a much larger pixel count - which helped with resolution on the digital crop - so I got one of those and spent a lot of time cropped to 35mm which gave me a similar pixel count to the original Q at 28mm. However, the perspective was still the same as the native 28mm - just cropped in a bit. I learned to live with it.
Then Leica brought out the Q3. Even more megapixels but not sufficient other enhancements to tempt me to trade up.
Ta-dahhhhh....the Leica Q3 43 arrived. All the familiar features, a slightly better lens, same 60MP sensor as the Q3 and the tilting screen. I got one and I love it. But no 28mm option. No matter, I have a Fuji X-Pro2 and an X-T5 with lenses which are the full-frame equivalent of 21mm, 24mm and 28mm if I ever want / need one.
I'm happy to travel light but, when I was working, I commuted 90mins each way to work and back daily, and my preference was to carry a shoulder bag with my laptop and my camera gear. Now I'm retired, the laptop stays at home most of the time but the Q3 43 (or X-Pro2 and a couple of primes) and my iPhone are part of my EDC.
I've recently acquired a Leica Lux Pro grip. This connects, magnetically, to my iPhone (and makes it a lot easier to hold and control) and Bluetooth pairs up to the Leica Lux app. This, I'm hoping will replace the need to carry an additional camera with a 28mm lens / POV. I'll have to get used to using the iPhone's screen instead of a proper viewfinder but the phone screen is a lot bigger than most camera screens and it's a compromise that I can try to work with.
If Ricoh ever produces a "GR" with a viewfinder (even a hot-shoe connected EVF) I might just consider one.
Paul let me know how to like the Lux Pro Grip. I've also thought about selling some gear to pick up a Q3 for a while now.
Hi Joshua. The Leica Lux Grip is the only way that I'll consider using my iPhone as a camera on anything like a regular basis. Having slightly arthritic hands, and being generally clumsy, I struggle to hold, focus and control the iPhone as a camera. It's also allows me to use the iPhone screen as a viewfinder - which helps as I find most rear screens on real cameras too small. The grip attaches to the iPhone by a magnet. My iPhone is protected using a Peak Design camera case and the grip attaches to this just fine. I'd initially been concerned that I'd have to remove the phone case - which is something I didn't want to do. The grip connects to the Leica Lux app (available only via the Apple App Store) via Bluetooth. When you buy the grip, you get one year's subscription to the "Pro" version of the app, free. Thereafter, it's currently about £70 per year. The free year is redeemed by using a code which is entered into the app. There is a totally free version of the app but, although this is okay, it doesn't allow access to all of the app feature, of course. One of the main benefits of the app is the range of Leica Lux "looks". These are Leica's equivalents to, for example, Fuji's in-camera film simulations. They only work as JPEGs - which is fine - and I do actually like most of them. I think there are eight of them - mostly colour but some useful B&W ones. When using the "Pro" version the impact of each of the looks can be varied between 0% and 100%. The grip contains 3 buttons. One is dedicated to firing the shutter. The other two can be configured to control other functions as you wish - level, grid, etc. The grip is charged via USB-C to USB-C cable. I haven't fully tested the duration of a charge, yet. As far as lenses go, that's limited to which version of the iPhone you use. It's not compatible with anything other than iPhones and I'm not sure whether that's likely to change.
As far as the Q3 43 is concerned, I love it. It's a standard Q3 (body) but with a 43mm Apo-Summicron f2 attached. The body is covered with a mid-grey leather to distinguish it from the Q3. The only thing that frustrated me (past tense) is that the lens hood supplied is not deep enough (front to back) to allow standard filters (49mm diameter) to be used and still allow it to be attached. It's an easy fix. I bought a third party (JJC) metal lens shade via Amazon and problem solved. The JJC hood is a more traditional round / vented hood but it works perfectly. I had a spare 49mm lens cap which helps keep the dust off. All good. The original Leica lens hood not fitting is a frustration but I prefer to have a protection filter on the lens at all times. I also like to use a CPL and ND filter, occasionally.
I hope this helps.
I had a 3 year fling with the GR from 2014. Then one day, I realised it was just a bit of fun and nothing serious. So, I settled down with a viewfinder and a couple of lenses. Enjoy your love affair, while it lasts. 😉