Ricoh · 35mm compact · 1996 (GR1s 1998, GR1v 2001)
Ricoh's GR1 came out in October 1996, a magnesium-alloy compact built around a 28 mm f/2.8 GR lens of seven elements in four groups, and it won the 1997 TIPA award for best 35mm compact. It's 117 mm wide and 175 g, with autofocus, program and aperture priority and an electronic shutter from 2 s to 1/500 s. One quirk is that it winds the whole roll out when you load it, then pulls each frame back into the cartridge as you shoot. The war photographer Philip Jones Griffiths carried one, and Daido Moriyama used the later GR1v. The line ran through the GR1s, GR1v and the 21 mm GR21 until Ricoh moved to the GR Digital in 2005, and Ricoh stopped servicing the film GRs in 2014.
The variants
The GR1s of 1998 has improved lens coatings, a filter and hood mount, and a display that lights up at a half press. The GR1v of 2001 adds manual ISO override, bracketing and an adjustable snap focus distance. The GR10 has an aluminum body and program only, and the GR21 has a 21 mm f/3.5 lens.
The most common faults hit the status LCD on the top deck, the motor and the light seals. Ricoh no longer services the film GR cameras, so an electronic fault can be hard to get fixed.
Buying guide
We'd buy the GR1s titled with its LCD working, NEAR MINT in its box, at $1,064 delivered from Japan. There are at least 65 for sale, nearly all from Japan dealers, and most ask $800–1,600 delivered, with the original GR1 at the bottom, the GR1s in the middle and the GR1v at the top. It runs on one 3 V CR2 lithium and does nothing without it, and Ricoh stopped servicing the film GRs in 2014, so a fading top LCD or a grinding motor is hard to fix. Prices follow the GR1's reputation, so spend on a title that says the LCD or everything works rather than on a MINT grade. Ask for a photo of the top LCD switched on with every segment clear, and a video of it firing a few times. Skip the 75% seller's GR1s listings and the $2,440 GR1v, about 2.5 times the median.
![READ! [OPT Near MINT] Ricoh GR1 Silver Point & Shoot 35mm Film Camera From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/A8EAAeSwEjRqrapP/s-l500.jpg)
$621.99est. delivered
The lowest delivered GR1 here that isn't sold as-is, a silver original with its optics graded Near MINT, at $622 from Japan. The title starts with READ!, so find the caveat in the description, and ask for a photo of the top LCD switched on.
READ! [OPT Near MINT] Ricoh GR1 Silver Point & Shoot 35mm Film Camera From JAPAN
![LCD Work [NEAR MINT in Box] Ricoh GR1s Point & Shoot 35mm Film Camera JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lHYAAeSw6YdqFTYb/s-l500.jpg)
$1,063.99est. delivered
A GR1s titled with its LCD working, NEAR MINT in its box, at $1,064 delivered, low in the band. The s adds better coatings and a filter and hood mount, and a working LCD is the claim that counts on a camera Ricoh no longer services.
LCD Work [NEAR MINT in Box] Ricoh GR1s Point & Shoot 35mm Film Camera JAPAN
$1,550.00est. delivered
The GR1v is the last version, with manual ISO override, bracketing and an adjustable snap focus distance. This black one is titled with no LCD leak, its box and hood, at $1,550 delivered, about $890 under the GR1v graded Top MINT here.
"LCD NO LEAK ,BOX "Ricoh GR1V Black 35mm Point Shoot Film Camera with HOOD #6279
![[As-is] RICOH GR1 Point & Shoot 35mm Film Camera = From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5k4AAeSwd3Nqo-Jq/s-l500.jpg)
$467.00est. delivered
An original GR1 sold as-is for $467 delivered, about half the median. With no factory service and electronics that are hard to fix, buy it only as a parts camera or a gamble.
[As-is] RICOH GR1 Point & Shoot 35mm Film Camera = From JAPAN
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$621.99est. delivered
$539.99 + $82.00 shipping
Buy It Now$539.99
Good buy
Silver GR1, optics graded Near MINT. The title says to read the description.
Seller: dka.232
99.7% positive
Used$1,063.99est. delivered
$888.99 + $175.00 shipping
Buy It Now$888.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
GR1s titled LCD working, NEAR MINT, in box.
Seller: happy-camera-japan
99.7% positive
Used$1,550.00est. delivered
$1,465.00 + $85.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,465.00
Good buy
Black GR1v titled no LCD leak, with box and hood.
Seller: camerajapan20
100% positive
For parts$467.00est. delivered
$391.00 + $76.00 shipping
Buy It Now$391.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Original GR1, sold as-is.
Seller: altmart3.0
100% positive
![LCD Works [Top MINT in Box] Ricoh GR1s Black Point&Shoot 35mm Film Camera JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/l2MAAeSwQkNqP69K/s-l500.jpg)
Used$1,319.99est. delivered
$1,099.99 + $220.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,099.99
Our take
Black GR1s titled LCD working, Top MINT in box.
Seller: ishimaru_camera_japan
100% positive
![Read! [NEAR MINT] Ricoh GR1 Silver Point & Shoot 35mm Film Camera From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8ewAAeSwSZJqrT8M/s-l500.jpg)
Used$714.99est. delivered
$589.99 + $125.00 shipping
Buy It Now$589.99
Check the seller
Silver GR1 graded NEAR MINT. Another seller uses the same title, so compare photos.
Seller: ymmtk_43
100% positive
Used$1,028.88delivered
$1,028.88 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,028.88
Check the seller
GR1s titled tested and working. Seller feedback is 75%.
Seller: hms-94
75% positive
Used$2,439.99est. delivered
$1,999.99 + $440.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,999.99
Priced high
Black GR1v titled All Work, Top MINT in box. About 2.5 times the median ask.
Seller: camera_specialty_store-jpn
100% positive
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