Ricoh GRIII / GRIIIX - How To Set Up U1, U2, U3 Mode Dial
The Ricoh GRIII and GRIIIx come with a Mode Dial. This dial is one of the primary ways in which you can change how the camera operates. You have all the usual modes there such as Av for aperture priority, Tv for shutter priority, P for program, and M for full manual exposure. You will also find three custom modes labelled as U1, U2, and U3. In this blog I will share with you how to set these up so you can get the most out of them.
Important Information:
It’s worth keeping in mind that the these custom U settings remember almost everything. From your aperture value, down to what custom button you set. Any changes you make to the camera while in one of these modes, will be reset back to defaults you saved when you change to another mode. I highly suggest setting up the entire camera first before assigning these custom modes in order to save yourself a lot of time and hassle updating everything again later.
Ricoh GRIII Guide
If you’re finding this blog useful, and wish to learn more about setting up your GRIII / GRIIIx, then please check out my in-depth guide. Learn how I set up the camera, and how to squeeze the most out of it. By purchasing this guide, you’re directly supporting my work and helping keep this blog ad-free. Thank you.
This Ricoh GRIII/GRIIIX set-up guide is designed to save you time and get your camera set up and working just like I do. This guide covers all GRIII variants.
You will learn what the major features do and why I chose to set them in a certain way. I will show you how to assign the buttons and custom menus in order to have the most important features at your fingertips. Finally, I will walk you through how I expose and focus.
This guide is not a replacement for your user manual and does not cover 100% of the features. It covers the features that, in my experience, 90% of the people use 90% of the time. This is based on years of photography and video experience.
This guide is best suited for those who want to be up and running quickly with a tried-and-tested set-up.
This is a digital download and not a physical product. The download is around 23mb.
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally, I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying this guide is the most direct way you can support my work, thus allowing me to make more videos, photos, and tutorials for you.
Thank you for your support!
Memory Boxes:
While you only have three custom U modes on the Mode Dial, you actually get 6 memory boxes that can hold different set ups. The theory behind it, is you save 6 different configurations, and then can assign them to one of the U modes as and when you need.
What I use them for:
This is very subjective and will differ depending on what you shoot, and how you like to use cameras. This is what works for me. Box 1, 2, and 3 are for different aperture values. The camera is in aperture priority with each box having a different value assigned. Box 1 is f2.8, box 2 is f5.6, and box 3 is f11. The idea behind it is it allows me to quickly change the aperture value without needing to look at the camera or take time with the index wheel. The other three boxes are set up for night photography, slow shutter drag, and a full auto mode for point and shoot.
Saving & Assigning:
Before you assign a custom mode, you first need to place the camera in the desired exposure mode. Av, Tv, P, and M can all be used. For this example let’s set up U1 as aperture priority using f2.8. Once you’ve set up the camera as you wish, make sure the Mode Dial is set to Av, and set the aperture to f2.8 (or whatever value you want to be default).
Next you need to go to Menu > Customise Settings > Save Settings. Select the box you would like to save this set up to. For now you can use Box 1. Create a custom name and finally assign it to either U1, U2, or U3. Repeat this process for any other custom modes you want and you’re good to go. If you want to change which box is assigned to which U mode, you can use the Recall option in the Customise Settings menu.
Instead of telling you how these will change your life, I would rather be practical and answer the most common questions that people tend to have when buying presets.
What are presets?
They are editing settings that are saved in a file and can be applied to any image.
Why do people buy presets?
Sometimes because they like the work of the photographer and want that style for their own photos. Mostly because they would like to see how other people edit and learn by reverse engineering the presets. Other times it’s just to support their favourite photographers, thank you!
What’s the overall style of these presets?
- Filmic
- Minimal
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
What do these presets look like?
These presets 100% reflect my current editing style. Please see examples of work below.
Do these presets get updated?
Yes, as my style changes, these presets will also be updated. Any time a new update is available, you will get a free update via email. Of course you also keep all the old presets in case you prefer the older looks. Only presets purchased from 2025 onwards will receive the updates.
What file types are these presets for?
- All RAW files
- JPEGs & TIFFs (not recommended)
What camera brands are these presets for?
These were designed around Fujifilm, Sony, and Leica sensors. With that said, they will work with all camera brands. While there might be subtle colour changes due to individual camera colour science, the overall feel of the preset will carry over.
Will these work with JPEG files?
Yes, but you will need to reduce the intensity and make further edits. I strongly recommend editing RAW files.
Are these one click edits?
95% No. You would need to do some basic adjustments as each image is different. These adjustments can include exposure, colour balance etc. In 5% of cases you can just apply and leave it alone.
Do I need to know how to edit?
You need to have a basic understanding of adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, etc. A more comprehensive editing skillset will let you get the most out of them.
How many presets are included?
15 in the main pack and 20 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits. The extras pack is random test presets, one-off looks, and looks I don’t use often.
What software do I need?
These presets will work with any of the following:
- Photoshop (adobe camera raw)
- Lightroom Classic
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Mobile
Will these presets work with free versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed for the full paid versions.
Will these presets work with very old versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed on and for the latest software.
What file type do I get?
XMP
What else do I get?
- Comprehensive PDF guide
- Short video of me editing using these presets
Can I modify these and turn them into my own?
Yes! In fact I encourage you to modify them and play around. Use these to help you get your own style.
I have more questions…. What do I do?
Make a cup of tea and drop me an email on hello@snapsbyfox.com
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying these presets is the most direct way you can support my work thus allowing me to make more videos / photos / tutorials for you.
Thank you for your support!