Sean, your point about “if you are like me, you might get too precious with your photography.Too rigid, too strict” really vibed with my current state of mind. Thank you for bringing it to the forefront and allowing me to realise that it’s okay and that there’s more to photography than accuracy … there’s joy, peace and sense of achievement. So, really thanks for putting that point across so beautifully.

Having a compact second camera is game changing. No excuses, just pick up and go. I've been shooting 1000% times more since I've got my second one.

I love how you edit your videos. The soundtracks, the colour you use, etc.

Man, I love this channel. Your content is so unique. More like a documentary/reality tv series than most KZfaq I watch.

Thanks for sharing your thought process and the “why” behind your decisions. It helps many of us with our own journey.

"This is not a gear channel" Gave the best gear review... Thumps up from me, Sean!

Your video always has that calmness that i like

I always leave one or two fresh videos unwatched for later when I won't feel it (my photography or personal). The power of Sean's videos is insane.

Its just a joy listening to your perspective.

I needed to hear this - great message about not being so "planned" and meticulous with all of my photography. Thank you.

I like the way you present your "photography life" as a "journey". That is exactly what it is. We change, we develop, we get gear, we minimize gear, we sell, we buy, we get to understand what we like, and we change! Sometimes today I like to photograph in a certain way, and then a few years from now, we do it differently. As an "enthusiast" I have gone from film cameras, Nikon, Minoltas, etc. to my cameras today, Pentax and Ricoh ( and I have an Olympus XZ-10 which I love!). Just now waiting for my GR II to arrive. Thank you for your excellent videos!

Your KZfaq channel is one of the reasons why I take photos today. It keeps encouraging me to take photos and think of photography. Thank you so much Sean :)

Each and every video are so serene, clean and boosting, every morning I listen to Seans videos.

Thanks for highlighting this great little camera. I've had mine for some time and though not my main shooter there is something really special about the GRii. It's hard to describe just how compact yet powerful this little guy is. Thanks for your continued content, Sean!

Snapseed is a good option for android and they even offer RAW processing if you transfer the DNGs from the GRII. You can also add the instagram borders using the expand tool, so no need for an extra app.

so happy to see your channel grow, you deserve it Sean

Honestly possibly the best compact camera for street. I love your content Sean, very inspiring!

Now this is a TRUE photographer video. Loving the reason why you chose the Ricoh. I too carry a few cameras for different scenarios. Love it

Some KZfaqr's don't come up for air when they verbally deliver their verdicts etc., but your timbre gets right to the target. Urbane, in a word.

I have a sony a7r3 and a GRII, shoot much more with the later...glad to see you pick it up finally, hope to see more GR shots coming up later!

Really enjoyable video. I've had the Ricoh GR for around three years and it's the most inspiring camera I have ever owned - the way you can customise it is quite amazing. The points you make have all been reflected in my own experience. I love the photographic randomness that camera encourages (what you called playfulness) , the surprising detail you discover later in Lightroom.

Wow stunning images. I really admire your work Sean. Keep them coming and thank you for sharing.

Awesome video as always and a message I needed to hear. Especially when you talked about getting "too precious" with your photography.

Thanks Sean, love my GR2, only had it about 3 weeks, i feel doubly vindicated now! Thank you for a great channel, so thought provoking and proffesional .

What an inspiration you are always Sean, thank you....

I've been shooting with the GR for the last 3 years now, I'd highly recommend picking up the 21mm wide angle lens adapter. It does have a heavy distortion, but it extends the use of the camera hugely. Also a quick way to set hyperfocal (an old ricoh trick) is to hold the camera above your head and take a picture of your feet, check that the image is sharp, and turn off the autofocus, set your f-stop to f8 and forget about autofocus while shooting on the street. Best of luck!

I picked up the GRI about 6 months ago super cheap and love it. Love you videos, thanks for all the content.

Yes, make a bag overview video! Also please talk about why you chose your specific bag.

Lovely to see Amsterdam and a nice surprise with the groupphoto at the end. Have a good one Sean. Cheers!

Yes! Do a bag video! I enjoy how you think and work and love learning from you!

Common Sense Photography presented with a Zen Philosophy....Excellent.

