Ricoh GR II in 2026: Still Worth Buying?

The Ricoh GR II came out more than a decade ago and it now sells used for more than it cost new. Social media turned a quiet 2015 compact into a cult object, and that popularity is the main thing working against it: at today's prices you are paying GR III money for a camera that is two generations older.

This guide is spec-based. We build our recipes on the GR III's Image Control menu and have not shot a GR II for this article, so every GR II figure below comes from Ricoh's own spec sheet, DPReview's launch coverage and The Phoblographer's July 2026 look at the camera, all read on September 28, 2026. The verdict and the recipe advice are ours.

Is the Ricoh GR II worth it in 2026?

Only at a real discount. The Phoblographer reported used prices between $900 and $1,200 in July 2026. On the same day we checked, Ricoh Imaging Americas listed the GR III at $1,049.95 (out of stock) and the GR IV at $1,599.95 (in stock). That puts a used GR II in the same price band as a new GR III, and the GR III wins on almost everything that affects your pictures.

Here is how we would decide:

Your situation	Our pick
GR II costs about the same as a GR III	GR III, new or used
Budget stretches to about $1,600	GR IV
GR II clearly cheaper than any GR III you can find	GR II
You want a built-in flash and long battery life above all	GR II
You want Negative Film recipes straight out of camera	GR III, GR IIIx or GR IV

Our pick: skip the GR II unless the price reflects its age. If it does, it is still one of the most enjoyable pocket cameras you can own.

What the GR II still does well

DPReview dates the announcement to June 17, 2015, at $799.95. Its headline was the one thing DPReview's title said: Wi-Fi, and not much else. The GR II kept the original GR's 16MP APS-C sensor and 28mm-equivalent lens and added Wi-Fi, NFC, wireless flash control with some Pentax units, a 1/2500 sec top shutter speed at f/2.8, a 10-frame RAW buffer at 4 fps and six new effect modes.

From Ricoh's spec sheet, the numbers that still hold up:

Spec	Ricoh GR II
Sensor	16.2MP APS-C CMOS (23.7 x 15.7mm)
Lens	18.3mm f/2.8 to f/16, approx. 28mm equivalent, 7 elements in 5 groups
Minimum focus	approx. 0.3m, 0.1m in macro
ISO	100 to 25,600
Shutter	1/4000 to 300 sec, plus Bulb and Time
Battery	DB-65, approx. 320 shots (CIPA)
Screen	3.0-inch, approx. 1.23 million dots
Flash	Built-in, approx. 0.2 to 3.0m at Auto ISO
Built-in ND filter	On, Off or Auto
Internal memory	approx. 54MB
Weight	251g with battery and card, 221g body only
Size	117.0 x 62.8 x 34.7mm

Battery life is the standout. Ricoh rates the GR II at about 320 shots per charge, against about 200 for the GR III and about 250 for the GR IV. For a day of street shooting, that is the difference between one spare battery and two.

The built-in flash is the other. Ricoh's GR III page lists flash support only through the hot shoe, while the GR II has a flash in the body. For daylight fill or the harsh, direct-flash look that suits night streets, it is always there, with no accessory to carry.

The files are the reason people still hunt for it. The Phoblographer's 2026 piece argues that the GR II's JPEGs beat both Fujifilm's and Olympus's, which is a strong claim. What we can say from the spec sheet is simpler: 16MP from an APS-C sensor is plenty for screens and prints up to a normal size, and the 28mm field of view is the same one every GR since has kept.

Where the GR II falls short

The GR II's weaknesses are not about image quality in good light. They are about everything around it.

No stabilization. Ricoh's GR II spec sheet lists no shake reduction. The GR III adds 3-axis sensor-shift stabilization rated at 4 stops, and the GR IV raises that to 5-axis and up to 6 stops. At dusk and indoors, that gap decides whether you keep your ISO low or your shutter speed safe.

Low-light autofocus. The Phoblographer notes that the GR II struggles to focus in low light. Zone focusing sidesteps the problem, and the GR's Snap mode is built for it: our Snap Focus and zone focusing guide explains the distances and apertures, and the logic applies to the GR II as well.

