angelodal
Member
Yes, turned my GR-D into a film camera (or made it behave like one)
To start off, this focuses on the use of the camera, not the results. Nothing to do with film vs digital mush, just a suggestion to enjoy your GR-Ds like the old film GR cameras.
I used to own a GR-1s, which broke beyond repair. It was a fun camera, aperture priority in a compact package and I brought it everywhere. Eventually, a cb inside burned out and with no spare parts available, it has become a beautiful doorstop. With new ones fetching such high prices, chances of getting another one was very slim.
Well, I recently purchased myself a GR-D III, a big step from the GR I used to own, with all new settings and functions you can alter. It's great for tinkering but gets distracting to me when shooting (I end up tinkering instead of taking photos!), unlike the GR-1s. So I thought of turning my GR-D into something like the GR-1s.
The first thing I missed was the optical viewfinder, the Ricoh accessory finder is expensive, I paid less for the camera than the price of a bnew finder, so I managed to make one from scratch using a disposable camera with a 25mm lens. When using the viewfinder, I usually turn off the display, and use preset setting (more on this later) but end up with nose grease all over the screen afterwards. I cut up a black plastic folder to make a cover for the screen which snaps into place on top of the lcd.
What I really love about the GR-D is the mode dial on top with the 3 My Settings function. I set one to 200 iso color + spot AF, the other one to 64 iso bw + spot AF and the last one to 400 iso bw + snap focus. I chose spot AF so it would be easier to compose and obtain focus using just the external vf. I wonder why Ricoh didn't allow setting the aperture and shutter speed with the display off. For this reason, I end up shooting with aperture priority AE at f8 (daylight outdoors) and f1.9 (indoors) most of the time.
I must admit I have an attachment to the GR-1s, and the GR-D is managing to fill its place now as it has become my bring everywhere camera, my friends even thought it was the GR-1s back to life! I'm really enjoying this little camera, even more now.
angelo
To start off, this focuses on the use of the camera, not the results. Nothing to do with film vs digital mush, just a suggestion to enjoy your GR-Ds like the old film GR cameras.
I used to own a GR-1s, which broke beyond repair. It was a fun camera, aperture priority in a compact package and I brought it everywhere. Eventually, a cb inside burned out and with no spare parts available, it has become a beautiful doorstop. With new ones fetching such high prices, chances of getting another one was very slim.
Well, I recently purchased myself a GR-D III, a big step from the GR I used to own, with all new settings and functions you can alter. It's great for tinkering but gets distracting to me when shooting (I end up tinkering instead of taking photos!), unlike the GR-1s. So I thought of turning my GR-D into something like the GR-1s.
The first thing I missed was the optical viewfinder, the Ricoh accessory finder is expensive, I paid less for the camera than the price of a bnew finder, so I managed to make one from scratch using a disposable camera with a 25mm lens. When using the viewfinder, I usually turn off the display, and use preset setting (more on this later) but end up with nose grease all over the screen afterwards. I cut up a black plastic folder to make a cover for the screen which snaps into place on top of the lcd.
What I really love about the GR-D is the mode dial on top with the 3 My Settings function. I set one to 200 iso color + spot AF, the other one to 64 iso bw + spot AF and the last one to 400 iso bw + snap focus. I chose spot AF so it would be easier to compose and obtain focus using just the external vf. I wonder why Ricoh didn't allow setting the aperture and shutter speed with the display off. For this reason, I end up shooting with aperture priority AE at f8 (daylight outdoors) and f1.9 (indoors) most of the time.
I must admit I have an attachment to the GR-1s, and the GR-D is managing to fill its place now as it has become my bring everywhere camera, my friends even thought it was the GR-1s back to life! I'm really enjoying this little camera, even more now.
angelo
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
Angelo, thanks for the ideas. I'd like to see a picture of your GRD with the accessory viewfinder and the screen cover, if you get time to post it. Thanks.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Angelo,
I am in full agreement with you regarding the GR-1 and GRD. It is less about the media (film vs digital), but more about a good camera design. One that I wish more companies learn from Ricoh.
Although my GR-1s' LCD is almost useless with missing parts of digits, the camera still functions 100%... for now. Every time I heard that little camera reeling the film in to get ready to shoot, I cringe, half-expecting that it'll be the last time I'd be able to use it.
I am in full agreement with you regarding the GR-1 and GRD. It is less about the media (film vs digital), but more about a good camera design. One that I wish more companies learn from Ricoh.
Although my GR-1s' LCD is almost useless with missing parts of digits, the camera still functions 100%... for now. Every time I heard that little camera reeling the film in to get ready to shoot, I cringe, half-expecting that it'll be the last time I'd be able to use it.