View Full Version : Ricoh GX100
A new small Ricoh has been announced. The body looks a great deal like the GR Digital, 24-72 lens, 10 MP, RAW (!) and a unique feature: a small digital finder which one can fit into the hotshoe, making it some sort of hybrid SLR-like camera. I think it's cool.
http://www.ricoh.com/r_dc/caplio/gx100/index.html
Yeah--I saw it too, but w/ Ricoh's highly unusual dealer/ distribution program, I wonder where it will be available and where you can get it serviced. I think I'd feel better if Canon, Fuji, etc. came out w/ one like it.
Thanks for posting this link, it looks like a cool camera with some unique features. One of my sharpest cameras ever was a Ricoh point and shoot from the early 90's, but one day it just fell apart on me.
IGMeanwell
03-29-2007, 00:16
Adorama is accepting preorders on it
http://www.adorama.com/IRCGX100.html?searchinfo=Ricoh&item_no=3
I like the idea of the 24mm equiv (the Natura S was a ton of fun) and the optional EVF
I wish the expense wasn't so much and hopefully they have upgraded the buffer
I just read some more, it also has vibration reduction - great for night shots. And it also seems to have a square format option?!
An external electronic viewfinder? Who ever dreamed up that thing? It's no more than a poor solution for a camera that doesn't have a proper optical finder, but that must show the frame when zooming in/out..
A single focal length and a good built in finder would make for a killer camera in that form factor, but this is just not it..
Bryan Lee
03-29-2007, 02:29
I saw the GX 100 this morning while making my rounds on the Interweb. It caught me off guard since it was not announced during the PMA in Vegas and was a nice find. If Ricoh solved some of the issues they were having with the GRD I will be interested. I'm looking at the Sigma DP1 and waiting to see what it turns out to be for now. It and this GX 100 just go to show the directions possible with digital, I for one couldn't be happier unless they made a DP1 in 50mm.
Nikon Bob
03-29-2007, 02:36
Interesting for it's focal length to me. I would have liked a built in vari-focal VF. manual zooming via an tab added.
Bob
An external electronic viewfinder? Who ever dreamed up that thing? It's no more than a poor solution for a camera that doesn't have a proper optical finder, but that must show the frame when zooming in/out..
A single focal length and a good built in finder would make for a killer camera in that form factor, but this is just not it..
Well, there aren't any reviews yet, now are they? Let's just wait and see until someone really gets his or her hands on it. For now I think it's an interesting concept.
Well, there aren't any reviews yet, now are they? Let's just wait and see until someone really gets his or her hands on it. For now I think it's an interesting concept.
A dodo is also an interesting concept, but proved an evolutionary dead end nonetheless..
Somehow, the consensus of the camera makers seems to be that what the public wants is either puny optical finders or slow electronic viewfinders.. Of course, as long as the markets aren't saturated, there's no need for something better.
It will be interesting to see what they price it at, will it be the same as the GRD and potentially kill it off or will it be more expensive and narrow the market of potential buyers?
I own and use a GRD on a regular basis, it is my carry everywhere camera and produces amazing results and I have no complaints other than the painfully slow RAW write times!
It will be interesting to see what effect the DP1 will have on the market with its larger sensor, if it proves to produce SLR quality images as many suspect, I fear this may well kill off the GRD and potentially the GX100 unless of course, Ricoh have a larger sensor GRD replacment in the wings?
..It will be interesting to see what effect the DP1 will have on the market with its larger sensor, if it proves to produce SLR quality images as many suspect, I fear this may well kill off the GRD and potentially the GX100 unless of course, Ricoh have a larger sensor GRD replacment in the wings?
Given the target audiences for the DP-1 and GRD, I doubt that the sensor alone will make the difference. These cameras are aimed at demanding photographers who'll see these as complementary to a DSLR. By consequence, the big sensor is already there (in the DSLR that is).
So what is needed is a camera that is good at what these DSLRs aren't particularly good at. And that's compactness, but without making sacrifices in user interface, speed of operation, finder and image quality. As far as the latter is concerned, I've seen very, very good pictures done with the GRD. They're different (as per DOF rendition) from pictures with longer lenses and bigger sensors, but they can be stunning.
