With smartphones getting better in taking snapshots of your family gatherings and travels, it is tough to look at compact cameras as an alternative. Not when you have to bring one more piece of equipment for a trip.

The GR III was always going to be a tricky release for Ricoh to pull off. The GR II was so well-loved that a rushed or poorly thought-out successor might have seriously upset a core of loyal users that Ricoh can ill-afford to lose.

Street shooting and casual photography; or travel photography where a small and light camera; with a medium-wide lens is very useful

Any work that requires long shooting sessions; long focal lengths; or low light shooting; where the GR III's autofocus system can struggle

The Ricoh GR III updates the GR series in some really important ways, bringing a modern high-resolution sensor and hybrid autofocus system to the lineup for the first time. Controls have been simplified, and a new touch-sensitive rear screen makes autofocus positioning and image navigation much faster. Image quality is excellent, although JPEG shooters might find that the 'Std' profile delivers rather dull results. The lack of a flash, and unimpressive battery performance are the only major black marks against this pocketable camera.

Street shooting and casual photography, or travel photography where a small and light camera, with a medium-wide lens is very useful.;

Any work that requires long shooting sessions, long focal lengths, or low light shooting, where the GR III's autofocus system can struggle.;

The Ricoh GR III will make you rethink whether a smartphone camera is ‘good enough.'

Compact and stealthy design; Great image quality; Built-in ND filter; Good control layout for the class; USB-C charging and power

Poor battery life; No viewfinder; Price may limit appeal

Introduction; Ricoh GR history; Battery; Tracking AF; Internal memory; LCD quality; USB-C; Lens character; Macro; Low-light AF; Manual and Snap focus; Bokeh; Street photography; AA filter simulation; Image stabilization and dust removal; Video; Image quality; No pop-up flash; Conclusion;

Introduction; Ricoh GR history; Battery; Tracking AF; Internal memory; LCD quality; USB-C; Lens character; Macro; Low-light AF; Manual and Snap focus; Bokeh; Street photography; AA filter simulation; Image stabilization and dust removal; Video; Image quality; No pop-up flash; Conclusion;

If you're a fan of the GR line you'll love what Ricoh has done here. With fast operation, dependable image quality, a crisp and responsive touchscreen and an even smaller body than before, the GR III has masses going for it.

Very good detail in images; Effective Shake Reduction system; Very fast operation; Tiny; rugged body; Low image noise at moderate ISOs

Terrible battery life; Autofocus could be better; Vignetting even at smaller apertures; LCD screen doesn't tilt; Relatively poor video recording

I got into a lot of trouble in an internet camera chat group by stating that if you are a photographer then you need a Ricoh GR. I stand by that statement and now amend it to, 'you need a Ricoh GR III'.

GR fans, or GRists as Ricoh call them, will love this update of an iconic camera. But in the world of multi-lens camera phones the wider appeal of this fixed lens compact will probably be limited.

Small size with big sensor; Great for one-handed shooting

A lot of money; No tiltable screen or eyelevel viewfinder; No built-in flash

The GR III is the latest premium compact camera in Ricoh's classic GR series, which dates back to 1996. It's fair to say the world has changed a bit since then, but the GR range has always been a unique, timeless breed.

APS-C sensor inside pocketable body; Practically no distortion from lens; Sharp and contrasty LCD screen; Very good control over noise at high ISOs; Great detail across frame; even at f/2.8; Effective Shake Reduction system; Generally fast and responsive in use; Touchscreen is useful and responds...

AF can be indecisive and unintuitive; Poor video quality and no 4K recording; Colours a little flat on standard settings; LCD screen fixed in place; Battery life is quite poor; Dynamic range could be better; Expensive

The GR III is a considerable update on the GR II, blessed with a speedy performance and the capability to produce detailed, stabilised, distortion-free images, all from a tiny body you can get into your pocket. Low-light focusing performance, together with miserable battery life and last-resort video quality are limitations worth bearing in mind though.

APS-C sensor inside pocketable body; Practically no distortion from lens; Sharp and contrasty LCD screen; Very good control over noise at high ISOs; Great detail across frame, even at f/2.8; Effective Shake Reduction system; Generally fast and responsive in use; Touchscreen is useful and responds very well;

AF can be indecisive and unintuitive; Poor video quality and no 4K recording; Colours a little flat on standard settings; LCD screen fixed in place; Battery life is quite poor; Dynamic range could be better; Expensive;