Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Ricoh
GR III HDF
GR III variant with built-in Highlight Diffusion Filter for softer glow effects and the same 28mm APS-C pocket formula.
$1,066
Launch priceReleased Apr 2024
GR III HDF is 2.4 years newer.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Wins
Z9
Wins
GR III HDF
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BGR III HDF has higher Burst (mechanical) (4 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 4 fps)
- AZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 49)
- BGR III HDF has lower Weight (257 g vs 1160 g)
- BGR III HDF has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1160 g (2.56 lb / 40.92 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
GR III HDF
109 × 62 × 33 mm
257 g (0.57 lb / 9.07 oz)
Z9 is 40mm wider, 88mm taller, and 57mm thicker than GR III HDF.
Z9 is 903 g heavier than GR III HDF.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 33mm GR III HDF
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
GR III HDF
109 × 62 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
GR III HDF
109 × 33 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
GR III HDF
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
GR III HDF: mount data unavailable
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Z9
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 4 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 49 — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
740 shots vs 200 shots — higher is better
Animal / bird AF
Only Z9 supports it
Reasons to choose
GR III HDF
Subject recognition
Adds Face, Eye
Burst (mechanical)
4 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MOV
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 109.4, 61.9, 33.2
Card types
Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC UHS-I
Weight
257 g vs 1160 g — lower is better
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
GR III HDF
Pros
- ✓Built-in HDF effect
- ✓Pocketable APS-C
- ✓28mm equivalent GR lens
- ✓3-axis SR
Cons
- –No ND filter
- –Fixed lens
- –Full HD video only
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Z9 and GR III HDF at major authorized retailers.
Ricoh GR III HDF
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Z9 or GR III HDF?
Z9 scores 10.0/10 versus 1.5/10 for GR III HDF — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and GR III HDF?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and GR III HDF is 24.24 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and GR III HDF have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while GR III HDF has in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the GR III HDF?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. GR III HDF reaches 4 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and GR III HDF?
Z9 weighs 1160 g and GR III HDF weighs 257 g, so the GR III HDF is 903 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and GR III HDF record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. GR III HDF: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z9 and GR III HDF weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. GR III HDF: No.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 200 shots for the GR III HDF, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,499 and GR III HDF at $1,066. The GR III HDF is $4,433 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way Z9 vs GR III HDF vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Ricoh press materials.