Ricoh GR III Recipes: My Recipe for the Kodak Tri-X 400 Look
The Kodak Tri-X 400 is a legendary black-and-white film. With the Ricoh GR III and GR III X, I set out to recreate its iconic look directly SOOC. This Ricoh GR III Recipe is designed for photographers seeking the Kodak Tri-X 400 style effortlessly. After countless hours of testing and adjustments, I developed a recipe that delivers stunning results.
Left: Analog Tri-X 400 | Right: Ricoh GR III X
Over time, I’ve improved the TRI-X 400 look and decided to offer it as part of a complete package of Ricoh recipes. If you’d like to support my work and get all 15 looks in one download, check it out here:
👉 Support my work & get the full Ricoh GR III/X Recipe Collection (15 iconic looks)
Starting Point: The Analog Comparison
For my test, I shot Kodak Tri-X 400 film with my analog Canon camera using a 40mm lens. I then photographed the same scenes with the Ricoh GR III X, accounting for the crop factor. Comparing the two allowed me to optimize the Ricoh’s settings to get as close as possible to the Tri-X 400 look.
A Note on Analog and Digital Differences
It’s important to note that many variables influence the classic Tri-X look, such as the developer used and the digitization process. These factors significantly impact the film’s final appearance. For this reason, comparisons between analog and digital Tri-X should be viewed with some flexibility.
Nonetheless, this recipe demonstrates how close the Ricoh can come to capturing this iconic aesthetic.
The Grain: Two Approaches
One defining characteristic of the Tri-X look is the grain, which adds depth and texture to the images. There are two ways to achieve this:
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Authentic Grain with Lightroom:
To closely replicate the irregular and textured grain of Tri-X 400, I used the following settings in Lightroom:- Grain Amount: 75
- Grain Size: 35
- Roughness: 100
These settings complement the camera’s output beautifully and create a result that closely resembles the analog original.
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Directly from the Ricoh:
If you’d rather avoid post-processing, this Ricoh GR III Recipe lets the camera produce great results on its own. My recommendation: set ISO to 6400 and Grain Effect to High. While the grain is more uniform than the analog version, it still delivers a convincing look – no additional editing required.
Examples
Here are a few examples comparing the Ricoh GR III Recipe to the analog Kodak Tri-X 400. These side-by-side shots showcase how close the digital look comes to capturing the essence of the iconic film. Grain was added to the images in Lightroom, as the grain from the Ricoh GR III X is too fine.
Left: Analog Tri-X 400 | Right: Ricoh GR III X Recipe
Left: Analog Tri-X 400 | Right: Ricoh GR III X Recipe
Left: Analog Tri-X 400 | Right: Ricoh GR III X Recipe
More examples can be seen in this video by Samuel Lintaro (Samuel Streetlife). He tested my TRI-X 400 recipe:
Examples using the grain from the Ricoh GR III X
Here’s an example using the grain directly from the Ricoh GR III X.
This recipe is no longer published here, but I’ve refined the TRI-X 400 look and included it in a new collection with 15 iconic Ricoh GR III/X film recipes.
👉 Support my work & get the full Ricoh GR III/X Recipe Collection (15 iconic looks)
Summary
With the right settings, the Ricoh GR III and GR III X produce black-and-white images that closely resemble the Tri-X 400 look – directly SOOC, without any post-processing. This Ricoh GR III Recipe is an easy and effective way to bring the timeless style of Tri-X 400 into the digital world. Those who want even more authenticity can enhance the results with Lightroom’s grain settings, but the camera alone already delivers outstanding results.
Thomas L.
I am based in Austria with a deep passion for photography, design, and 3D printing. I strive to capture the analog film feeling in my digital photography.
About the Magazin
This magazine explores the unique charm of analog photography and how its ideas and techniques can be adapted to digital photography.