No weather sealing. The same article points out that the GR II is not sealed against rain, which also means dust can find its way in over the years. Check any used copy for sensor dust before you pay, and read our sensor dust prevention and cleaning guide to know what you are looking at.

Resolution and screen. 16.2MP leaves less room to crop than the GR III's 24.24MP, which matters on a fixed 28mm lens where cropping is how you "zoom." Ricoh lists a capacitive touchscreen for the GR III but none for the GR II, and the GR II's 54MB internal memory holds only a handful of files.

Can you use film recipes on the GR II?

Partly, and this is where the GR II differs most from newer GRs for anyone who shoots JPEG.

Ricoh's spec sheet lists these effects on the GR II: Black&White, B&W (TE), Hi-Contrast B&W, Cross Process, Positive Film, Bleach Bypass, Retro, Miniaturize, Shift Crop, High Key, HDR Tone, Clarity, Brilliance, Slight, Vibrant, Bright and Portrait. What is missing is Negative Film, the base that most of today's GR film recipes, ours included, are built on. It also does not list the GR III-generation fine controls, so do not expect every value of a GR III recipe to have a matching slider.

That gives you a clear rule: recipes built on a base the GR II has are a usable starting point, and recipes built on Negative Film are not. Here is how our own presets sort:

Our preset	Base on the GR III	GR II starting point?
Classic Chrome	Positive Film	Yes, same base
Kodak Chrome	Positive Film	Yes, same base
Natural Analog	Positive Film	Yes, same base
Rustic Portra 400	Retro	Yes, same base
Fuji Superia Summer	Bleach Bypass	Yes, same base
Dramatic Monochrome	Hi-Contrast B&W	Yes, same base
Kodak Gold 200	Negative Film	No
Portra 160	Negative Film	No

To adapt one, set the same base effect, copy the white balance mode, then match saturation and contrast by eye against the preset's sample images. We have not tested these on a GR II, so the result will be close in spirit, not identical. If recipes are the reason you want a GR, that is the strongest argument for a GR III or newer: every one of our presets runs as written there.

Our pick for GR II owners: start with Positive Film recipes such as Classic Chrome for muted street color, and Dramatic Monochrome for black and white, because those two bases exist on both cameras.

What to check before buying a used GR II

A used GR II is an eleven-year-old design, and most copies have been carried in pockets and bags for years. Before you pay:

1. Sensor dust. Shoot a clear sky or a white wall at f/11 to f/16 and look for dark spots at 100%. Dust is the most common complaint about unsealed compacts.
2. Lens barrel. Power the camera on and off a dozen times. The lens should extend smoothly, without grinding or error messages.
3. Batteries. Ask how many DB-65 batteries come with it and how old they are. The 320-shot rating is for a healthy battery.
4. Flash and buttons. Fire the built-in flash, turn every dial and press every button, including the function buttons.
5. RAW files. If you shoot RAW, bring a card and check that DNG files open cleanly. Our RAW vs JPEG guide explains why many GR shooters settle on JPEG instead.

Mistakes we see all the time

• Paying GR III money for a GR II. At $900 to $1,200, you are paying for the hype, not the camera.
• Assuming every recipe transfers. Negative Film recipes do not exist on the GR II. Check the base before you buy a preset for it.
• Forgetting the lack of stabilization. Shoot at 1/60 sec or faster handheld unless you are bracing the camera, and let ISO rise instead.
• Skipping the dust test. A dusty sensor on a sealed-lens camera is a repair bill, not a quick clean.
• Carrying one battery. Even at 320 shots, a second DB-65 costs less than a missed afternoon.

In short

The Ricoh GR II is still a lovely camera, but at 2026's used prices it competes with a new GR III and loses on resolution, stabilization and recipe support. Buy it only when it is clearly cheaper than a GR III, and test it for dust and lens faults first. If your budget stretches further, our Ricoh GR IV review covers the current 28mm model, our Ricoh GR IIIx guide covers the 40mm one, and our best point-and-shoot cameras roundup puts both against Fujifilm and Sony.

Shooting a GR II today? Start with the Classic Chrome recipe ($1.99) on its Positive Film base. If you move up to a GR III or newer, the Street Essentials bundle ($8.99) sets up the whole camera in one sitting.