Ricoh’s limited-edition GR IIIx Urban Edition camera, released in March as a kit including some matching accessories now appears to have made it into the regular lineup. Ricoh has announced that the GR IIIx Urban Edition is going to be available to purchase as a standalone edition camera for $1,049.95.

It’s $50 more expensive than the standard Ricoh GR IIIx and $50 less expensive than the limited edition GR IIIx Urban Edition kit that was released in March. And for that $50 reduction, it seems that all you’re really losing out on is the matching leather strap compared to the Urban Edition kit.

Ricoh announces RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition

Stand-alone model of high-end digital compact camera with metallic-gray finish available in late July

PARSIPPANY, NJ, July 6, 2022, — Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition. Previously announced as a part of the RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition Special Limited Kit, the camera can now be purchased on its own. The RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition camera body will be available in late July at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1,049.95.

| Main features of the RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition |

The RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition camera body is accented by a navy-blue ring around the lens barrel. This color was selected to represent typical street shooter imagery such as deep blue skies reflected in a puddle following a rainfall or the bright neon signs of a never-sleeping city. The camera body is finished in metallic gray, reminiscent of the gritty tones of the urban landscape.

This unique exterior finish requires a multi-coat process, which results in the camera’s distinctive appearance and smooth texture. The coating also helps to make it easier for a photographer to get a firm grip on the camera.

This camera also features the functions that were announced for the Limited Edition Kit. These are:

• Snap Distance Priority mode*, a new exposure setting: Once the preferred distance for snapshots and the desired depth of field (DOF) are set in advance, the camera lets the user quickly and easily recall these settings. This setting is programmed to select the aperture, providing the depth of field used in pan-focus photography, making it particularly handy for quick snapshot photography.
• Auto Area AF (Center) focus mode*: Instead of covering the entire image field, this mode operates only in nine focus zones around the center of the image field, preventing the camera from focusing on unintended elements, such as a grassy field in the foreground of an image.
• Enable AF mode shutter-release capability: When the shutter-release button is pressed halfway down, the user can lock the AF system only, without locking the AE system.
• Snapshot mode: A distance setting of 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) has been added to the Snapshot mode; and a long press on the monitor during playback allows the user to instantly recall the playback function selection menu.

* These functions are also available for the standard GR IIIx model with the installation of function expansion firmware (Published).

When the camera’s power is turned off, the camera displays an original shut-down screen featuring the product logo and a street-view image symbolizing the package’s urban-oriented concept.

Note: The camera’s other specifications are identical with those of the standard GR IIIx model.

The Ricoh GR IIIx Urban Edition standalone model is expected to be available to buy at some point this month for $1,049.95, but no specific date has been announced. I imagine it’ll be at all the usual places once it becomes available, although many retailers do appear to be out of stock of the standard model Ricoh GR IIIx at the moment, so despite the $50 premium, the Urban Edition might end up being the quickest way to get your hands on one.