Hooray for Ricoh!

[richard_l]

As far as I can tell from the reviews, the new Ricoh GR Digital is an amazing product. Even though "everybody" wants a zoom, Ricoh has gone against the trend and produced a high quality P&S digital with a 28mm (35mm equivalent) fixed lens. Clearly it is designed to appeal to those who appreciate the the splendid fixed lens film cameras produced by Ricoh, Leica, Contax, and others. If I had the money, I would place an order for one right now, as much to show my support for what Ricoh is doing as to get what seems to be a state of the art digital P&S. No, I don't work for Ricoh or any of it's dealers.

 

[jlw]

Crikey, almost $1,200 for a fixed-lens camera without even an optical viewfinder (except for a humongous slide-on accessory for the 21mm)? And people here are always complaining that R-D 1s are overpriced?!?!?

 

[ch1]

Crikey, almost $1,200 for a fixed-lens camera without even an optical viewfinder (except for a humongous slide-on accessory for the 21mm)? And people here are always complaining that R-D 1s are overpriced?!?!?

Agree!

Am I missing something? Fixed lens, 8mp camera for $1200?

Why would I want this? :bang:

 

[ray_g]

Personally, I'd have preferred a built-in VF to a large LCD. If the lens is anything as good as the GR-1 (are there any extensive reviews yet?), I wouldn't mind one, but not at a price twice that of most entry-level DSLR's.

I hope KM-Sony follows suit with a digital Hexar AF.

Or a digital Hexar RF, with .90x and built-in antishake. 😉

 

[fgianni]

Crikey, almost $1,200 for a fixed-lens camera without even an optical viewfinder (except for a humongous slide-on accessory for the 21mm)? And people here are always complaining that R-D 1s are overpriced?!?!?

WHere did you get the $1200 price from?
Here in the UK is much less then that, Robert White has it for £340 (about $600)

 

[Bertram2]

Crikey, almost $1,200 for a fixed-lens camera without even an optical viewfinder (except for a humongous slide-on accessory for the 21mm)? And people here are always complaining that R-D 1s are overpriced?!?!?

Considering my Ricoh R 35 with a "true" 4/30 lens, manual options, hotshoe, hood and filter thread was $ 110.- including a bag i find it overpriced too.
Calculating about 6 rolls with a P&S pro anno my break even comes 2095. 😀

Nonetheless I find the on-top finder well thought, at least it is one you can recognize the object with, very different from what you mostly get with a digital P&S.

bertra,

 

[jlw]

WHere did you get the $1200 price from?
Here in the UK is much less then that, Robert White has it for £340 (about $600)

It's the advertised price on the RFF advertiser's website.

I did notice that Europe/UK prices are much lower, although $600 is still more than I'd pay for a camera with an EVF only.

 

[DougK]

I just checked the price on the sponsor's site and it's $1167. Way too high for this camera.

On a side note, if you want to see a good number of samples from this camera, go to Flickr and search on Ricoh GR digital. Image quality is pretty good straight out of the camera although I think Noise Ninja would be a must.

 

[peter_n]

The Ricoh GR was a much loved analog camera. I think this is seen as a digital version of the old camera and it has generated a lot of excitement as a result. I seem to remember a page on the Robert White web site last year bemoaning the fact that the film GR was discontinued. They are probably really happy that its "back", so to speak...

 

[einolu]

Yes, the price at popflash is a little crazy.

 

[wilt]

Too bad there are so few cameras in this niche of the digital market: fast high quality prime lens; extremely small shutter lag; perhaps manual focus; LCD screen not necessary; small and quiet. I know nothing about the Ricoh camera, but I would like to learn more about it as well as see similar cameras marketed.

 

[ray_g]

Seems to be some price discrepancies, even among our sponsors.

http://www.adorama.com/IRCGR.html?searchinfo=ricoh digital&item_no=3

 

[Tony Rose]

Popflash.com has the Ricoh GRD for $727.00 and not $1200.00. If you buy the kit with the optical finder, electronic cable release, hood adapter and the 21mm lens the cost is $1167.00. Also to RRF members you receive a 512MB FAST SD card worth $50.00 for free.

Sorry, but we do not like to be misquoted as being too high.

TR

 

[ray_g]

Thanks for taking the time to clarify that, Tony.

Here's the link he was referring to.

 

[celerystalksme]

1/1.8" sensor...eh.

to justify spending that much on a fixed lens, compact digi cam...it'd need to have a APS size sensor. not to mention...i'd like a larger shutter speed range in case i need it. also...how does it look at ISO1600? it better look as good as the fuji f10/f11.

 

[DougK]

Thanks for clarifying, Tony, I wasn't clear from looking at the ad that it was for the whole kit and kaboodle. That sounds like a much better price.

 

[Bill58]

Strange--I've read only bad reviews on the 'net. Where did you see a positive one?

Bill

 

[celerystalksme]

Strange--I've read only bad reviews on the 'net. Where did you see a positive one?

Bill

same here...i've only read very mediocre reviews...or just flat out bad reviews...

 

[Sean Reid]

I've got a review copy of the camera right now and hope to have a review ready in a couple of weeks. I just need to finish up this DMR/1Ds2 article which is taking a huge hunk of time.

Cheers,

Sean

 

[gns]

Tony,

Is there a finder available for 28 or just for the 21?

Gary