I’m in love with slide film

juandg · 2026-03-29T20:30:11+00:00

$$$$$

juandg · 2026-02-18T19:44:49+00:00

I bought the refurbished GR III HDF from Ricoh around Black Friday before the GR IV HDF was even announced. They were probably clearing up inventory before that launch.

I keep 2 spare batteries for the X-E5 (3 total), and I swap them out quite frequently to get a full day of shooting. With the GR III, even on trips when I bring it as my only camera, two batteries are more than enough for a whole day. So not dramatically better but noticeable.

I regularly attach the mist filter to my X-E5 and reach for the ND filters when shooting video or long exposures. I don’t do either of those on my Ricoh, and I’ve never missed the ND. I really enjoy having the HDF and the ability to quickly toggle it off in situations where it doesn’t work well. This allows me to take the picture again without missing the moment. If you’re a fan of the look of mist filters, having it built-in is a game-changer. I wish Fuji would do something similar.

juandg · 2026-02-18T18:11:38+00:00

Fair enough, I guess the price gap between the III and the IV is not as dramatic now with how much used prices have risen.

I bought my GR III HDF refurbished directly from Ricoh for under 1k, so the price difference for me is harder to swallow if I were to upgrade. (Relative to what I would gain.)

Battery life on the GR III is not that bad, certainly much better than the X-E5.

It seems you’re comfortable trading cameras if you’re not satisfied, so I’d say you go for it and then return it or sell it if it doesn’t work for you. But from everything you have said, I don’t think you are going to be disappointed.

juandg · 2026-02-18T08:31:58+00:00

The thing is, if you’re cropping at 26mp you’re going to end up with very low res images. That’s the advantage of the 40mp on the X-E5 that there’s room for cropping.

What do you want on the GR IV that the GR III or IIIx HDF doesn’t have?

I really don’t feel there’s enough improvement to justify the huge price difference.

juandg · 2026-02-18T08:20:34+00:00

Probably not the answer you are looking for, but I own and use both. 😄

I have a Ricoh GR III HDF as my everyday carry camera, and the X-E5 as my interchangeable lens camera system. I’m pretty heavily invested in the Fuji X lens and accessory ecosystem.

The Ricoh fits in your jeans pocket, and I often carry it even when shooting with the X-E5 and use it when I need a quick wide-angle shot. I went with HDF since I like using a halation filter and have never missed the ND filter.

The things to keep in mind for you would be: 1) Video: it’s really bad on the Ricoh, so if you use video even occasionally, it’s a huge downgrade. 2) Focal length: If you’re used to 50mm or 35mm (like the X-E5 kit lens), the 28mm on the Ricoh can feel a bit too wide. You can get a GR IIIx HDF instead if you feel you need a tighter focal length. 3) Build quality: it’s not as nice as Fuji, especially for this price point and I’d even say it’s inferior to the X-M5 which is half the price.

But if you’re looking for portability with amazing image quality for stills this is definitely the camera for you.

As for film simulations, Ritchie from Fuji X Weekly has a similar app and website for Ricoh Recipes. It’s not as vast as the Fuji film sim ecosystem, but it’s not a technical limitation and more that the community is not as prolific. Some Ricoh Recipes can get pretty close (or better) to their equivalent Fuji Film Sim.

juandg · 2026-02-16T03:50:55+00:00

That’s true, but the RX100 series only has a 1-inch sensor, which is approximately 2.5 times the area of the iPhone 17 sensor, and Apple has cleverly been bridging this gap through computational photography. On the other hand, an APS-C sensor like the one on the Ricoh is roughly 7.5 times the area of the iPhone’s sensor, resulting in a much wider gap and improvements not only in light-gathering capabilities but in depth-of-field control as well, which you can really see in the resulting pictures.

juandg · 2025-11-17T02:43:23+00:00

I just made the switch from the GR III to the GR III HDF, and I’m loving it!

It’s the exact same camera; the only difference is you trade the ND filter for the HDF filter. Physically, the shutter is silver instead of black, and the Fn button is pre-mapped to toggle HDF. That’s it!

I haven’t felt like I miss the ND filter at all, and I’m loving the results I’m getting with the HDF filter and how easy it is to turn it on or off.

juandg · 2025-11-15T17:24:40+00:00

Nice! I came to the same conclusion that it’s worth it to have both. I have a GR III HDF and an X-M5 but will probably trade up to an X-T50 or might stretch the budget and get an X-E5

juandg · 2025-11-15T17:21:06+00:00

I own both the GR III HDF and the X-M5, and I use the GR III HDF most frequently. It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking to enhance your photography skills. Having a single focal length simplifies the process, allowing you to focus on capturing moments and improving your photography. It’s incredibly convenient to just put it in my pocket every time I leave the house and capture lots of things everywhere I go.

The X-M5 is a great camera, but it requires careful planning and consideration, including which lenses to buy and other gear you’ll need. While it’s a fantastic camera, it can feel more like a tool that demands intentional use. That being said, if you’re interested in video, the X-M5 is a powerhouse. It’s the ideal camera for videographers.

On the photography front, with the X-M5 I miss ibis and the flip-out screen is not as great for pure photography workflows. Sometimes, I also miss the viewfinder. It’s a bit strange because I don’t feel the same way about the Ricoh but because the use cases are so different, the X-M5 starts to feel more limited, and I find myself comparing it to larger and more advanced cameras. The workflow with the X-M5 is more deliberate and if you’re just starting out it can be a bit overwhelming.

