GXR M focus demonstration

[spencewine]

In Thai I think, but you get the picture:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHM66q7j-4o

[coelacanth]

Ha! I don't know how well it works in real life (and I don't know what he's saying) but that looks like a clever idea. I wish GXR had built-in EVF.

[sevres_babylone]

How can I complain about the Thai, when he's got to deal with the English menus!
Thanks for posting. Looks like it makes good use of the highly customizable Ricoh menu system (I have the GRD3), and the display to show what is in focus looks pretty clever.

[mabelsound]

I like it!....

[malland]

Looks great — and can't help thinking that this focus system puts Leica to shame. Until seeing this demo I haven't been interested in the M-mount, but maybe I'll get it for use with the Voightlaender 15 to get 22mm-e and the Summicron 28 to get 42mm-e. In using the GXR, I've been I've been missing the 21mm and 40mm FOVs.

The guy doing the demo is the technician at the Ricoh importer for Thailand.

—Mitch/Bangkok
Rainy Season

[Moriturii]

I always wanted to have a digital M-mount camera to do a bunch of lens tests, might get this one!

[bwcolor]

My only EVF is on my X100 and it is useable, but not preferable. The manual focus on the X100 is horrible. It seems to me that the limiting factor here is the present EVF/Body released almost two years ago. If I had the GXR, the M Mount would be a must buy. Since I don't own the GXR, I will wait for a better EVF on the next generation GXR body, Nex-7, or the September 2012 Leica.

[malland]

Have you actually tried the GXR EVF? I was prejudiced against it and never used it; but I finally tried it last week and thought it was fairly good, much better than I had thought it was.

—Mitch/Bangkok
Rainy Season

[bwcolor]

No, I haven't tried it, but in defense of my ignorance, Ricoh isn't a product that is easily found. Perhaps, a dealer in San Francisco might carry them, but I've yet to even see a GXR.

[Griffin]

I just love how nothing seems to fit anymore with this m-mount module. It's such a non-design article now, I find it irresistibly sexy. It's 100% form following function.

[mabelsound]

Originally Posted by Griffin

It's such a non-design article now, I find it irresistibly sexy. It's 100% form following function.

I have to agree, that's very well put. This device is so spectacularly implausible that I honestly can't believe it exists. I have my doubts about it shipping, in fact. But if it does I just might be on board. It speaks of very high levels of in-house nerditude.

[malland]

Originally Posted by bwcolor

No, I haven't tried it, but in defense of my ignorance, Ricoh isn't a product that is easily found. Perhaps, a dealer in San Francisco might carry them, but I've yet to even see a GXR.

In the States there are five dealers, so for most people it's difficult to go into a store to try one out; bur Popflash (www.popflash.com) has a very good reputation and, apparently, has some "test-drive" programs. The GXR feels very good in the hands and the user interface, as on the GRD3, is very well conceived with the photographer in mind and widely configurable by assignment of functions to function buttons or levers, with a well thought out menu system.

—Mitch/Bangkok
Rainy Season

[bwcolor]

I suppose that ordering from a store with a rock solid return policy allows for a test drive of the EVF. The GXR 'M' Module appears to be a typical Ricoh production; very well thought out. In camera correction, especially if it applies to RAW is a plus that the NEX-7 won't bring to the table. Also, the dedicated controls and smaller file size is a plus, if the 24.3MPix doesn't translate into a better end product.

I'm sure that we will get a few reviews comparing these two camera systems.