But where both the GRD and DP-1 fall short, is that external finders do not make for compact cameras.. (I'm getting a bit repetitive..)
IGMeanwell
03-29-2007, 07:19
Just want to quick quote this from DPreview (actually the press release):
24 to 72 mm high-performance wide zoom lens in a compact body.
* The newly developed 24 to 72 mm wide zoom lens (35mm film equivalent) features a generous configuration of 11 elements in 7 groups, including aspheric surface lenses and high-refractive-index, low-dispersion lenses. This optimal configuration restricts distortion, chromatic aberration, and light falloff at edges for wide-angle operations while delivering aperture light settings from F2.5(Wide-angle) to F4.4(Telephoto).
* The body size of 25mm is the smallest* that can accommodate a zoom lens of 24 mm or longer, making it easy to carry and enjoy photography anywhere.
* The 7 blade iris aperture enables fine tuning and achieves beautiful blurred backgrounds.
That last bit is kind of interesting to me ... it seems like they are claiming some control over the depth of the field because of the new lens... I don't know any company that has even tried to mention this with a Point and Shoot
BTW the price will be the same as the GRD $599 according to Adorama
An external electronic viewfinder? Who ever dreamed up that thing? It's no more than a poor solution for a camera that doesn't have a proper optical finder, but that must show the frame when zooming in/out..
A single focal length and a good built in finder would make for a killer camera in that form factor, but this is just not it..
Maybe they're reserving those features for the GRD II ? You're also missing the advantage of the EVF, you can adjust all the settings of the cameras thru the viewfinder therefore allowing yourself an extra degree of stealthiness. On more than on occasion in a dark environment, I was annoying by the bright LCD on my GRD because I needed to see/adjust the camera settings.
Just want to quick quote this from DPreview (actually the press release):
* The body size of 25mm is the smallest* that can accommodate a zoom lens of 24 mm or longer, making it easy to carry and enjoy photography anywhere.
* The 7 blade iris aperture enables fine tuning and achieves beautiful blurred backgrounds.
[/U]
That last bit is kind of interesting to me ... it seems like they are claiming some control over the depth of the field because of the new lens... I don't know any company that has even tried to mention this with a Point and Shoot
If the lens zooms, then you can definitely adjust the DOF to achieve some bokeh..
IGMeanwell
03-29-2007, 08:15
If the lens zooms, then you can definitely adjust the DOF to achieve some bokeh..
Typically with point of shoots the only way to get a blurred background as they are describing is in Macro mode ... the size of the sensor and the size of the lens itself means very large DOF
I am saying its odd for them to state this as a means of positive over other point and shoots because it is a common complaint with people that they can't control at their will DOF on their P&S cameras
You'd be surprised of how little DOF you can achieve with a small sensor and only 28mm eqv FOV.. {See Attachment}
Now just think how blurry that background would be at 75mm eqv FOV!
You'd be surprised of how little DOF you can achieve with a small sensor and only 28mm eqv FOV..
What's your distance from the (delicious) pot of enoki? 1m? Focus at it 2-3 meters away, and you're probably in hyperfocal territory. Don't kid yourself, it's just the way the physics are.
A single focal length and a good built in finder would make for a killer camera in that form factor, but this is just not it..
..it's called the GR-D.
What's your distance from the (delicious) pot of enoki? 1m? Focus at it 2-3 meters away, and you're probably in hyperfocal territory. Don't kid yourself, it's just the way the physics are.
no doubt but goes to show you that even a simple food shoot can benefit from pleasant looking bokeh.
btw, that shot was from the ricoh's website.
no doubt but goes to show you that even a simple food shoot can benefit from pleasant looking bokeh.
btw, that shot was from the ricoh's website.
Ah.. I thought you were trying to say that a P&S could have some out of focus areas.. which it can, but macros aside, a P&S usually cannot give us enough out of focus backgrounds to even call it bokeh.
..and too bad it's not your shot, I was wondering where that Japanese restaurant was in Chicago. ;)
A single focal length and a good built in finder would make for a killer camera in that form factor, but this is just not it..
..it's called the GR-D.
