Mini Review - Ricoh GR1

[Krzys]

Just some initial thoughts on my first day of using this camera. I'll write a full review when I get back from using it overseas, if anyone is interested.

The camera is tiny. Thinner than an XA and slightly longer. When you first load the camera with film it prewinds out the entire roll, so this can take some time if you are in a hurry. Probably about 30 seconds and the camera gives me 38 exposures on this particular roll of tri-x. Great!

It is noisy in a room with no background noise but on the street I quickly got used to the sound of the electric winder and I don't mind it.

It will take awhile before I have a good idea on the autofocus. At this stage I stop and carefully plan out each shot. I can't see it working well on moving subjects and such. Snap mode solves this problem focusing the lens at 2meters...as on the GR1s/v which has some extra preset focusing points.

So far I really can't justify the cult following for this camera. It's good to use but not amazing. I might change my mind when I see the photos though....I'll be printing the first roll later this week.

I definitely like it so far..

 

[semilog]

Wait... until you see what the lens can do. (GR1, 2TMY, XTOL 1:1)

 

[Krzys]

I'm sure it will be great...but I'll only be printing 5x7 for the next couple of weeks. I'll make some large crops to see the resolution though.

The biggest downfall so far is that it wont display the shutter speed it has selected below 1/30. A problem since I'm sure we all would be confident to shoot at 1/30 with a 28mm lens...yet there is no way of knowing that 1/4 hasn't been selected instead.

 

[semilog]

 

[shyoon]

I really like my GR1s, it's a great 'everyday' camera. Still getting used to the noise though - especially after using a Leica and an XA. But you can't go past the profile of the camera; it's so much thinner than similar high-end compacts like the Minilux or the 35TI whilst retaining the high build quality expected of high-end compacts. Not to mention it takes pretty good photos as well - f8, SNAP mode and you're laughing.

 

[Krzys]

Lets go have a GR1* party with Keith in the city, shyoon!

 

[shiro_kuro]

One of my all time My favorite cameras ... check out the link below


http://preview.tinyurl.com/lg8u9n

 

[OdDbaLL]

I've had my GR1v from new. It's one of my favourite cameras. I've rarely had a bad picture come from it that was the camera's fault. The lens is amazing. The focus does seems to be wonky at times, it's happened that it will show Portrait focus when I'm standing infront of an endless landscape, but the photos have come out fine so now I just shrug and keep shooting.
The controls are very intuitive, it's clearly been designed by someone who understands photography. It's amazingly solid and even though mine is starting to look a bit rubbed up and beat I have full confidence in it.
The digital version has the same great intuitive interface though sadly I wish it was mated to a sensor like Sigma's Foveon.

 

[jmilkins]

This was printed to 30x20, and still looks pretty good at that enlargement.

You can get an adapter and UV, orange, ND and Pol filter for the Gr1s onwards too...

Have a great trip Chris.

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