I just came across this online – a new Ricoh GR IIIx Urban Edition Special Limited Kit, not sure if it is already officially announced:
RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. is pleased to announce the launch of the “RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition Special Limited Kit”
Set to be Available in limited quantities of just 2,000 units worldwide, this special package features a new RICOH GR IIIx treated with a metallic gray finish and accentuated by a navy-blue ring encircling the lens barrel and a genuine-leather hand strap.
A body only version of the RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition is also scheduled to be launched around August this year.
The unique metallic gray exterior finish was made possible by the application of a series of intricate coating processes. Creating a distinctive appearance and smooth texture while also helping improve camera hold for greater operability. The specially designed, genuine-leather hand strap is accentuated by a navy-blue stripe identical in colour with the ring around the lens barrel, While also providing extra security while walking around with the camera.
Finally, purchasers will also receive a unique metallic hot shoe cover, giving you the ability to truly personalise their camera. These have the option for a custom engraving of up to 9 letters or simply one of a pre-determined number of options.
More details on release, pricing and how to get those custom engravings to follow soon – stay tuned!
The “regular” Ricoh GR IIIx camera is now in stock in the US at Adorama and B&H Photo.
Update #1: The kit camera will also debut new exposure and focus modes that will be available at the time of the kit’s launch in April for other GR IIIx cameras via firmware update.
Update #2 – the camera is now officially announced:
Main features of the RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition Special Limited Kit
- The camera body is accentuated by an eye-catching navy-blue ring that encircles the lens barrel — a representation of deep blue skies reflected on a pool after the rain, or the neon signs of a never-sleeping city and their reflections. The camera body is treated with a metallic gray finish, reflective of a street photographer engrossed in photography in the middle of the gritty city. This unique exterior finish was made possible by the application of a series of intricate coating processes, and creates a distinctive appearance and smooth texture while also helping improve camera hold for greater operability.
- A specially designed, genuine-leather hand strap is included as an exclusive accessory of this limited-edition package. It is accentuated by a navy-blue stripe identical in color with the ring around the lens barrel, creating a sense of unity with the camera body.
- The camera features Snap Distance Priority mode* as 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 recall these settings instantly and with ease. The DOF3 setting is programmed to select the aperture (F number) providing the depth of field used in pan-focus photography, making it particularly handy for quick snapshot photography.
- The camera features a new focus mode: Auto Area AF (Center).* 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 the ground in the foreground.
- The camera also provides other new functions: the Enable AF mode has been added to the shutter-button settings. When the shutter-release button is depressed halfway down, the user can lock the AF system only, without locking the AE system; a distance setting of 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 will be available for the standard GR IIIx model with the installation of function expansion firmware (to be released following this package’s launch).
- The package includes a specially designed black metallic hot shoe cover.
- When the camera’s power is turned off, the camera displays an original shut-down screen feautring the original 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.
Here is the full press release:
RICOH Announces Ricoh GR IIIx Urban Edition Special Limited Kit
Limited-edition package includes metallic gray-finished camera with blue-accented lens barrel and exclusive accessories; model debuts new GR IIIx exposure and focus modes
PARSIPPANY, NJ, March 9, 2022 — Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition Special Limited Kit. This package features the RICOH GR IIIx high-end digital compact camera, with a metallic gray finish and navy-blue ring around the lens barrel. It also includes exclusive, specially designed accessories: a leather hand strap and a metallic hot shoe cover. The kit will be available in limited quantities starting in April 2022 for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1,099.95.
A second special package–the RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition body only version (camera body only, without the genuine-leather hand strap and the metallic hot shoe cover)—is scheduled to be available in the summer of 2022.
| Main Features of the RICOH GR III Street Edition Special Limited Kit |
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.
The navy-blue stripe on the leather hand strap matches the color of the lens barrel ring, complementing the overall design of the camera. The package also includes a specially designed black metallic hot shoe cover.
This camera also debuts several new functions that will also be available for standard GR IIIx models with firmware updates that will be released along with the availability of this 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.
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.
