Why I Switched to the Ricoh GR IIIx for Everyday Photography

The Matt Price Recommendation

Over the past 15 years, Matt and I have collaborated on various projects. He has shot some of the most iconic skateboarding photos of the best pro skaters for brands like Converse, SKF Bearings, ASICS, and many others. So when I decided to upgrade from my Canon 70D, Matt was the first person I called for advice.

His response was immediate: Get a Ricoh GR.

Then he dropped a bombshell — some of his recent global brand campaign photos were shot entirely on his GR III. My jaw hit the floor when he told me this. How could a tiny little point-and-shoot camera create some magical photos?!

The Search for the GR IIIx

It took me weeks of research to decide on which GR III model to buy, and then another two months to actually find a GR IIIx in stock — at the time, nearly every U.S. camera store was sold out.

In May 2024, I finally got my hands on a GR IIIx Urban Edition — and now, this camera travels everywhere with me. It’s so compact that I can fit it in any shirt or pant pocket. After shooting 10,000+ photos, I can confidently say that this is my favorite digital camera I’ve ever owned.

Of course, no camera is perfect. A couple of small downside:

• Battery life isn’t great, but I always carry 1-2 extra batteries, so it hasn’t been a major issue.
• The fixed lens means you can’t swap out lenses—but honestly, that’s one of the things I love about it. It forces me to work with what I have, which makes me more creative.

This camera has reignited my love for photography. The colors, details, and overall look it captures continually impress me.

Camera vs. iPhone

After using the GR IIIx daily for two months, I realized something:

I was barely shooting photos with my iPhone 15 Pro Max anymore — because the difference in image quality was night and day.

The New Go-To

I’ve become a Ricoh GR IIIx evangelist. Whenever someone asks me for camera advice — even strangers on the street — I can’t help but sing its praises. Again, I’m not a professional photographer, but when I see this camera's images, I’m in awe of what this little thing can do.