Ricoh GR IIIx vs Canon G7 X Mark III: which pocket camera to buy

Buy the Ricoh GR IIIx if you mostly take still photos and want top image quality in a jeans pocket: APS-C, 40 mm-equivalent f/2.8, 262 g, $1,249.95 [1]. Buy the Canon G7 X Mark III for video, selfies or zoom: 24–100 mm, a 180° flip screen, 4K and a mic jack, from $879.99, out of stock [2]. It has an APS-C sensor, much larger than the 1-inch sensors in zoom compacts, a fixed 40 mm-equivalent f/2.8 lens, and weighs 262 g, for $1,249.95 [1]. Buy the Canon G7 X Mark III if you shoot video, selfies or need zoom. It has a 24–100 mm-equivalent f/1.8–2.8 lens, a screen that flips 180°, 4K 30p video and a mic jack [2]. Canon's store lists it from $879.99 but out of stock [2].

Image quality. The Ricoh's APS-C sensor is physically much larger than the Canon's 1-inch sensor [1][2]. In practice, that means cleaner low-light pictures and more natural background blur at the same framing. Ricoh owners say the pictures look good straight out of a pocket camera [3]. A Canon owner who hikes and mountain-bikes with a Mark III says focus and low light are worse than their Canon RP full-frame camera [4], which is the trade any 1-inch compact makes.

Lens. The Ricoh has one focal length, 40 mm equivalent, with crop modes to 50 and 71 mm [1]. You zoom with your feet. The Canon zooms from 24 to 100 mm [2]. For landscapes that need wide, or a distant ridgeline, the Canon is more flexible. Its f/1.8 wide end is also brighter than the Ricoh's f/2.8 [1][2].

Video and vlogging. No contest. The Canon records 4K at 29.97 fps, Full HD up to 119.88 fps, has a 3.5 mm mic jack, flips its screen 180° for selfies and can live-stream to YouTube [2]. The Ricoh records Full HD up to 60p and has a fixed screen [1].

Size. The Ricoh is thinner, 35.2 mm against 41.4 mm, and lighter, 262 g against 304 g [1][2]. Both fit a jacket pocket. The Ricoh is the one owners describe shooting one-handed [3][5].

Reliability complaints. Both have lens covers that owners say can stick. Ricoh owners report a lens window that won't open fully [6]. A Canon owner found the lens shutters wouldn't open fully after five days [7]. Another Canon owner says the Mark III lens has autofocus issues that firmware never fixed [8]. A four-year Ricoh owner calls it the most fragile camera they've owned [5].

Battery. Both are short. Ricoh rates about 200 shots and Canon about 235, or 320 in ECO mode [1][2]. Carry spares for either.

• Still photos are the point, and you want the biggest sensor in a pocket body [1].
• You like a fixed 40 mm view for street, travel and people [1].
• Thin and light matters, at 262 g [1].
• You want macro to 12 cm [1].

• You shoot video, vlog or want selfies with a flip screen [2].
• You need zoom, from 24 to 100 mm [2].
• You want a mic jack or live streaming [2].
• You'd rather spend about $880 than $1,250, if you can find one in stock [1][2].

If you want more zoom than either, the Sony RX100 VII reaches 200 mm equivalent for $1,499.99 [9]. See Sony RX100 VII vs Canon G7 X Mark III and our pocket travel cameras roundup.

Dust. Both lenses retract behind small covers, and owners of both report covers that stick [6][7]. Keep the camera in a zip bag on dirt roads. Ricoh adds ultrasonic sensor cleaning [1], which shakes dust off the sensor but can't clean the lens cover.

Heat. Canon rates the G7 X Mark III from 0 to 40°C [2]. Ricoh says the GR IIIx stops video automatically if it gets too hot inside [1]. A car in desert sun gets hotter than either is built for. Keep it in a cooler bag or in the cab.

Glare. Neither has a built-in viewfinder [1][2]. Screens are hard to read in midday sun. Ricoh sells an optional GV-3 external optical finder [1]. With the Canon, tilting the screen away from the sun helps.

Night sky. The Canon has Star Nightscape, Star Trails and Star Time-Lapse modes [2]. The Ricoh's larger sensor gathers more light per shot [1]. Both need a small tripod.

Charging. Both charge over USB-C [1][2], so a power bank at camp works.

Ricoh GR IIIx

• After three weeks, an owner kept it because it shoots well one-handed and the pictures look good [3].
• After four years and about 50,000 shots, an owner calls it ideal one-handed and the most fragile camera they've owned [5].

Canon G7 X Mark III

• An owner of both the Mark II and Mark III says the Mark III lens has autofocus issues that firmware never solved [8].
• After five days, an owner found the lens shutters wouldn't open fully [7].