The Best Camera for Everyday Moments
A love letter to the Ricoh GR IIIx - the pocketable camera that stole my heart.
I never meant to fall for a camera made by a printer company.
But here I am, whispering sweet nothings to the Ricoh GR IIIx every time I slip it into my jacket pocket. It’s not flashy. It’s not full-frame. It doesn’t scream “professional.”
And yet, this little box of magic has become one of my most treasured cameras.
Note: I’m including tons of examples in this post. Make sure to click the individual photos in each gallery to load them in full-quality.
Quick Disclaimers
My Camera Kit - This is my “fun” camera; it’s not the camera I use for my stranger portrait series. You can find an updated database of all my camera gear here.
Not Sponsored - Nobody paid me to write this. I’m not sponsored by Ricoh, and I’m certain they have no idea who I am. These are my own thoughts.
Affiliate Links - The links to the cameras are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase, I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Honestly, I don’t care if you click them or not - just giving you a heads up.
SOOC + Phone Edits - 90% of these images are either straight out of camera, or taken as JPEGS with minimal edits to them on my phone. There’s only one photo (in the RAW section) that was edited on my laptop using lightroom.
Recipes - Ricoh cameras use “recipes” which are a combination of different settings to achieve different looks. But please don’t ask me what recipes I used - because I’m constantly tweaking my settings to try new things. I couldn’t tell you what settings I used if I tried.
How It Started
My friend Jay first mentioned the Ricoh. I nodded politely and ignored him. I was so happy with my Sony cameras at the time… I couldn’t imagine trying something new.
Plus at the time, street photography felt like something other people did. Mostly guys with Leica hats and suspiciously clean shoes.
Then my friend Topp started posting photos on his IG stories of his family outings.
They were crisp, dreamy and effortless. I DM’d him:
“Wait. What camera is this?”
He replied: “Ricoh GR III”
Now two of my most creative friends were recommending this camera. Hmmmm….
I fell into a rabbit hole. Blog posts. YouTube videos. Reddit threads. Turns out, this tiny camera has a serious cult following. People swear by it. Carry it like a secret weapon. Treat it like an extension of their own eyes. I was intrigued.
The version he had was an 18.3mm lens (roughly a 28mm full-frame equivalent). But I like things a little tighter. I don’t need to see everything, and I usually want a bit more compression & subject isolation (ie. blurring out the background).
So I went with the Ricoh GR IIIx instead, which rocks a 26.1mm lens. That’s a 40mm full-frame equivalent. The sweet spot, in my opinion, between too wide and too tight.
And out of all the cameras I’ve ever purchased, this one surprised me in ways I didn’t even know were possible.
Capabilities vs. Soul
Let’s be clear. When it comes to professional work (especially portraits) my heart belongs to Sony.
Nothing comes close in terms of reliability, autofocus performance, lens selection, and portability all in one. I’ve built my career with Sony gear. I trust it. I rely on it. And I’m fully locked into the ecosystem.
But the Ricoh? It’s the opposite.
It’s not a professional camera. It’s not for client work. The autofocus is slow and clunky. It’s portable, sure, but it chews through batteries like it’s training for a marathon. It’s limited. It’s frustrating.
And somehow… that’s the charm.
Sony is what I use to make a living.
Ricoh is what I use to feel alive.
Great for Foodies
Remember when we used to take photos of our meals before eating them? This camera makes that fun again, without feeling like you’re doing it for clout.
The Ricoh GR IIIx is small enough to sit next to your water glass without anyone noticing. No massive lens hovering over your bowl. Just a discreet little click before you eat.
The color profiles make food look warm and rich, even in terrible restaurant lighting. Straight out of camera, it gives everything that cozy, film-like glow without needing edits.
The 40mm focal length is perfect for table shots. It keeps the focus on the plate while gently softening the mess around it, like napkins, elbows, or stray salt shakers.
And the cherry on top? You can transfer the photos to your phone instantly. From plate to post in under a minute, while your friends are still deciding on filters.
Street Warrior
The Ricoh GR IIIx thrives in the city.
It’s small enough to hold with one hand, which makes it perfect for capturing moments without drawing attention. Whether you’re people-watching from a park bench or dodging bikes downtown, this camera is ready before you even think to raise it.
Its 40mm equivalent lens hits that sweet middle ground. It’s wide enough to tell the story, but tight enough to avoid the clutter. Add in the quiet shutter and snap focus mode, and you’ve got a stealthy little street companion that won’t scare off a moment before it happens.
Mother Nature
This camera isn’t just for sidewalks and alleyways. It handles nature surprisingly well too.
