this Press Release was in my inbox this morning!
Stephen
PHOTO IS OF A PROTOTYPE SHOWN AT A JAPANESE CAMERA SHOW! NOT FINAL PRODUCTION CAMERA!
Ricoh announces development of expansion unit for the
GXR interchangeable unit camera system
Tokyo, Japan, February 1, 2011—Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) today announced the development of expansion unit for the GXR interchangeable unit camera system, which went on sale on December 18, 2009.
The GXR is a revolutionary new interchangeable unit camera system in which lenses can be changed by mounting camera units that integrate lens, image sensor, and image processing engine into a single unit. In addition, fully utilizing its unique capabilities, the GXR line will expand to include a variety of devices through the addition of interchangeable units other than camera units.
The GXR line now includes four camera units, but the newly developed unit being announced here is an expansion unit.
Development model name: GXR Lens Mount Unit
・With this lens mount unit, photographers can mount lenses such as Leica M lenses and use them for shooting with the GXR.
・The lens mount unit is being designed to make the best use of the optical characteristics of the lenses mounted. It will have as its image sensor a 23.6 mm × 15.7 mm (APS-C size; total pixels: approx. 12.90 million) CMOS sensor, and it will also feature a newly developed focal plane shutter.
・Release is planned for the autumn of 2011.
There are plans to display a design mock-up of the GXR lens mount unit at the CP+ CAMERA & PHOTO IMAGING SHOW to be held from February 9 (Wed.) to 12 (Sat.) at Pacifico Yokohama.
*The development model name, specs, and introduction timing indicated above are subject to change.
Stephen
PHOTO IS OF A PROTOTYPE SHOWN AT A JAPANESE CAMERA SHOW! NOT FINAL PRODUCTION CAMERA!
Ricoh announces development of expansion unit for the
GXR interchangeable unit camera system
Tokyo, Japan, February 1, 2011—Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) today announced the development of expansion unit for the GXR interchangeable unit camera system, which went on sale on December 18, 2009.
The GXR is a revolutionary new interchangeable unit camera system in which lenses can be changed by mounting camera units that integrate lens, image sensor, and image processing engine into a single unit. In addition, fully utilizing its unique capabilities, the GXR line will expand to include a variety of devices through the addition of interchangeable units other than camera units.
The GXR line now includes four camera units, but the newly developed unit being announced here is an expansion unit.
Development model name: GXR Lens Mount Unit
・With this lens mount unit, photographers can mount lenses such as Leica M lenses and use them for shooting with the GXR.
・The lens mount unit is being designed to make the best use of the optical characteristics of the lenses mounted. It will have as its image sensor a 23.6 mm × 15.7 mm (APS-C size; total pixels: approx. 12.90 million) CMOS sensor, and it will also feature a newly developed focal plane shutter.
・Release is planned for the autumn of 2011.
There are plans to display a design mock-up of the GXR lens mount unit at the CP+ CAMERA & PHOTO IMAGING SHOW to be held from February 9 (Wed.) to 12 (Sat.) at Pacifico Yokohama.
*The development model name, specs, and introduction timing indicated above are subject to change.
chrishayton
Well-known
Just saw this on Dpreview. Its incredible the choice Leica M lens owners have now for digital.
Pablito
coco frío
Another expensive gadget for the gizmo-lovers.
Crop factor plus lack auto-diaphragm in M lenses make this utterly impractical except for slow, controlled studio use. For which there are better alternatives. Stop the lens down and watch the image get darker on the screen. Can't imagine this thing will have a viewfinder, and if you can add one, you certainly will not be able to focus through the viewfinder. I know they climbed the mountain because it was there, but....
Crop factor plus lack auto-diaphragm in M lenses make this utterly impractical except for slow, controlled studio use. For which there are better alternatives. Stop the lens down and watch the image get darker on the screen. Can't imagine this thing will have a viewfinder, and if you can add one, you certainly will not be able to focus through the viewfinder. I know they climbed the mountain because it was there, but....
