Photography is as much about creativity as it is about capturing moments. The Ricoh GR III has earned its place in the hearts of photographers for its compact size, powerful sensor, and, most importantly, its ability to produce stunning JPEGs straight out of the camera. With the right recipes, you can transform your images into visual masterpieces without spending hours in post-processing. Before we get into the details, let me show you some images which are SOOC JPEG without editing.

Why Ricoh GR III Recipes Are Unique

The Ricoh GR III stands out in the world of compact cameras for its exceptional JPEG rendering capabilities and its ability to emulate classic film simulations. But what makes its recipes so popular? Here are a few reasons:

  1. Speed and Convenience: Recipes allow photographers to achieve their desired look in-camera, saving time on editing.

  2. Film-Like Aesthetics: With a bit of tweaking, you can replicate the tones and textures of classic film stocks through built-in film simulations.

  3. Versatility: Whether you’re shooting street photography, landscapes, or portraits, there’s a recipe for every scenario.

Popular Ricoh GR III Recipes

These are my three favourite

1. Kodak Chrome (Link)

  • Settings:

    • Effect: Positive Film

    • Saturation: +3

    • Hue: -1

    • High/Low Key: -2

    • Contrast: -2

    • Contrast (Highlight): +2

    • Contrast (Shadow): -4

    • Sharpness: +1

    • Shading: 0

    • Clarity: +2

    • Highlight Correction: On

    • Shadow Correction: Low

    • Peripheral Illumination Correction: On

    • High-ISO Noise Reduction: Off

    • White Balance: Daylight

    • WB Compensation: A:10 G:4

    • ISO: up to ISO 6400

    • Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +1 (typically)

  • Use Case: Classic Kodak slide film aesthetic.

2. Royal Supra (Link)

  • Settings:

    • Effect: Positive Film

    • Saturation: +2

    • Hue: -4

    • High/Low Key: +1

    • Contrast: +4

    • Contrast (Highlight): -4

    • Contrast (Shadow): -3

    • Sharpness: +1

    • Shading: 0

    • Clarity: +4

    • Highlight Correction: On

    • Shadow Correction: High

    • Peripheral Illumination Correction: On

    • High-ISO Noise Reduction: Off

    • White Balance: Shade

    • WB Compensation: B:6 G:4

    • ISO: up to ISO 6400

    • Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

  • Use Case: Reminiscent of Kodak Royal Supra or Royal Gold color negative film.

3. Reggie’s Color Negative (Link)

  • Settings:

    • Film Simulation: Negative Film

    • Saturation: +2

    • Hue: 0

    • High/Low Key: 0

    • Contrast: +3

    • Contrast (Highlight): -4

    • Contrast (Shadow): -1

    • Sharpness: +1

    • Clarity: 0

    • Highlight Correction: Auto

    • Shadow Correction: Medium

    • High-ISO Noise Reduction: Off

    • White Balance: Auto

    • WB Compensation: A:6 G:0

  • Use Case: A versatile recipe for achieving a balanced, film-like color palette suitable for various shooting conditions.

    Also look into: https://ricohrecipes.com he created most of the popular film simulations for the Ricoh GR III

Recipe Comparisons: JPEG vs. RAW

One of the most frequent questions photographers ask is whether JPEG recipes can replace RAW editing. While JPEG recipes offer incredible speed and ease, RAW files still provide unparalleled flexibility. Here’s a comparison:

JPEG with Recipe: Quick to share, consistent look, smaller file sizes.

RAW: Greater dynamic range, sharper details, ability to recover highlights and shadows, endless editing possibilities.

For example, a cinematic tone recipe applied directly in-camera may look ready-to-share, but editing a RAW file gives you the ability to fine-tune every element to your liking. Additionally, RAW files are sharper because the JPEG converter in the Ricoh GR III isn’t as advanced as, for example, Fujifilm’s X100V JPEG engine. To illustrate this, I’ve added example images at the end of this post. The “before” shots are SOOC JPEGs, while the “after” shots are the edited RAW files. This side-by-side comparison shows why shooting in RAW+JPEG is the best approach. It gives you the flexibility to recover exposure or adjust the style if needed.

JPEG EDITED RAW

Tips for Creating or Adapting Recipes

Want to craft your own recipes? Here are a few tips:

  1. Experiment with Contrast and Saturation: Small tweaks can dramatically change the mood.

  2. Leverage White Balance Shifts: Add warmth or coolness to enhance the overall feel.

  3. Save Recipes: Use the Ricoh GR III’s built-in memory to store your favorite settings for quick access.

  4. Test in Different Lighting Conditions: Ensure your recipes work across various scenarios.

Final Thoughts

The Ricoh GR III’s ability to produce stunning JPEGs with recipes makes it a favorite among photographers. Whether you’re looking for speed, creative inspiration, or a film-like aesthetic, these recipes can elevate your work to new heights. At the moment, my favorite recipe is Ricoh’s Negative Film simulation, but I still shoot RAW most of the time to ensure I have the flexibility to adjust exposure or style later.