As always! Inspiring People!👊👊👊

Been using the GR for four years now. Love it, use it for all my travels and struggle to make myself take an SLR now. Big problem though was when I got a hair on the sensor, had to send it off to Germany. Thankfully it came back and was sorted.

I appreciate your videos so much. Your “Collection II” book was also excellent. Thank you Sean.

I never really thought about giving myself permission to be free and playful with my photography until you mentioned that, Sean. You always have good advice and philosophies.

Wow... I have my Ricoh GRii for 1 week now and I'm so happy to have bought it. Shooting was never this fun and the quality is reeeealy dope for the size.

As always, a delight. No one can display such a high level of mastery while maintaining an equivalent level of humility quite like you Sean. Cheers!

Tu forma de analizar las cosas y compartir esa perspectiva es brillante!

Thanks for this video. I have realised, I used to click more photos and probably better ones when I used to shoot(rather carry around) my small Sony cybershot than my bigger bridge camera or dslr. I definitely have learnt a lot, improved over the years, but that small camera was more like a journal ! It stopped working a few years ago, but after this video I'm determined to get it repaired.

That’s exactly why I got me a FujiX70. Great video and correct on every point. Thank you Sean.

Great video as always Sean. Those images are great from such a small, inconspicuous little camera.

Will definitely take my GR II out more often now. Another good video. Many Thanks.

I love the intro and as always your insights are well tested and considered and having used the GR I agree with your take on it. Personally, I keep going back to a silver Panasonic LX100 / Leica D-Lux 7 in a vintage looking leather half-case as people seem to take me as a tourist, but most importantly the advantage I see is the 22*-70mm f/1.7 Leica Summilux, the rangefinder style EVF and the simple way you can set manual and automatic modes on the aperture, shutter speed and ISO with a flick of a dial, and I found the IQ to be on a par with the GR. For candid photography, the LX100 Wi-Fi remote mode and smartphone app is very useful as I can leave the camera hanging on a strap off my side and use the smartphone app to control all the functions including zoom. That provides a lower angle for more complementary images of people and I've got some uniquely natural and relaxed images for casual and even event shoots where I use the A7 as well. For classic street photo look of people, I love the GR and also the A7R and a vintage Manual glass like the Minolta/Leica 40mm f/2.0, and while I strive to be very discrete and respectful, in the U.S. so many people are not even if I'm not photographing people 'A7R seems to 'trigger' people and police into Paranoid and abusive reactions, and again that's where the GR has an advantage. *I found on the LX100 if I use Capture One I can pull more off the cropped multi-format sensor and get close to a 22mm F/L when zoomed fully out. CP-1 also seems to extract more detail, Micro-contrast, colour and lens RAW conversion Than Lightroom.

The Ricoh GR is the most underrated camera in the photo industry. Very sharp lens, and a stunner (!) of a camera for timelapse, too. The configurable hyperfocal/snap feature is a must for street shooters - and it can be used on all apertures. On bright sunny days, the inbuilt ND filter is a life saver when you shoot with f2.8 aperture. The double exposure and astro freature is a big creative bonus, also. Same with the superfast access to presets. This camera grows on you for every shoot taken. A classic in every sense of the word.

That snapfocus sounds like a smart function! I would want that its perfect for street! 😍

Your videos are great man, and I also love watching the gear ones just as mush as the others. I don’t think you should shy away from those because unlike ‘gear channels’ you talk about a photographer’s approach and the philosophy behind why you’d choose a specific cam. Anyway, keep it going Sean!

I've had the same experience with the X100F. Take it with me EVERYWHERE and absolutely love it. Good to hear your thoughts, Sean.

This is the first video I watched on your channel. I then watched another nine, one after the other. Great informational content and attention to detail with your video production. It won't take long to get through the rest of your videos. Good luck Sean!

I have been more excited for the release of these videos than anything else lately, great stuff.

I own the ricoh and it makes you shoot more . It's an amazing camera. I got happy to see you got one . Love your videos bro

Great content! When I have the time I often take my Sunday mornings off for myself and just walk around town with my Zeiss Milvus 35 f/2. It is a nice little lense and the manual focus makes you really think of the composition before taking the picture. To me, the slowing down of the process is much more needed than the speeding up as you experience. It is interesting that we have the exact opposite experience.