I think you are a little off on some of your info...
ottluuk
the indecisive eternity
Oh, come on. I once tried a non-auto-diaphragm 300/4.5 on an ancient Zenit. You'd set exposure, then focus at f/4.5, close the aperture to f/8 or whatever you wished, it'd get dark in the viewfinder, hit the shutter. The mirror was not of the convenient auto-return type, either
- and yet, with a bit of determination, you could take action shots and get decent focus/exposure.With a modern mirrorless camera and legacy lens you can get aperture priority AE, on-demand live zoom for critical focus, choice of screen or electronic viewfinder, and I guess you could make the screen brightness automatically go up to compensate for when you stop the lens down. This is just sheer convenience.
I think this is very good news for the GXR system since it provides people access to lenses like 50/1, that would be utterly impractical for Ricoh to manufacture.
gekopaca
French photographer
It may be interesting for people like me who use very often ultra wides (12 & 15mm) with an external viewfinder and hyperfocal settings.
But if you use fast lenses, I'm sure you can focus quickly with the optional EVF, maybe easier than a M9 in dark situations, because the EVF increases the ambiant light.
More, on my GH1 there's a magnifier function, maybe there's the same in the Ricoh EVF…
Now we must wait and see… the price : if GXR + M modul + EVF is more expensive or equal than a second hand M8, I prefer a M8!
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DNG
Film Friendly
I use my ZM 50 C-Sonnar on my G1 (m4/3) and I have no trouble focusing at small f/#'s....
It isn't that much slower than using a MF SLR...
If, Ricoh uses an automatic gain in brightness as the lens is stopped down (like the G1/G2), even better.
It is an interesting chose to use the M mount. Plus a 1.5x crop sensor....No, not a RF like the Epson R-Dx, but, another choice to use that Leica or other glass on it... And a Focal plane shutter... Uhhhh.. should have a leaf shutter.... I'm sure plenty of people would like a camera to sync at all shutter speeds with flash (not me, I don't use flash 99.9% of the time).
It isn't that much slower than using a MF SLR...
If, Ricoh uses an automatic gain in brightness as the lens is stopped down (like the G1/G2), even better.
It is an interesting chose to use the M mount. Plus a 1.5x crop sensor....No, not a RF like the Epson R-Dx, but, another choice to use that Leica or other glass on it... And a Focal plane shutter... Uhhhh.. should have a leaf shutter.... I'm sure plenty of people would like a camera to sync at all shutter speeds with flash (not me, I don't use flash 99.9% of the time).
saxshooter
Well-known
you can already get 1.5x crop with Leica M lenses on the Sony NEX series....
Pablito
coco frío
Then please provide the correct into, I'm curious. Can you focus in the VF?
Of course this thing might be useable and capable of very high quality images, but without AF or some other fast viewfinder based manual focusing method it's not much use to may folks who need to work fast. Manual focusing on the screen in back is not really an option for many of us.
Nothing against Ricoh, my GRD3 is very capable.
gekopaca
French photographer
Pablito
coco frío
Is there an EVF?
bensyverson
Well-known
Exactly... In a smaller, less expensive, and less complex package.
They really didn't think this one through...
gekopaca
French photographer
- IMO Ricoh cameras are more solid and ergonomic than Sony Nex (external buttons…).
- The GXR M modul is specially done for M lenses (mount, sensor, shutter…), not the NEX.
- May I ask if there is an Electronic viewfinder for the Nex?
gekopaca
French photographer
The GXR has a EVF available. I would imagine Ricoh will allow one to use it to focus an M mount lens...why wouldn't they?
Jamie123
Veteran
Yes, and you can also get a 40" LCD TV from Sony, that doesn't mean that competitors can't make 40" LCD tvs.
kshapero
South Florida Man
And the results are fantastic! Referring to the NEX.
kshapero
South Florida Man
sorry, your comment makes no sense to me. The Nex works beautifully with M Mount lenses and is much much cheaper than the Ricoh, so it has definite pluses. just saying
That may be true. However, it isn't optimized for m-mount lenses so, theoretically, the GXR M-Mount module could work even better right? The Sony is cheaper, but it also feels cheaper...
The GXR isn't for everyone (just as the NEX isn't). However, for those of us that do like them and also use M-Mount lenses, this module will come in handy. Cheap isn't everything in this world.
Pablito
coco frío
Ah, thanks.