INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Ricoh Imaging has confirmed that it will be exhibiting its GR III model at this year's Photokina event in Cologne.The company had already
confirmed that it would be working on a follow-up to 2015's GR II model earlier in the year, although no other details were confirmed at
Today's announcement still holds a few things back and stresses that the model is still under development, although it does reveal key
specs for the new release (which, the company points out, are still subject to change).The GR III ushers in a fresh 24.24MP APS-C sensor,
which is a significant step up in pixel count on the 16.2MP sensor inside the GR II
This is paired with a new processing engine and a newly designed lens, the trio "designed to further upgrade image quality, strengthen many
of the functions and improve the user interface."While the new lens maintains the same 18.3mm focal length and f/2.8 maximum aperture as
before, a revised optical design sees six elements arranged over four groups (including two aspherical elements), in contrast to the
seven-element, five group design common to GR II and the original GR
Taking the size of the APS-C sensor into account, this provides the user with a focal length equivalent to around 28mm in 35mm
terms.Three-axis image stabilizationAnother significant change from the GR II is the presence of a three-axis sensor-based Shake Reduction
system, while a hybrid phase- and contrast-detect AF setup upgrades the GR II's sometimes-tardy contrast-detect AF system, and puts it
more in line with recent models from other manufacturers that employ a similar principle.Disappointingly, it appears that the GR III will
only record Full HD videos rather than anything in 4K quality, although this will at least be offered to 60p
The LCD screen on the model also appears to have a lower resolution than the GR II's , at 1.03million dots against the previous camera's
1.23million dots.Other features include an AA Filter Simulator, a DR II Dust Removal system, a built-in ND filter and post-capture Raw
Somewhat strangely, the spec sheet also reveals the camera will have 2GB of internal memory, although it's still set to be compatible with
while a hot shoe is designed into the top plate
While it appears as though the model will be marginally smaller than the GR II overall, at 251g with a battery and memory card, it's set
to weigh roughly the same.The GR line began life in the analogue era, and the series has traditionally appealed to street and documentary
photographers, thanks to its small size and understated design
The GR III will become the third digital model in the series to incorporate an APS-C sensor, and Ricoh Imaging expects the model will be
ready for launch early next year.Photokina officially opens its doors tomorrow (Wednesday), and many rumoured cameras and lenses are
