Ricoh GR Digital

[Paulo Bizarro]

I was a keen user of the the GR1 series, wonderful little cameras. I was thinking that maybe I could use this camera the way I used the film one, in what Ricoh designated as Snap mode. Basically setting the lens to its hyperfocal distance, and yes, "snap" away.

There is not many information around about this camera, apart from Ricoh's self-indulgent promotions, and the usual "reports" on the net. Apparently, high ISO translates into high noise, but that is not a problem to me, I can handle that in post processing.

A real concern could be the long time it takes to write the RAW files, I have read figures like 7 seconds...

Other than that, it looks like a really interesting camera, the lens in the GR series has always been top quality. The GR digital can go down to 21 mm with a special adapter. They also used to have a GR21 film compact, with a 21 mm lens.

For me, it is nice to see at least a camera maker trying to make a camera that seems to be built for photographers. A nice change from the hundreds of "clone" compacts that have innundated the market.

Thus, if you have any experience with this little camera, or are just curious as I am, I would be interested in keeping a line open.

Thanks.

[SphericalAberation]

Hi,

I just got the camera this morning, so here are a few first impressions:

It's as solid feeling as the GR1 - only the plastic pop-up flash and battery covers let it down.

Hand grip is rubberized and feels good, but the camera body is a now a bit small.

The Lens Barrel feels more solid on the GRD than the GR1.
Power up to first shot is a quick as the GR1.
Lens extension noise is louder than GR1, but quieter than GR1 film wind on.
GRD focus is quieter and quicker than GR1.

Focus SNAP/Infinity focus is not a 1 button operation any more.
Once Assigned to ADJ, it's then a push of the ADJ wheel; scroll with ADJ and UP/DOWN then OK to select AF option or SNAP, Infinity etc. It as bit slower than than cycling the MODE button on the GR1s.

ISO setting is also through the same button.
Manual Shutter, Aperture and compensation are all very easy to access on their individual controls.

Write times are under a couple of seconds in JPEG, but an agonizing 12s in RAW with a SanDisk Extreme III 1GB which has a 133x / 20MB/s write spec. Guess I must follow the Japanese reviewers and try for 7s with a Panasonic card.

The camera locks up during this time - so you can't close the lens and put it back in your pocket while it's writing the RAW file :-(

Image sharpness seems good, but as it was dull and raining today I did not take any pictures of note which were able to really check out the lens and dynamic range etc.

Initially, I found the noise an issue ( i.e. un-useable ) at ISO 400/800, with RAW suffering from excess green blotching.

This evening however, I downloaded Camera Raw 3.3 Beta from Adobe: What a difference !!

There seems to be a new mosaic algorithm which works wonders with noise. It's results are far better than the old mosaic and Noise Ninja combined.

Inside shot showed only my carpet, which has a regular fine pattern, still shows traces of excess green noise. Otherwise shadows, mid tones and highlights all seem mostly clear of noise, while still holding good resolution.

My main use for this camera was to be as a cycling/holiday camera, but it might just be able to replace the GR1. It even looks like ISO 800 in RAW is worthy of further investigation.


Over the next week, I will try to get outside and run NPS ( or PRO160s if it arrives in time ) and NPZ through the GR1s at the same time as using the GRD for true like for like test.

[Paulo Bizarro]

Thanks very much for your feedback. AS I said, I am interested in this little camera, and from what you say, it looks like it will pretty much handle like the film version. At least for the major things.