No built in finder on the GR-D.. only an LCD on the back..
jmilkins
03-29-2007, 22:29
GRD bokeh from the seven bladed lens:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79865897@N00/437545253/
doitashimash1te
04-13-2007, 13:16
Full res samples of the GX100 are now to be viewed on Ricoh's site:
http://www.ricoh.co.jp/dc/caplio/gx100/sample.html
Wonder how the raw file processing will be. Will one have to wait a few seconds before a second raw shot. I understand for some, that's what is bad about the GR-1D. Especially with the 10 megapixel sensor, shooting raw may be the best way to get a fair amount of detail at ISO equivalents of over 100.
andersju
04-16-2007, 19:27
No built in finder on the GR-D.. only an LCD on the back..
But still very compact with the CV 28/35 mini-finder:
http://x.unix.se/etc/gr01.jpg
http://x.unix.se/etc/gr03.jpg
galavanter
04-16-2007, 19:55
I find myself very interested in the GRD, Gx100, and/or maybe the DP1. From my limited reading the DP1 is not supposed to be "good" at black and white though(maybe wrong), and 28 would not be my first lens choice. The speed of the lens I could probably live with. I think it's admirable that Sigma listened and added the viewfinder later.
I'm one of those people hoping the GX100 doesn't have "improved" noise performance, but retains the GRD's film like grain. Faster write times and 1600 RAW would be nice too. I have seen so many cool pictures with the GRD in B/W, and I think it's great (younger?) people have made it a cult camera.
I want a small fun camera I can shoot out my window when I'm driving and take pictures of waitresses in diners without making a scene.
Just last night I was on Reid's site reading his review of the Leica D-LUX 3. There's another fellow, Mitch Alland, who contributed to the review, who uses the D-LUX 3 and the GRD and has some great B/W pics. Says he hasn't shot his M6's since. One pic of a beautiful woman in Thailand had me saying yeah, sell all this RF stuff, get a GRD (or whatever), hop a plane and go to Bangkok.
We are all gonna die and then where will the moments be? <Composes himself>
Thus far I have seen very few M8 pics that have really captured my imagination, so smooth and highly resolved are they.
I even purchased a copy of Robert Frank's The Americans after Reid recommended it (especially when I found out Jack Kerouac wrote the intro) and I doubt there is a photo in there (IMHO) that the GRD couldn't have produced, mood wise. Course Frank would have to be doing the shooting. Kerouac's favorite (and now mine), the female elevator operator staring into space, is full of grain and blurry. Says Kerouac, "That little ole lonely elevator girl looking up sighing in an elevator full of blurred demons, what's her name and address?"
It seems to me that these two companies have started a move towards the digital equivalent of the fixed lens film cameras that people still prize. This Sigma might be great. I hope it is. A Faster 35mm version could be next. Ricoh deserves much credit as well. And to think the dpr review panned the GRD. Not one B/W picture in the sample gallery. Nothin' but pixel peepers over there.
Oh and you do realize that not long after the GX100 was announced, a fellow on dpr said since the viewfinder is detachable and electronic, a simple cable option would allow one to have the viewfinder to their eye and point the camera anywhere.:) Whatever, I'm sure Oakley sunglasses is working on it now.
I even emailed Ricoh to ask if the GX100 has B/W mode and if the viewfinder is in B/W then. It does and it is. (Yes it will Bill.)
srtiwari
04-16-2007, 21:06
Galavanter, I am looking for the same GRD/Gx100 etc, but think 'noise' should be as little as possible. Unfortunately, it is present because there is minimal sharpening in camera. Your info. about the B/W and the viewfinder makes it even more attractive.
I just bought a Fuji F30, and I love it for the Low light shooting one can do, but its only 6 mp.Maybe I should look into the Sigma DP1
But still very compact with the CV 28/35 mini-finder:
http://x.unix.se/etc/gr01.jpg
http://x.unix.se/etc/gr03.jpg
I'm sure it's compact, but that's not the point for me. A Konica Hexar AF isn't compact either, but the finder with the projected and motorized parallax corrected framelines is such a joy to use..
IGMeanwell
04-17-2007, 01:03
New Test photos here
http://www.letsgodigital.org//html/review/ricoh/gx100/test-photos.html
Not perfect... but promising the ISO 1600 is better
...Thus far I have seen very few M8 pics that have really captured my imagination, so smooth and highly resolved are they...