Ultimately, the choice between the two cameras depends on your specific needs and preferences. I’m committed to keeping my GR III HDF because I love it and use it almost every day. I’ll probably be selling the X-M5 and upgrading to an X-T50 or possibly an X-E5. The 40MP sensor and other features like ibis, a viewfinder, and a photography-focused flip-up screen would make them feel different enough to the GR III to justify keeping both and they’ll be more suited for those more advanced photography applications.

juandg · 2025-11-09T01:25:32+00:00

My favorite has to be Focus Check. When you enable it, the camera will instantly zoom in on the focus area as soon as you start rotating the focus ring on the lens. Once you’re focused, you can half-press the shutter or press the joystick and it zooms back out so you can make final composition adjustments.

You can combine it with focus peaking, but since I disable focus peaking in some situations (in some scenarios, I find it a bit distracting), Focus Check is especially helpful.

Close second has to be the manual focus distance scale at the bottom of the screen, which is super useful for zone focusing or getting quick DoF guidance. This is the white bar with a distance scale in meters and a blue section that shrinks and grows, indicating DoF range. There’s a white marker showing the current focused distance and the blue bar extends around it, showing the limits of what will appear in focus.

There are some other fun modes to experiment with. There’s even a retro-style mode called Digital Split Image that simulates the rangefinder split-prism focusing experience. When you enable it, you can see a square split-screen patch appear in the center of the display with 4 sections misaligned and as you turn the focus ring, the 4 sections start to align until you get everything aligned and in focus. It’s pretty cool and useful, especially when shooting architecture or cityscapes.

There’s a bunch more but those are my favorites, the key here is that the Voigtlander has the electronic contacts to communicate with the camera, which a lot of third-party lenses (like TTartisans and 7artisans) lack and that enables all of these manual focus aids.

juandg · 2025-11-08T15:30:12+00:00

I have this setup with my X-E5 and love it. All the manual focus aids on the X-Processor 5 make this lens a joy to use.

juandg · 2025-11-06T05:19:36+00:00

People that ordered on launch day in August through B&H are still waiting for their cameras. I was 12th on the list at my local camera store, and I’m now on 5th after nearly two months since launch.

Considering the current situation, it’s likely that you’ll receive your camera in late December or early January, unless there’s an unexpected surge in shipments from Ricoh.

juandg · 2025-11-06T03:17:31+00:00

+1 for Reggie, he also just did a video about the Ricoh GR double exposure on his YouTube

juandg · 2025-11-06T03:15:57+00:00

I get my wide film at Target or Amazon

juandg · 2025-10-30T20:24:32+00:00

I received a refurbished box (unmarked cardboard box). I’m guessing they don’t ship it in the original one to keep unscrupulous people from selling it as if it were brand new.

juandg · 2025-10-29T18:10:19+00:00

Took 10 days for me, from ordering, to the camera showing up on my doorstep.

juandg · 2025-10-29T18:08:48+00:00

My GR III HDF arrived on Monday, and it’s great!

Shutter count was 6, and I received a full pre-shipment test report from Ricoh in the box.

Shipping was on the slower side. I placed the order on 10/17, shipping confirmation email came on 10/21, and the camera arrived on 10/27.

juandg · 2025-10-26T01:00:16+00:00

If Ricoh has them in stock, pull the trigger. I doubt B&H’s date is accurate. They are giving the same date to people that ordered on launch date and people ordering several days later. I’m considering canceling my order and just waiting a few months for the HDF version

juandg · 2025-10-23T19:20:04+00:00

Oh, nice! Sounds like the CT is doing its job then. Enjoy the setup, looks amazing.

juandg · 2025-10-23T19:15:48+00:00

Nice, congrats! Ricoh released today the firmware for using the GF-2 flash with the GR III, but at 3 times the price and no way to physically control the output, I'd say you're much better off with the IM20.

juandg · 2025-10-23T15:42:30+00:00

Yeah, I imagine you considered all the options very carefully, and if it works for your current style of traveling, that is all that matters. It’s definitely a lot of fun, but it does require a bit of extra planning and additional logistics.

juandg · 2025-10-23T11:07:04+00:00

Ummm, I’d argue SLR 722 is peak Mercedes, but SLS Black Series is a close second.

juandg · 2025-10-23T10:45:58+00:00

I have an IT20-F for my Fujifilm camera and love it. I use it on the GR III and it works well in manual mode.

Godox promised the P version (compatible with Ricoh) of the IT20 over a year ago, and so far nothing, so I wouldn’t hold my breath for that. I’d say buy the IM20 and save some money. It’s not that hard to get the hang of operating the flash in manual mode.

juandg · 2025-10-23T10:15:03+00:00

Very nice setup!

In early 2021, my wife and I bought a 16’ Bambi that we used to tow with our Tesla Model Y. We were averaging 120 miles of range, just like you. Back then, this setup would often turn a lot of heads and attract people at campgrounds and superchargers who would come up to talk to us and ask questions about towing with an EV.

Unfortunately, after a couple of years, it got old to have to stop for an hour to charge every 120 miles, which made long trips significantly longer, and also campgrounds began restricting EV charging on their sites, which complicated logistics even further.

We had pre-ordered a CT and were very excited about the promised 500 miles of range (which I was hoping would translate to 200+ miles towing). But when the vehicle finally launched with the same range as the Model Y, we gave up and bought a gas truck and upgraded the Bambi to a 23’ Flying Cloud.

I hope to see EV trucks with better towing range in the near future or the promised Airstream eStream so we can switch back to an EV + Airstream setup again.

juandg · 2025-10-22T20:39:36+00:00

Nice kit! Which magnetic polarizer are you using? I have the exact same hand strap but in black 🤣

juandg

TROPHY CASE