Luminous Landscape Forum

Site & Board Matters => About This Site => Topic started by: Prognathous on April 17, 2006, 05:53:58 pm

Title: Any chance to see Ricoh's GR Digital reviewed?
Post by: Prognathous on April 17, 2006, 05:53:58 pm

After the rave LX1 review, I think it would be very interesting see it compared with the other high-end 28mm compact on the market - the Ricoh GR Digital.

Now, I know about Sean Reid's review of the camera, but I can't justify paying for a review of a camera I'm most likely not going to buy. I hope the affiliation of luminous-landscape.com with of with Mr. Reid doesn't mean the Ricoh is never going to be reviewed here.

Thanks,

Prog.

Title: Any chance to see Ricoh's GR Digital reviewed?
Post by: DarkPenguin on April 17, 2006, 06:18:42 pm

Is the Ricoh available in North America?

Title: Any chance to see Ricoh's GR Digital reviewed?
Post by: Prognathous on April 17, 2006, 11:02:11 pm

Yes, it is:

http://www.adorama.com/IRCGR.html (http://www.adorama.com/IRCGR.html)
http://popflash.com/item.cfm?id=%24%24%2E6L%5E%20%20%20%0A (http://popflash.com/item.cfm?id=%24%24%2E6L%5E%20%20%20%0A)

Prog.

Title: Any chance to see Ricoh's GR Digital reviewed?
Post by: oldcsar on April 18, 2006, 02:54:59 am

I found a reasonably good, but not fantastic, review of the GR digital here:

http://www.digicamreview.co.uk/ricoh_gr_d_digital_review.htm (http://www.digicamreview.co.uk/ricoh_gr_d_digital_review.htm)

I'm pretty intrigued by the camera myself. However, I find the noticeable noise even at ISO64 unacceptable (and there's some really severe color noise in the higher iso's... noise reduction software would be a must), and the fact that the only zoom is DIGITAL. yuck. Dig the macro though. Though the LX1 also has some noise problems typical to compact cameras, the camera as a whole seems more solid than the GR Digital... the LX1's 4x optical zoom is a nice plus.

Title: Any chance to see Ricoh's GR Digital reviewed?
Post by: Prognathous on April 18, 2006, 03:27:31 am

Yes, I'm familiar with this review, but I'd really like to hear Michael Reichmann's comments on the camera.

As for the GR-D not having a zoom, you're right, it's a major drawback IMHO. However Ricoh does have a somewhat similar camera that does - the Caplio GX8 (http://www.digicamreview.co.uk/ricoh_caplio_gx8_review.htm). It has a quite a few advantages over the LX1:

1. Much quicker AF (a given with all Ricoh digicams)
2. Much quicker off-to-shot-taken
3. Optical viewfinder
4. ISO 800 and 1600
5. True 28mm (not limited to 16:9 like in the LX1).
6. Standard hot-shoe for mounting external flash units
7. Supports both Li-Ion and AA.
8. Has a dedicated Ricoh 21mm wide converter
9. Built in lens-cap
10. 1cm Macro
11. Front control dial
12. Slightly faster lens (f2.5 vs. f2.8)

The Panasonic does have several advantages of its own:

1. High-res video
2. Image stabilization (OIS)
3. RAW mode
4. Metal tripod thread (unlike the Ricoh's plastic one).

All in all, I think that for those looking for a 28mm-zoom compact, the GX8 is a much better solution.

Prog.