The GR after dark
Every GR lens opens to f/2.8 and no wider, so how well a given camera copes after dark comes down to three things: ISO, image stabilisation, and how long it can hold the shutter open. Those differ a lot across the range.
| Body | ISO range | Stabilisation | ND filter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ricoh GR II | ISO 100-25600 | none listed | not listed |
| Ricoh GR III | ISO 100-102400 | 3-axis | 2EV (AUTO / ON / OFF) |
| Ricoh GR IIIx | ISO 100-102400 | 3-axis | 2EV (AUTO / ON / OFF) |
| Ricoh GR IV | ISO 100-204800 | 5-axis | 2EV (AUTO / ON / OFF) |
| Ricoh GR IVx | ISO 100-204800 | 5-axis | 2EV (AUTO / ON / OFF) |
What those numbers are worth
Ignore the top of the ISO range. A camera listing ISO 204800 is not usable at ISO 204800 — that number is there for the spec sheet, and pictures taken near it look rough. What the range does tell you is roughly how much room a camera has: the GR IV generation has meaningfully more than the GR III generation, which in turn has much more than the GR II.
Stabilisation does more for you. It lets you hold the camera by hand for longer without the picture smearing, which means you can keep the ISO lower — and lower ISO always looks better. The GR II lists no stabilisation at all, which is the biggest single gap between it and every newer model here.
Set a minimum shutter speed and an ISO ceiling
Auto ISO on a GR lets you set both the upper limit and the minimum shutter speed. Set them deliberately: left alone, Auto ISO will climb to the top of its range rather than let the shutter drop. Around 1/60 for static scenes and 1/125 for people is a reasonable starting point. Auto ISO setup →
The ND filter is not for the dark
Every model from the GR III onward has a built-in ND filter; the GR II's spec sheet lists none. It is effectively sunglasses for the lens, for shooting in bright sun — the opposite of a low-light tool. Leave it on AUTO or OFF after dark, because leaving it ON just throws away light you need.
Snap focus stops helping
Snap focus works because everything near your chosen distance comes out acceptably sharp. In dim light the lens opens up, and that forgiving zone gets much narrower — so more shots miss. Switch to autofocus at night, or expect a lower hit rate. More on snap focus →
What the specs cannot tell you
Whether the grain at ISO 6400 looks acceptable to you is a judgement no spec sheet settles. For that, look for people who have shot one at night.