I've been using small sensor cameras (Ricoh GR-D and Leica D-Lux 3) because I like the "35mm aesthetic". The M8 seems to me to produce images that have the look of medium format film, which means that with the M8 I would have to shoot at ISO1250 or ISO2500. So far the GR-D and D-Lux 3 give me the results that I want.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/416294777_1cda833265_o.jpg
—Mitch/Perth
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/
galavanter
04-19-2007, 21:37
Hey it's himself! That's a nice shot. "35 mm aesthetic", I guess that's what I meant too. You think the M8 noise is as filmlike as the GRD or R-D1? Not from what I have seen so far.
I've been using small sensor cameras (Ricoh GR-D and Leica D-Lux 3) because I like the "35mm aesthetic". The M8 seems to me to produce images that have the look of medium format film, which means that with the M8 I would have to shoot at ISO1250 or ISO2500. So far the GR-D and D-Lux 3 give me the results that I want.
—Mitch/Perth
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/
I have one on preorder, will try to make the most of the two weeks before a possible no-fault return. Don't know when it arrives, will start a thread then...
/J
srtiwari
04-20-2007, 03:11
Jobo, do you mean a GX100 ? Who did you order thru ? I am thinking of Adorama. I am still vacillating between the (unknown) GX100, and the D-Lux 3. They are both the same price.
Revolucion Artistico
04-20-2007, 15:22
Hey just saw this auction 250106846492 shipped from japan $799 with 12 available.
Hey it's himself! That's a nice shot. "35 mm aesthetic", I guess that's what I meant too. You think the M8 noise is as filmlike as the GRD or R-D1? Not from what I have seen so far.Thanks. I haven't tried an M8, but from reading Sean Reid's reviews and looking at other people's pcitures it seems that M8 pictures have the look of medium-format film.
—Mitch/Paris
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/
Jobo, do you mean a GX100 ? Who did you order thru ? I am thinking of Adorama. I am still vacillating between the (unknown) GX100, and the D-Lux 3. They are both the same price.
Yes, a GX100. Being in Europe, I order locally. Customs fees are still higher than the price difference.
I also had a D-lux 3 on my shortlist, but didn't like the smearing in JPEG mode at high ISOs. Also, the zoom on the GX100 has steps corresponding to sensible FL equivalents (24,28,35,50,72 IIRC), so it should be real easy to add corresponding external viewfinders. Glass viewfinders rule...
Can anyone guess where sample pictures on Ricoh site were taken? :D
Hey just saw this auction 250106846492 shipped from japan $799 with 12 available.
US$799 plus postage; does not include the viewfinder.
Can anyone guess where sample pictures on Ricoh site were taken?
first hint: Croatia
Adorama may actually have this in stock now
I have one, evaluating it for my parents (Ricoh GR-D owners)
To answer some of the questions:
1. Yes it does B&W in camera
2. It has the same excellent ergonomics as the GR-D (well, more or less the same)
3. RAW write speed is about 5 seconds for a 10mp RAW. A massive improvement on the GR-D. That's also writing a Fine quality JPG. For me I think just about bearable in the real world, bearing in mind I'm used to shooting with an R-D1
4. Nowhere near as well-built as the GR-D
5. AF is a bit noisy
6. EVF is OK, nothing special but almost reproduces that accesory finder feel. Tonnes of diopter adjustment and eyepoint is reasonable for this glasses wearer. Not as good as the optical v/f on the GR-D but a good and innovative solution
7. I haven't done a side-by-side comparison with the GR-D but my gut feeling is that optically its nowhere close but then it is a zoom so what do you expect?
8. Same old ISO noise, visible at 160 upwards
At the moment its just about a keeper, just need to check with my parents that the EVF is up to scratch
galavanter
04-28-2007, 15:31
Thanks for the report. Could you elaborate on the differences in build quality? They appear to be so similar. Are you referring to what one person has said is a loose lens assembly? It's not a "brick" like the GRD?
It would be great if you could do a side by side image comparison (You'd be the first):). A raw shot of same subject with GRD and one with GX100 at 28 equivalent. Some low light B&W shots would be nice too. :)
Viewfinder is in B&W when in that mode? Ricoh said it is in a response to my email.
