Excellent Ricoh GRD II Review Online

[dcsang]

I've only been browsing the DPReview Ricoh forum as I'm still researching this P&S cam and came across a thread with a great review of the camera:
http://www.eyeswitching.com/ricoh_grd_ii_rev.html

The reviewer seems to be very honest and unbiased and is not one of the "regular" reviewers (i.e. Phil Askey, Steve's Digicams, Dave at Imaging Resource etc.) but that's just my opinion...... which I like to believe is also honest and unbiased.... although you may think differently.. which then makes you the biased one 😀

Cheers
Dave

 

[NickTrop]

I don't want to start a film vs digital war... but if I was the author I would go back to shooting a small film rangefinder. Consider:

Disadvantages

◆ Expensive
◆ Shutter lag
◆ Slow start up time
◆ 4:3 default image ratio
◆ Noise in images
◆ Noise from focussing
◆ Dust - lack of dust sealing is a serious omission

Another disadvantage, is that - like many of these cameras, noise after ISO 200 becomes a problem. Forget 400. 400 is my default film speed. Compounding this issue is that digicams typically have slow-ish lenses. f2.4, f2.8, f3.5 compared with a f1.7(8) on most fixed lens RFs.

A film rangefinder -

- can be inexpensive and downright cheap compared to almost any digital
- ZERO shutter lag
- ALWAYS ready to shoot
- High res, full frame, nice rectangular 135 film
- NO Ugly DIGITAL NOISE. Has hrain - which is usually inobtrusive, most 400 speed films are virtually grainless, esp C41 black and white.
- Silent manual focus, most have very silent shutters
- Dust, not an issue.

I say to this chap, go buy yourself a lil' rangefinder. All of the advantages, none of the disadvantages. Carry a spare roll of film around. A walk-around camera isn't typically something you're going to fire a zillion shots every minute. More like, you see a photographic opportunity, and take a pic every so often.

 

[sirius]

The GRD is a great camera. I have the first version which I really enjoy using. This is significant evolution up.

This camera has great ergonomics and a really nice lens. They gave a lot of thought to how people use a camera. It's really fun to use---one of the best POCKETABLE cameras I have ever had! You have complete manual control and easy access to it (most digital cameras have awkward menus to go through, this system is brilliant). You can set a shutter delay of 2 seconds which allows you to hand-hold at incredibly low speeds like 1/8 sec (see photo below). The camera is very quiet, once you get over the initial start-up stage. You can preset things about the camera (zone focus, ISO, shutter/aperture) so that it shoots instantly. The 28mm small sensor camera gives a lot of depth of field so that it's not hard to get your subject in focus. The macro is beautiful and creates a lovely bokeh.

This camera has some of the nicest digital grain that I have ever seen. It produces a beautiful file (and you don't have to develop/scan/adjust/dust-touch-up your negs!). Every camera/system has its limitations. This one has really developed and filled-out its niche. If you can accept the way a small sensor "draws" images, this camera is really great.

This was taken at 1/8 second, hand held. (The file is fairly compressed in order to show in this venue)

 

[totifoto]

I don't want to start a film vs digital war... but if I was the author I would go back to shooting a small film rangefinder. Consider:

Disadvantages

◆ Expensive
◆ Shutter lag
◆ Slow start up time
◆ 4:3 default image ratio
◆ Noise in images
◆ Noise from focussing
◆ Dust - lack of dust sealing is a serious omission

Another disadvantage, is that - like many of these cameras, noise after ISO 200 becomes a problem. Forget 400. 400 is my default film speed. Compounding this issue is that digicams typically have slow-ish lenses. f2.4, f2.8, f3.5 compared with a f1.7(8) on most fixed lens RFs.

A film rangefinder -

- can be inexpensive and downright cheap compared to almost any digital
- ZERO shutter lag
- ALWAYS ready to shoot
- High res, full frame, nice rectangular 135 film
- NO Ugly DIGITAL NOISE. Has hrain - which is usually inobtrusive, most 400 speed films are virtually grainless, esp C41 black and white.
- Silent manual focus, most have very silent shutters
- Dust, not an issue.

I say to this chap, go buy yourself a lil' rangefinder. All of the advantages, none of the disadvantages. Carry a spare roll of film around. A walk-around camera isn't typically something you're going to fire a zillion shots every minute. More like, you see a photographic opportunity, and take a pic every so often.

I agree 100%😉

 

[sevres_babylone]

Disadvantages

◆ Expensive
◆ Shutter lag
◆ Slow start up time
◆ 4:3 default image ratio
◆ Noise in images
◆ Noise from focussing
◆ Dust - lack of dust sealing is a serious omission

Expensive - yes
Shutter lag - none if set to snap, which I use most of the time
Slow start up time - true, but rarely a problem, because most of the time when I'm shooting, I have it ready to go
4:3 - I thought I would dislike that format, because 3:2 is my preferred one, but I actually like it, and although you can change the format to 3:2 with a pretty minimal MP loss, I rarely have (for that matter, I got used to 6x7 when shooting with my Mamiya 7)
Noise in Images: (I still have to print!)
Noise from focussing: when on snap mode -- completely silent
Dust - I agree the lack of sealing is unfortunate; but I have an R-D1, so I live with continuous camera repair anxiety

That said, it is completely silent, and very unobtrusive. I often use it in situations when pulling out my R-D1 would draw attention (for size and shutter), and where my (since stolen) Stylus Epic would have been impossible to focus.

In the Paris Metro.

 

[ampguy]

some P&S's are just as fast as film regarding shutter lag, and equal or exceed film noise levels, the ones that let you turn off or tune down the # of levels of focus and metering complexity, and that take photos in any mode.

These include the Fuji F series models, and I would be surprised if the GRD's with the right settings weren't as good or better.

The Canon A6xx series are good to ISO 400, and low end Lumixes up to ISO 200, but I think these won't fire if in playback mode, like the Fujis. Haven't tried a GRD, but I'd like to try an original one sometime if a deal comes around.

 

[sevres_babylone]

Haven't tried a GRD, but I'd like to try an original one sometime if a deal comes around.

Depends on your definition of a deal, but RFF advertiser Popflash (where I bought my GRD II) has the original GRD for $399, which I consider to be a deal.