How I’m Protecting My Ricoh GR III Against Dust

I’ve read a few reports about dust finding its way to the Ricoh GR III’s sensor. Better be safe than sorry. Here’s how I’m protecting my little GR III to keep its sensor clean.

Just using a lens cap won’t do it against dust

At first, I opted for a lens cap to at least get a bit of protection when carrying my camera in my small bag. It protects when not in use but you have to, obviously, remove it to take shots. Pretty weak and limited… So, I opted for a more solid and 24/7 protection to put my mind at ease.

Ricoh GR III with the JJC lens cap. Portrayed in black and white. — My Ricoh GR III with the JJC lens cap

The optimal dust protection

The best and most reliable solution I’ve found for protecting my GR III against dust is the GA-1 lens adapter. It was released to be used with the GW-4 wide conversion lens and it’s sold for around $40. The GA-1 is compatible with 49mm filters. I just had to add a UV filter and voilà: the sensor is effectively protected from dust, lint, dirt, you name it! Note: for the GR IIIx you may want to use the GA-2 adapter. To protect your filter from scratches use a 51mm lens cap.

Ricoh Ga-1 lens adapter with a B+W UV filter. Portrayed in black and white. — Ricoh GA-1 lens adapter with a B+W UV filter

The GA-1 adapter is great

The only drawback of using the GA-1 adapter and a filter is the bulk. Don’t expect to carry the GR III in your jeans pocket with the GA-1. You’ll lose on pocketability. But for me, it was worth it. I can get out my camera in dirty environments without any worries. I used my little Ricoh in places with lots of dust and had zero problems. The cherry on top: I’ve gained access to filters. Using different kinds of filters is really fun and you can screw them on top of each other for creative effects.

My GR III with the Ga-1 adapter, filter and lens cap — My GR III with the Ga-1 adapter, filter and 51mm lens cap

How to clean up your sensor

If you end up with dirt on your sensor, you can perform a dust removal program. Open the menu, go to the Setup tab, and select Dust Removal. If it isn’t enough, you can contact a camera shop near you, they may propose sensor cleaning services.

Don’t worry, focus on photography

Using the GA-1 adapter with a filter makes the GR III bulkier. But it’s probably the most reliable dust protection solution we, GR users, have at our disposal. If like me you’re worried about getting your sensor dirty, it would put your mind at ease. And you could focus on what matters: photography!