Raw speed improvement is good news. I hear it does 1600 ISO raw files too, something the GRD lacked.
I also have the R-D1 and am close to ordering the GX100. I also sometimes think of selling the R-D1 and saving for a M8, but the files don't say "street" to me at all, and I don't want to spend 5 grand on a camera only to dirty up the files later in PS.
I have to get a new printer and see how these cameras print. You know a 10mp small sensor compared to the R-D1 6mp large sensor. I'm confused. Maybe if I print M8 files all at 30' X 40' I will get the desired effect.:)
I have one, evaluating it for my parents (Ricoh GR-D owners)
To answer some of the questions:
1. Yes it does B&W in camera
2. It has the same excellent ergonomics as the GR-D (well, more or less the same)
3. RAW write speed is about 5 seconds for a 10mp RAW. A massive improvement on the GR-D. That's also writing a Fine quality JPG. For me I think just about bearable in the real world, bearing in mind I'm used to shooting with an R-D1
4. Nowhere near as well-built as the GR-D
5. AF is a bit noisy
6. EVF is OK, nothing special but almost reproduces that accesory finder feel. Tonnes of diopter adjustment and eyepoint is reasonable for this glasses wearer. Not as good as the optical v/f on the GR-D but a good and innovative solution
7. I haven't done a side-by-side comparison with the GR-D but my gut feeling is that optically its nowhere close but then it is a zoom so what do you expect?
8. Same old ISO noise, visible at 160 upwards
At the moment its just about a keeper, just need to check with my parents that the EVF is up to scratch
Lemures-Ex
04-28-2007, 16:22
I also sometimes think of selling the R-D1 and saving for a M8, but the files don't say "street" to me at all, and I don't want to spend 5 grand on a camera only to dirty up the files later in PS.
I have to get a new printer and see how these cameras print. You know a 10mp small sensor compared to the R-D1 6mp large sensor. I'm confused. Maybe if I print M8 files all at 30' X 40' I will get the desired effect.:)
This is a good point you bring up. I think the higher megapixel sensors are just too clean for street photos. I'm plenty happy with my new GR-D.
Thanks for the report. Could you elaborate on the differences in build quality? They appear to be so similar. Are you referring to what one person has said is a loose lens assembly? It's not a "brick" like the GRD?
It would be great if you could do a side by side image comparison (You'd be the first):). A raw shot of same subject with GRD and one with GX100 at 28 equivalent. Some low light B&W shots would be nice too. :)
Viewfinder is in B&W when in that mode? Ricoh said it is in a response to my email.
Raw speed improvement is good news. I hear it does 1600 ISO raw files too, something the GRD lacked.
I also have the R-D1 and am close to ordering the GX100. I also sometimes think of selling the R-D1 and saving for a M8, but the files don't say "street" to me at all, and I don't want to spend 5 grand on a camera only to dirty up the files later in PS.
I have to get a new printer and see how these cameras print. You know a 10mp small sensor compared to the R-D1 6mp large sensor. I'm confused. Maybe if I print M8 files all at 30' X 40' I will get the desired effect.:)
It feels less solid than the GR-D. Its slightly bigger but doesn't have the weight to match the size it feels. It whirrs and clicks more than the GR-D (image stabilisation) and the AF feels slower and is much noisier - once again no doubt in part due to the image stabilisation. The GR-D just feels solid in your hand. As to the lens/zoom wobble, yes its definitely there, the front element moves a fair bit under light pressure. Most zoom compacts I've used tend to do this though...
The viewfinder is in B&W. It also displays what you would see on screen, so if you run the screen naked (i.e. no information overlays) you get the equivalent of a 100% parallax-corrected optical zoom finder :) Admittedly its dark like all EVFs but its highly innovative.
I'll try to sort out some comparison shots today. There are high resolution samples from the GX100 in my Bessa R2S NHS set on Flickr (see my sig)
My GX100 is now up for sale on eBay - unfortunately the folks didn't get on with the EVF (they've been spoiled by the optical finder on the GR-D) so they're going to keep the GR-D...
anglophone1
04-30-2007, 10:37
RAW write speed is about 5 seconds for a 10mp RAW. A massive improvement on the GR-D. That's also writing a Fine quality JPG. For me I think just about bearable in the real world, bearing in mind I'm used to shooting with an R-D1
I've just received my GX100 today, I had held off on GRD [I am a longtime GR1 user] because of RAW write speed.
