Masahide on Shooting Freely While Traveling with Kids | RICOH GR IIIx | Knowledge #454

Creators who are passionate about photography share their stories and the cameras that shape their vision. A "beloved camera" reflects each individual's philosophy and values. In this feature, we meet Masahide, an avid user of the RICOH GR IIIx.

Traveling with children presents realities that go beyond the simple desire to take photos. This was his first flight with his infant son. Masahide discusses why he chose the RICOH GR IIIx for such a special journey.
How do you balance portability and image quality on a family trip where luggage tends to increase? We explore his perspective on travel cameras for parents, focusing on how to enjoy documenting family, gourmet experiences, and everyday journeys with ease.

The RICOH GR IIIx is a high-end compact digital camera from Ricoh Imaging. It features a 26.1mm F2.8 lens (equivalent to approximately 40mm in 35mm format) and an APS-C size CMOS sensor with approximately 24.24 megapixels. Despite its compact body, it delivers both high resolution and a wide dynamic range thanks to its large sensor.

Our first flight trip since my son was born. Recently, we traveled to Ishigaki Island in Okinawa. Traveling with an infant inevitably means more luggage.

Balancing the demands of childcare and travel is already exhausting, so I decided that carrying a heavy camera and lenses for sightseeing would be too much. For this trip, I narrowed it down to just the RICOH GR IIIx.

For me, the greatest appeal of the RICOH GR IIIx is that it houses a large APS-C sensor within a compact body.

For example, even when shooting family portraits backlit by the intense sun on the beach, the APS-C sensor allows you to confidently lift the shadows in RAW development.

Another essential aspect of travel is photographing gourmet experiences. While it can feel awkward to use a large camera in a restaurant, a compact camera allows you to shoot with minimal concern for your surroundings.

Although the maximum aperture of F2.8 may seem a bit limiting, the three-stop image stabilization makes indoor shooting much easier.

The RICOH GR IIIx is renowned as a snap shooter, but its compact body and agile handling also make it ideal for capturing everyday moments.

Because carrying the camera was virtually stress-free, I was able to fully enjoy the trip while casually taking photographs.

Of course, there are times when I wish I could use a full-frame mirrorless camera with a telephoto lens, but it's best not to be greedy when traveling.

Above all, enjoying the moment with my family comes first. The RICOH GR IIIx, which allows me to shoot with ease, is the perfect travel camera for me as a parent.