Ricoh's original GR digital — the APS-C pocket camera that defined the premium compact genre.
The Ricoh GR is the first generation of Ricoh's APS-C compact camera revival, released in 2013. It reinstated the GR name on a digital APS-C compact after years of smaller-sensor predecessors, pairing a large APS-C sensor with a 28mm equivalent f/2.8 fixed lens in a jacket-pocket body.
The original GR uses a 16.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter, a 28mm equivalent f/2.8 fixed lens, in-body shake reduction, 1080p HD video, and the GR's characteristic snap focus system for quick focus at preset distances. RAW capture and full manual controls are standard.
The original GR established the template that the GR II and GR III would follow: APS-C sensor quality in a pocketable compact with a sharp 28mm fixed lens. The absence of an OLPF gives it slightly sharper resolution at the cost of occasional moiré. Snap focus — where the lens jumps to a preset focus distance without focusing — is the defining operational feature for decisive-moment street photography.
Test snap focus functionality at 1m, 2m, and infinity distances. Verify in-body shake reduction operation. Check the fixed lens for any oil, haze, or coating damage. Confirm RAW capture works correctly. Note that the GR original generation predates WiFi/NFC — no wireless connectivity.