I'm finding the GX100 taking around 8-10 secs for a 10 mp RAW, far too long!
So far .although its cute, I'm not sure if its my Gr1 replacement.....................
Clive
www.clive-evans.com
Clive,
What card are you using? I use a Sandisk Extreme 2 with the camera set to RAW+JPG(FINE) and stopwatched I'm getting a shot to shot cycle time of 6-7 seconds
Ok, here are some side by side comparison shots
Quite apart from how appallingly dirty my windows are and how untidy the flat is they're unremarkable. Subjectively I'd say that the GX100 has less chroma noise @ high ISOs...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiloran/collections/72157600160974188/
anglophone1
04-30-2007, 11:21
Terao
Good point, only used a noname 2gb card that came bundled with camera .
I use 1gb extreme 111s on my rd 1, will try one.....................
Thanks!
Clive
www.clive-evans.com
matthewsyip
05-01-2007, 00:40
Hi
I got mine as well for 3 days. My impression is I need to click up contrast and sharpness in image settings to get GRD like image quality. That means the default setting is a bit on the less contrasty and soft side.
Make a brief search of GX100 at flickr and you shall be able to find lots of GX100 pics there already. One guy there with attractive pics also commented that he had all contrast, sharpness and color depth click up to maximum.
I would also agree on noise quality, its like film grain, visible from as low as 100 (on dark areas, not unpleasant IMO) up, even at 800/1600 chrome noise is very well controlled. That's what I can say.
Raw write time with Extreme III SD is ~5 secs with my stop watch. And you can fire another RAW right away. No dedicated RAW buffer I suppose but 5 sec with an P&S compact is not bad as well.
2 interesting things I also noted,
1) On playback after shot, overexposed areas in pictures keep flashing between black and white. Will stop flashing when I zoom into the pics. Downloaded full size images on PC are of course normal. Don't know whether it is a default overexpose warning or a firmware issue.
2) In setting the two MY1/MY2 custom settings, the MY1 can be set to whether settings you prefer even with aperture priority. However, if I set the MY2 to aperture priority and other preference, the shutter speed just does not change automatically according to aperture change, it keep at the previous Manual mode shutter speed! So I just set MY2 to P mode and other settings. Don't know whether your model show the same.
Let's keep posting on new findings...
Cheers
Matthew
Flashing overexposure warning is a display option. Press the display icon (looks like this IOI )to cycle through the options...
galavanter
05-01-2007, 10:56
Terao,
Thanks a lot for the info and the pics. As far as image quality goes, it fulfills my needs. I'm glad to see the noise has the same look to it and they have not gone overboard with NR. I wish I could hold both the GX100 and GRD in my hands before making a decision. I really do want the range of the zoom though. I hope other users will post their impressions.
No problem, I'll be sorry to see it go but for me I prefer the GR-D
anglophone1
05-06-2007, 09:53
No problem, I'll be sorry to see it go but for me I prefer the GR-D
OK, I've had mine a week now, enough time to put it through its paces.
It's very cute but not for me.........
I was looking for a digital replacemnt for my gr 1, which goes everywhere with me.
I shoot professionally with two Epson r d1, usually with 28mm and 21mm , but also carry 12, 15 and 50 . so the zoom doesn't really suit me too much.
I hoped the VF would work for me , but of course it "freezes" while the RAW files are processing so its worse than the mirror on an SLR and giving me enforced "chimping" [I work with the screens in on the R d1s]
The files are great,lots of nice features, but I think a GR D with the minifinder will be more suitable for me......................still worried about the RAW write times though...................
I'll be putting it up for sale as soon as I track down a reasonably priced Gr-D ......................unless something better arrives...................:cool:
Best
Clive
I find that I don't need to use RAW on the GR-D - the camera does a good job of auto-exposure with easy fine-tuning and now you also have the option to colour-bracket with custom film settings (so shoot one colour, one B&W). Of course you could do that in post but I like to see my B&W shots B&W as quickly as possible. I just wish it had more dynamic range...
