Incorporating a newly developed highlight diffusion filter (HDF), the Ricoh GR IIIx HDF allows users greater control over the style of their imagery while maintaining exceptional image quality. Captures with HDF enabled are noticeably softer and feature an emphasize on highlights, resulting in a more nostalgic look that resembles film photography or vintage movies. The default setting of the Fn button is now set to turn HDF on or off. This model also features a dark silver shutter-release button to distinguish itself from previous GR series models. Lastly, new firmware allows Zone Select AF as well as up to three white-balance settings to be preprogrammed as the base white balance.
HDF Model Enhancements
- Dark silver shutter-release button
- HDF on/off is assigned to Fn button by default but can be assigned to other function buttons
- Up to 3 custom white balances can be registered
- Zone-select AF allows users to select any zone within the 3x3 focusing area
High-Resolution GR Lens
The newly designed 26.1mm GR lens provides a 40mm standard angle of view in the 35mm format, delivering images with a natural perspective and a truthful sense of depth for a completely different type of street photography. High-refractive index low-dispersion glass lenses and aspherical high-precision molded glass lenses are optimally placed in the lens construction to suppress optical distortion and chromatic aberration, delivering a high level of sharpness. The camera also comes equipped with an ND (Neutral Density) filter, which closes the aperture down by two stops to capture high-contrast and high-resolution images with a variety of scenes and subjects under varying shooting conditions. Its nine-blade diaphragm mechanism creates a natural bokeh effect and a truthful sense of depth at open and larger apertures, while capturing beautiful light beams at closed-down apertures.
24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor and GR Engine 6
An updated 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor pairs with the new GR Engine 6 to produce high-resolution 14-bit DNG or JPEG stills with impressive tonality, natural color rendering, and high sensitivity from ISO 100-102400. In addition to stills shooting, the GR IIIx HDF is also capable of recording Full HD 1080 video at 60p, 30p, and 24p frame rates.
Hybrid AF System
The hybrid AF system combines a contrast-type AF mechanism with a phase-detection-type AF mechanism ensuring high-speed focusing operation. During autofocus shooting, this AF system detects the subject's face or eye with precision, focuses on it, and indicates the in-focus position on the LCD display using the AF frame. When the camera detects multiple faces, it automatically distinguishes the main subject from secondary ones and indicates this on the focus frame.
Shake Reduction System
Shake Reduction (SR) minimizes camera shake on three axes, including yaw, pitch, and roll to provide up to 4 stops of compensation and produce crisp, sharp images even when taking split-second snapshots or capturing images with challenging low-light conditions.
Compact and Lightweight Design
The GR IIIx HDF is designed to be extremely compact, functional, and portable. The exterior frame is made of rigid magnesium alloy for improved durability while being carried or stored. It provides a host of user-friendly features including a short start-up time of approximately 0.8 seconds, control dials conveniently positioned next to the four-way controller, and effortless touch-screen operation. These features enhance operability and allow the user to swiftly react to once in a lifetime opportunities.
HD LCD Monitor with Touch-Screen Operation
A 3" high-definition LCD monitor with touch-screen operation provides swift, intuitive control of various camera functions such as AF frame shift, menu selection, and image advance/magnification during playback. An outdoor view setting allows you to instantly adjust the monitor's brightness to the desired level for greater visibility in difficult lighting conditions.
Image Control and Visual Effects
The GR IIIx HDF features a creative image control function, which integrates effect modes into conventional image setting operations. Using 11 basic image control modes, you can easily adjust various parameters such as hue, saturation, key, contrast, and graininess to the desired level. A set of adjusted parameters can also be added as a custom setting to the image control function menu.
Advanced Image Editing
The GR IIIx HDF provides in-camera RAW editing so you can edit a captured image by adjusting such parameters as recoding size, aspect ratio, white balance, and exposure compensation, all without the need of a PC. The camera also lets you retain the adjusted parameters after the initial RAW-data development is completed, making it possible to make minute readjustments of the already developed image.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
The GR IIIx HDF provides wireless functions for easy pairing with mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. By installing the dedicated Image Sync app, you can transfer captured images to a mobile device, display a live-view image on the monitor, change various settings remotely, release the shutter from a distance, and upload captured images to various social media platforms with ease. You can also send your mobile device's location data to the camera and record the data on captured images. An auto resize function automatically reduces the image size before transmitting it to a mobile device.