Whether it’s spring flowers, fall leaves, or overgrown forest trails, the colors pop without feeling overdone. The sensor picks up subtle textures in bark, petals, and grass.
What really stands out is how beautifully it renders color.
There’s something slightly surreal about it. Almost like the scene is dipped in nostalgia. You can customize the look of your photos with different JPEG “recipes” so that your images look polished and dreamy straight out of camera.
It’s ideal for camping trips, long walks, or any kind of outdoor adventure where you want to travel light but still capture the magic.
It’s small enough to toss in your bag and quiet enough not to scare off a squirrel. Perfect for those in-between moments where the city fades and the trees take over.
Travel Companion
Traveling with camera gear can be a headache. It’s heavy, it’s obvious, and it makes you feel like a walking target.
But the Ricoh? It looks like a chunky phone. Nobody gives it a second glance.
It’s so light you forget it’s in your pocket. And it doesn’t scream “steal me” the way a full-frame setup might. Nobody would guess the kind of images this little thing can produce.
For camping trips, city escapes, or long travel days, if I could only bring one camera—it would be the Ricoh.
Life Portraits
It’s not a portrait camera in the traditional sense. You won’t get that creamy, blurred-out background or razor-thin depth of field you’d expect from a pro setup.
But for quick snaps of your friends while out and about? It’s surprisingly solid.
The Ricoh somehow captures the vibe more than the vanity.
The 40mm focal length feels intimate without being invasive. You can stand close enough to connect, but far enough to keep it natural. Also, people don’t freeze up or pose too hard when the camera looks like a small toy.
Furry Friends
The Ricoh isn’t designed for fast-moving subjects, but if everything aligns just right, you can get some decent photos of your pets. The cinematic colors give the images a nostalgic feel. Almost like memories being made in real time.
But it ain’t easy.
You need good light, because this camera struggles in lowlight situations. And you need to be quick, because the autofocus isn’t exactly built for chasing tails.
Unlike a Sony, it’s not going to magically find their eyes for you. Your dog has to sit still. You have to sit still. But if you nail the shot, it might just become one of your all-time favorite photos of your pet.
Everything In Between
It’s not a phone. It’s not a full-blown camera. This camera lives in a sweet spot all it’s own.
And yet, somehow, it makes everything (even the random stuff) look good.
Don’t get me wrong. The camera won’t just magically fix bad photos. To get the most out of it, you still want to learn the basics. Light. Composition. Framing. Color theory.
But the Ricoh has a way of turning everyday moments into something that feels cinematic. A walk to the store. A coffee on the patio. A shadow on the wall.
For those reasons, I rarely leave home without it.
Going RAW
This camera is built for the SOOC (straight out of camera) JPEGs, but it also allows you to shoot in RAW if you want to push your photos even further. Essentially it means that it shoots in a flatter, more flexible format that allows you to do more extensive edits.
In my opinion, this kinda defeats the purpose of an everyday life camera. But on those odd occasions that I want to push this camera as far as it can go, I’ll shoot in RAW + JPEG. That way if there’s a particular photo I think could benefit from some post-processing, I still have that option in afterwards.
What It Does Well
The everyday camera. This is my memory keeper. Walks with Carter. Late-night ramen runs. Sunsets that deserve a second look.
JPEGs that pop. The color profiles are incredible. The SOOC images slap.
Instant sharing. I shoot. I transfer to my phone. I post. No laptop needed.
Light as air. It weighs practically nothing so it’s easy to slip into any bag.
Pocketable. This camera fits in your pocket, which means it goes everywhere.
Tip: This little camera is crisp. Sometimes I find the images a bit too sharp, so I keep a Glimmerglass 1.0 filter attached for that hazy, retro look. Highly recommend.
What It Doesn’t Do
Portraits. With an f/2.8 aperture and a crop sensor, it’s not built for dreamy portraits.
Fast action. The autofocus is… let’s call it contemplative.
Dogs. I tried once. It was a disaster. I even made a video about it.
Dust. It’s not weather sealed and has a tragic habit of collecting dust on the sensor. Consider this a preemptive heartbreak warning.
Low-light. It really struggles with focusing in low-light, unless you use a tripod.
Video. Don’t even try it. You’re better off recording on a potato.
Nerdy Bits (Because Someone Will Ask)
APS-C sensor
26.1mm f/2.8 lens (equivalent to 40mm on full-frame)
Snap focus mode (actually amazing for candid shots)
Built-in ND filter
USB-C charging (thank you, Ricoh gods)
Final Thoughts
This isn’t a review. It’s a confession.
I love the Ricoh GR IIIx not because it’s perfect. But because it’s always there.
It asks nothing of me but to press the shutter.
And sometimes, that’s enough.