Hi all, I am interested in GX100 and found your page, some great insight here. My brother just had a look at the GX100 for me and I thought I would post his thoughts:
NOTE: This was a few days ago at Melbourne camera show. Leica and panasonic he notes are the D-Lux 3 and DMC-LX2.
OK. Just back from the camera show. Went straight to the Ricoh stand
and had a good hands on with the GX100. Great to be able to handle a
camera without it being tethered by a security cable and the Ricoh
guys actually knew their product.
So...nice camera. Small but not tiny. About the same size as the GR.
Understated and unobtrusive it would be great for candid shots. Feels
like you're picking up a Minox. Matt black and no chrome highlights.
Lets make no mistake. This is still a digital camera. The metal body
not withstanding it still has the somewhat finger smeary screen, a
learning curve for the menu controls and a lack of things like manual
zoom that let you know you are in transistor land.
But it has a lot of stuff I really liked. As with my Minolta there
are two wheels. Real wheels, one on top one on the front, that
control aperture and shutter. Set to aperture preferred and with your
eye up to the digital viewfinder, more on that in a moment, you
scroll through the aperture range. The wheel changes function for
shutter preferred. Very intuitive. Set it on manual and each wheel
controls a function and you get a vertical line on screen that lets
you know if you are in or out of range.
Pleased to see built in pop-up flash. Camera very quiet. The digital
viewfinder feels very secure and can pivot up. This means that for
macro you can put the camera on the table and stand above the camera
to frame a shot. Digital viewfinder is a bit small and squinty. I
guess on a day out you'd give it a miss so that the camera could fit
in your back pocket.
The optical viewfinder that attaches to the GR is beautiful but then
that's a fixed length lens.
The 19mm attachment was on when I first picked up the camera and I
wasn't totally knocked out. First the apparent difference to 24 is
not as great as I'd hoped. You don't go "Wow" just kind of "Well
that's nice". You have to attach a tube like lens hood that attaches
to the body which extends past the lens when it's zoomed out. Then
the 19mm lens screws onto the hood so that the regular camera lens
can zoom in and out independently. Consequently the lens is pretty
wide. Wider than the lens barrel. A solid, and quite heavy, piece of
glass. I'd sooner buy the flash.
With the hood on the built in flash is also impaired. Must cut down
on the speed of the lens as well. It's not something I'd leap to buy
as the cost and the hardware suddenly make it quite cumbersome. But
the proof would be in seeing some images. Briefly checked out Leica
and Lumix but the Ricoh was the standout.
The GR had a cool feature, when used on macro, that's missing from
the GX100. With the GR you can control where the point of focus falls
by scrolling around on screen. I guess you can focus on the area you
want with the GX then lock focus and reframe as you would with any
other camera but it would be great feature for photographing
jewellery...
So two thumbs up for me...
Les Lammers
06-19-2007, 04:36
I have had mine for a few days and like it a lot. The EVF is great in bright sun. It takes good IR pics with a filter. The hood is fine and accepts filters. Image quality is quite good.
I think of it as a digital Barnack Leica with a zoom. Popflash has them in stock.
fluffthecat
06-19-2007, 04:45
Hi, i like the GX so much, I started a blog page. All welcome to view and leave comments Fluff
http://mygx100.blogspot.com/
Tuolumne
06-19-2007, 08:35
I find that I don't need to use RAW on the GR-D - the camera does a good job of auto-exposure with easy fine-tuning and now you also have the option to colour-bracket with custom film settings (so shoot one colour, one B&W). Of course you could do that in post but I like to see my B&W shots B&W as quickly as possible. I just wish it had more dynamic range...
I, too, wish it had more dynamic range. I have found that it will easily blow highlights, even as the real-time histogram shows no problems. (Unfortunately, there is no 3 color histogram, just white). That may be part of the problem. In any case, I find that setting exposure compensatioin to -.3 or -.7 helps alot. You can then reexpand the dynamic range in post-processing. I also find the built-in flash somewaht erratic. It usually works ok at normal distances, but for macros or close-ups it will blow the dickens out of highlights. Putting on a home made diffuser seems to help. I wonder if that after-market add-on flash is any better?
/T
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