Thanks for the video! On this subject, one of my favorite ways to shoot street that helps me capture organic moments is hanging my camera around my neck, and connect with my phone to use as a preview/remote shutter release. Definitely depends on the camera you use, but I always keep an eye out for this feature

Yes please, it would be quite informative and educational to know and learn what you carry in your daily carry bag :)

No matter what I was doing, when I saw you posted new video, I just want to watch it right away! Always better than the top. Thanks, Sean!

So agree. Wider focal lengths are more challenging to compose with, but can also be more rewarding. I am very interested in trying a 24mm equivalent for awhile for this very reason.

I see this video again and again. And I always learn something new from it. And it always brings me peace. As it does for most of your videos. :-)

Happy to see this video, Sean! I've discovered the same benefits from my Ricoh when shooting street. I force myself to bring it with me, because I don't have an excuse not to. I don't need a bag or anything. Thanks for talking about it!

I learned photography on a point and shoot many years ago. One thing I found was how much more candid my images were. Everyone thought I was just playing around with the settings on my camera. I still own an old Canon power shot, I should take it out more. Thanks for the inspiration. :-)

Thank you for your videos. Very instructonal for us enthusiasts!

I have always hated shooting with a screen rather than a viewfinder. Recently though I purchased a Fujifilm x-m1 with tilting screen and I was surprised at just how like shooting a TLR it is. Excellent for discreet street photography and I am really enjoying it!

Thank you. Your candor and knowledge are refreshing.

I love what's in my bag videos! They usually have huge bags and way more gear, butI always feel I get at least one good tip regardless. I feel that your compact kit and needs are similar to my own, and would be invaluable. Thanks!

welcome to the GR club. Also an alpha user but that GR has given me the most authentic and human shots. Love your stuff.

Wow that snap focus feature is *spot on* for my style of shooting. That little Ricoh has been on my short list for a long time because of IQ. Definitely piqued my interest again. Thanks Sean!

I did exactly the same thing a few weeks ago: got a used GRII and it goes with me everywhere when I don't want to carry my other gear.

Thanks for the inspiration Sean

This video resonates so much. Thanks so much!

I've been shooting professionally for 10 years and a lot longer before then. I too, had a similar journey in which I progressively started shooting wider and wider. Zooming in tight and blurring everything but your subject matter has a "professional" look to it and it's easy to do. Shooting wide is much more challenging. I still rely on those tight shots in my professional work, but if you look at my film stuff (my personal work), I never shoot with telephotos.

Sheeeeesh - for a "stuck in a hotel" KZfaq video, the quality of the footage and lighting in that room is really well done. You really know how to get good results in a seemingly compromised situation

Great shots with the GR II. Love your work !

Insightful, as always!

Another great video. I enjoy your more esoteric approach to photography.

want the whats in 💼 bag!Great video!very calming.

I also use the thumb to shoot with it! My Ricoh GR is my "no camera" camera. It is the camera I have with me when I don't plan on having a camera with me. I almost always have it in my coat pocket or in a bag/backpack. The built in flash is shorted out, one of the lanyard holes is busted and the body shows a decent amount of wear by now.

Yes please for the day-bag contents :D

Would love to see whats in your bag and what a great vlog, thanks for sharing.

I love the way you present your journey and it is so calming to listen to you. I would love to attend your workshops if there are any in the pipeline.

No shame in a well executed gear video. Great to hear how a camera makes you feel and effects your photography rather than pixel peeping and reading spec sheets. More please (xt30?)

Love your channel, as a newbie photographer you inspire me to get out there and experiment

Great stuff, Sean! I’ve been doing more street photography myself recently, and have been enjoying the Fuji X-T20, which I find well suited to that purpose. Having said that, people still notice it a bit more than I’d like and it’s not pocketable. Great shots with the Ricoh. Proof that you can get amazing images from a tiny camera if you know what you’re doing. Would love to join your workshop but I already do street photography in NYC for free on my own time, so I can’t really justify the expense. For some who maybe haven’t done it before that’s a great opportunity to learn. Happy to support via your books instead - enjoyed the first one from last year.

I spend most of my time shooting from the hip. I like the snapshot aesthetic. After a while working with a specific lens, you get to 'know' what the image is going to look like in your mind before you shoot. I really like the 28mm focal length for street and recently I have been getting into 24mm as well (16mm equivalent on a Fuji, as you will probably remember). The main benefit I find is that by shooting from the hip you can get fleeting expressions on people's faces. Good video again, Sean.

