Ricoh GR II Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Black)

I've been using this camera for the past week, and I think it is quite fantastic.I have a lot of cameras (and many more I sold over the past 2 years). I have a Leica Q, Leica M-P, Leica X2, Panasonic GH5, and Fuji XT-2. I also constantly used my Sony RX100 MV for about a year. So, as you can tell, I have quite the panorama of experience with various systems. I love all of these cameras for their own particular purposes: the Leica's are simple and have amazing image quality (the Q is, in my opinion, hands down the best fixed-lens mirrorless camera money can buy). The GH5 is brilliant for 4K footage. The Fuji brings the excellent image quality, build, and bells and whistles of the modern camera. And the Sony is a do-it-all pocket camera.But I'm giving the Ricoh GR II the same 5-stars I gave to the Q and GH5. Why?1. The GR is a true joy to use. Everything just works. The menu system is quick and unencumbered by endless pages of various settings (think Sony's textbook of a menu system). You can create your own profiles for the camera--which by itself is not new. But it's the depth of control you have over each thing the camera can do internally that sets it apart.2. The horizontal jog dial on the back of the camera is pure genius. I've not encountered this type of button before. You set it to access all your (emphasize YOUR) most-used functions. Push in to bring up the menu, scroll to bring up the sub-menus. Do you want to control ISO, image size, effects, and aspect ratio from the job dial? No problem. You can have those functions from that one button. AND you can decide exactly how you want those features to appear when you want them to.3. The images out of this camera are sharp. I mean, really sharp. The large sensor gobbles up light and allows for some excellent image quality. The fixed-lens is aberration-free. The focus system is accurate (though not as fast as the RX100 MV).4. I like the various "effects" built into the camera. You may not really enjoy these things if you're a professional photographer. But given the right circumstances, some of the effects make fun and unique photographs.5. The camera starts up very quickly. Frankly, I have yet to find a moment that I missed because I had to wait too long for the camera to extend its lens and become ready to shoot. For all reasonable purposes, it's immediate response upon hitting the on/off button. I don't think that my RX100 MV is faster.6. It has great build quality. The camera is weighty without being burdensome. I don't feel as if I'll forget it's in my pocket, but nor do I cringe at putting it in my jeans. As silly as it might sound, I dislike having my RX100 MV in my pocket much more than this camera. I think it's because the Sony has too many sharp corners, where as the Ricoh (though larger) has rounded corners.7. VALUE FOR MONEY. This is a no-brainer purchase if you want a large-size sensor in a pocket-friendly format. It has every single photography feature you could ask for. I have't tried the video recording mode and am not interested in recording on this camera. I'd rather prefer the RX100 MV's 4K recording. Nevertheless, the Ricoh has an HD recording mode--but I wouldn't brag about it.Overall, you can't go wrong with this purchase. If you look on other websites, you'll notice that this camera is going for $600 or higher. I haven't noticed that it has really plummeted in price since its release. And for good reason. It's a camera that forces you to think how you want to approach a subject, gives you easy and immediate access to all your settings, and excels in image quality.Others have said that you can operate this camera one-handed. I agree. I've done it. And I've been consistently surprised how painless it is to do.I think this is a fantastic camera for the price. I'd be hesitant to recommend it had it been priced around $800. If that had been the case, you'd be wiser to purchase the Fuji X70 or pay a little bit more and get the RX100 MV for some additional video features.But, since the price is between $500 and $600, you should certainly think about this camera. And then think again and again. There will be some people who will hate this camera for aesthetic reasons or his larger size. But you'd be hard pressed to find a legitimate complaint about the images it delivers.

I'm pretty much a novice when it comes to cameras, I have an older DLSR and shoot on auto mostly but I noticed it was too bulky and I wouldn't take it with me on certain occasions. After searching for smaller cameras I purchased the Ricoh GR II, I know it's mostly used for street photography, but what I wanted it for was capturing family photos, the best family moments kind of happen on a whim and this camera is fantastic at turning on quickly capturing the moment and then put away until the next event. I recently traveled to the Grand Canyon and this was the only camera I brought, it performed very well. Only regret is maybe some of the landscape photos look the same, there's no zoom to play with but obviously I knew that going into it.It isn't really comfortable in a jean pocket, but is great in a jacket pocket. I purchased a separate case that attaches on my belt loop and that works great.I have gotten better at photography because of this camera. Before I would mostly shoot portraits of the kids and each photo would look the same with the same bokeh effect and subject is in the middle, but with this camera I've been paying more attention to what the background is doing since it's going to be in the shot anyways. And I have gotten out of full auto mode! If you get the setting the dialed in the way you want, it's fantastic! A few of my favorite photos are straight one handed, I'm not even looking at the LCD screen, I'm taking the camera out of pocket turning the power on, my settings are already dialed in, the snap focus is set, and the whole motion of capturing the moment takes a few seconds. It's just phenomenal.Some reviewers say this is a more advanced camera, and I would agree. I had to practice for about a month to get a good feel for what I was doing. But once you get it down, it's awesome. (On a side note if you get this camera you need to disable the Adj ISO lever, you will hit it on accident and it will lock your ISO on some setting you don't want it to be on without you even realizing it)

Pros: Great camera for mobility. It is small and light so you can carry it everywhere. Large sensor, good white balance. Pretty fast auto focus, and the ability to use snap focus.The camera is very fast in operation. Also, you can literally hold in one hand and change Just about most (if not all) settings with the hand you are using to hold it. That frees up the other hand for whatever you want - hold an umbrella in the rain, or a drink, or whatever.Menus are straightforward and easy to understand.Pretty decent macro function.Cons:Max 2.8 aperture and no image stabilization means you can only do so much in dark conditions. ISO works well at 1600, but isn't great at 3200. you can also do fractional increments, and pick a value somewhere in between.Overall, this is a fantastic camera. I use it for street and travel, and it is easy to carry and easy to use. If you need a low light monster, this isn't it. Also, it's a fixed 28mm lens. I grew to like it a lot, though if given the choice I would have taken 35mm in the same package. Of corse, there is no camera that offers 35mm in he same package. And the overall package is so good that I bought it and now I like 28mm. also if you are new to cameras this is probably not a good only camera.