Perfect timing wit this video, being that the new camera drops this week or next. Hopefully you get one and do a small talk(not review) on it in what it has that the GR II doesn't have and why it is perfect for street photography.

Damn, I just booked my NY trip for late April! Would've been the cherry on top to be able to attend the workshop!

i like the video and the light in the room

New vid yeyyy

Many thanks Sean ..... I agree with you totally! I am out to buy, as it will be with Park Cameras in a couple of weeks, the new Ricoh GRIII. Basically, to have an exceptional image quality camera that’s with me all the time, but goes beyond the capabilities of iPhone 8+.

I'm currently using Sony A6300 but have had my eye on the Ricoh for a very long time now. Thanks for the inspiration, I might be getting one soon.

Sean! I just discovered your channel. Thanks a lot for those videos!

I always come back to your video. Getting my Leica C-lux, I can now walk around with that one and the GRii, to take care of my needs. Love both cameras. When I do not have to carry heavy DSLR stuff around, and like quality and flexibility, those two make my day. Lately, after a few films with the Leica 5-axis stabilization, It has proven quite well.

Great videos and a fantastic channel! Not sure why I didn't get addicted to it sooner :) This video rekindled my excitement for my GR II. I hadn't used it much lately but it is generally always with me. It really doesn't get in the way much and allows you to really focus on the scene. It is interesting that you have gradually become acclimated to wider lenses because I have found the same to be true of myself. I too used to be "safe" with the 85mm or a 70-200mm zoom. A couple of years ago I forced myself to start using a 50mm then went to a 35mm all the while working with the 28mm FOV of the GR II on and off. I often now feel the 50mm too "tight" and am using the 35mm/28mm much more frequently. I've also added a 21mm to the lineup but time will tell on that one. Just a great video that resonated with me very well, thanks!

i do enjoy your thoughts. i have been using my pre-owned gr2 for the past 16mos. i find the images appealing and i am often challenged by my willingness to document a moment. but with the gr2 with its very decent focusing capabilities and its small form factor, i am often invisible. thank you for the effort and the sharing. i am a very appreciative subscriber. BIG thumbs up.

Shoot from your hip with your thumb, yes it's a very practical method I also found when using my X-M1 ... 👍👍

I was looking at reviews on the GRii on youtube (because of the GRiii), and stumbled on your video. I'm glad i did because it's more down to earth review than the other pixel peeping ones. Yes, i want spec reviews but i want to know how the camera responds in the hands of a photographer. And you did it perfectly. And it's good to know that it's a great camera, even in 2019. :) First video and already subscribed. Thumbs up !!

I love shooting wide, because it forces you get closer to subject, talk to the people or you can move back and shoot wide to tel different stories.

Thank you Sean for some very stimulating ideas, I have only just discovered your channel ( thanks to Peter Forsgård)and have already ordered your book.I invested in a Pen f last summer - as being retired it felt nostalgic and I realised that there are so many great cameras it can be overwhelming but if you find one that you have great fun using it motivates you to get out and just take more pictures.However the Pen f looks retro but is potentially very complex.I have taken lots of amazing shots with my iPhone, but it still does not “feel” like a camera even using the volume control as the shutter release! So your idea of sometimes using simple 'non threatening' pocket camera , which by its nature can force one to be more creative is something I will give serious though to. thanks again.

I'm glad to see you've visited the best of Europe, the Benelux! I hope you've seen Oud Zuid in Amsterdam, it's probably the best non tourist area in the city and every house there is worth a picture :)

This, all of it, it was the GR line has always been for. Welcome. :) Cheers

Hi Sean, I've had a similar journey to you re camera gear, I went from Canon to Fuji to Sony, I used the Fuji X100, X100T, X100F and Leica Q for street, then I got the GRII for it's size and snap focus and found that, like yourself, not having a viewfinder was beneficial, you can get really close without anyone taking much notice. It's not the perfect camera but for street it's pretty damn close, i also like that it shoots DNG raw files, it was a game changer for me, just get extra batteries.

Brilliant video Sean.

Great presentation! I have this camera and I do like it because of its size and ease of use. I agree, it’s a really good second camera as I love the feel of a larger camera such as the X-Pro and X 100 range.