Nex 7 vs GXR for Leica M Lenses. Any thoughts?

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eleskin

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The Nex 7 looks great in many ways. A few things could be annoying though for Leica M mount lenses. The GXR M module was specifically designed for M lenses, the Nex 7 probably not. The second issue is the shutter noise in the Nex. I heard it on a video online and it seemed very noisy compared to my M8. The GXR could be much more quiet.

The GXR seems to have better build quality. The Sony may not be as rugged. Something to consider when mounting a Noctilux.

Any thoughts?
 
I wouldn't have thought the Nex 7 will have a lesser build quality than the GXR - where have you heard that ? Don't forget the Nex 7 is Sony's high-end NEX camera, and Sony has certainly managed to build high quality premium cameras in the past. The Sony will have an exceptional EVF by all accounts and 24 megapixels dosen't hurt (apart from at High ISO's - where the GXR is not "class leading" anyway). The Ricoh has no anti-aliasing filter (which I view as a huge plus - certainly when it comes to "per pixel" sharpness, though counteracted to some degree by the Sony's vastly larger megapixel capability). I haven't looked it up lately, but I believe the GXR with Leica Module is no cheaper (may even be slightly more expensive) than the Sony. Both have aids to manual focussing.

All of which is a lengthy way of agreeing with kshapero by way of saying .... who knows ??
 
NEX looks great with the built in EVF, but as pointed out, it's not made for M lenses, the Ricoh module is. Only time will tell of course, but if I had to choose now, blind, as it were, I'd go for Ricoh on gut instinct.
 
I think the Ricoh has built in (manual) settings to deal with the vignetting and colour shift with M mount wide angle lenses... this could make it a winner in my books.
Cheers,
Jim
 
From the initial tests of the NEX C3 vs NEX 3, the color shifts seem to have been addressed; one assumes then 7 will have this also.

The 7 will definitely have one advantage over the Ricoh: the ability to use a close focusing M lens adapter. I use one of these on my NEX 5 and it's completely transformed my use of M lenses which normally can't focus very close. Say goodbye to .7 or 1m minimum focus...

We'll know more in November. 🙂
 
The shutter on the Ricoh M module doesn't sound all that quiet on the videos, and since it's a vertical focal plane shutter made of metal (probably a copal?) I wouldn't expect it to be much more quiet than a m4/3 or Nex camera. But the m-module does have an electronic shutter apparently (I mean a virtual one pulling info off the sensor directly...no moving parts)...It's not clear to me how you can choose one or the other, but I think this would be essentially silent.
 
dreilly said:
The shutter on the Ricoh M module doesn't sound all that quiet on the videos, and since it's a vertical focal plane shutter made of metal (probably a copal?) I wouldn't expect it to be much more quiet than a m4/3 or Nex camera. But the m-module does have an electronic shutter apparently (I mean a virtual one pulling info off the sensor directly...no moving parts)...It's not clear to me how you can choose one or the other, but I think this would be essentially silent.
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I had a pre-production GXR Mount module and the shutter is quieter than the one on the NEX3, the m4/3 and Epson RD1 cameras I used.

The electronic shutter can be enabled in the scene modes selection and works actually quite well even for moving scenes.

I wrote more about the module here: http://ricoh-gr-diary.blogspot.com/2011/08/gxr-mount-a12-first-impressions.html
 
I have only read two reviews, Vladimir's and the English version of the Japanese review, both informative. I have a NEX-7 on pre-order, but I may change my mind as the reviews come in. I understand how the high resolution of the 24.3 MPix chip allows for dropping the AA filter, but not sure how well the GXR module's microlens works as an AA filter. My biggest problem with the Ricoh is the EVF. I'm guessing that a new body and sensor would be required to provide the refresh rate and pixel density necessary to match, or surpass the NEX-7. My problem with the NEX-7 is lack of dedicated shutter speed with detente. Also, the large raw file size needs to produce a stunning image in order for this camera to make sense. I always keep my raw files and don't want to use the space unless there is a reason to have such large files. The only reason would be image quality. Thanks for the review Vladimir, or is it Cristian?
 
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The nex-5n and nex-7 have an electronic first curtain shutter and are much quieter than their predecessors.

EVF, 24mp and close focusing adapter are the main reasons I'm going Nex-7 for my M lenses. Plus, I can use other lenses, like Contax G.
 
bwcolor said:
...My biggest problem with the Ricoh is the EVF...
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Same here. With the much higher resolution NEX-7 EVF, I wonder whether one will be able to focus manually even without using the focus peaking assist function. The other issues are whether there are any corner problems with wide-angle lenses, and how the image quality is compared to that of the GXR M-Module, which has no AA filter.

—Mitch/Pak Nam Pran
Pak Nam Pran
 
douglasf13 said:
EVF, 24mp and close focusing adapter are the main reasons I'm going Nex-7 for my M lenses. Plus, I can use other lenses, like Contax G.
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Exactly. I haven't pre-ordered, but I am intrigued. It could be a nice back-up / high ISO camera for my M lenses. However, I'm not really a big fan of EVFs. That is why I must see it in person prior to buying.
 
malland said:
Same here. With the much higher resolution NEX-7 EVF, I wonder whether one will be able to focus manually even without using the focus peaking assist function. The other issues are whether there are any corner problems with wide-angle lenses, and how the image quality is compared to that of the GXR M-Module, which has no AA filter.

—Mitch/Pak Nam Pran
Pak Nam Pran
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Does the NEX-7 have an AA filter? I've not seen anything to suggest that it does, or doesn't. Of course at 24Mpix, it probably could get away without a filter.

Also, I've not seen anything from Sony stating that it has micro-lenses to compensate for wide angle lens vignetting. Also, it lacks lens specific, in camera compensation, which the GXR module has. Ricoh needs to master the EVF in their next camera body.
 
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I actually believe that Sony will always have the best sensor (in its class) and the best viewfinder on the market because it's what they are manufacturing for a living.
Don't know about the other photographic aspects (they seem to slowly get up there with the others) but they seem to have this bases covered.

First images with the NEX7 and the 50mm f1.8 lens: Here
 
I'm itching to buy one or the other, but -- uncharacteristically -- I am determined to handle both the NEX 7 and the GXR , and see more results, before choosing. How the NEX works with wide-angle M lenses is a big concern. Just as important for me is the usefulness of the EVF for manual focus. If Ricoh's attachable finder is no better than the one for the Panasonic GF-1 for example, that might be fatal. (Has anyone made this comparison?)

On the other hand, I have found the built-in finder of the original Panasonic G1 usually good enough for manual focusing without magnification. The likelihood that the NEX 7 EVF is way better than that could be the clincher for me.
 
I've read some reports on FM that the NEXC3 and NEX5N are showing a bit of blurring at the edges using wide angle legacy glass. Hopefully this is not the case - or that it is not pronounced with the NEX7. What I have read about the GXR suggests Ricoh has licked this problem.

I believe the Ricoh EVF is a rebadged version of the Olympus VF2, which I have used, and which I believe had the reputation as being the best accessory EVF until the newly released Sony one appeared.
 
Do you have a link? All the reports I've seen mentioned that they have LESS blurring and colour shift than the first generation NEX.
 
I'm curious too, but leaning towards the NEX. Might wait to 2012 though. More data from users and firmware updates. I typically jump on the early adopter cycle, but I have 3 years of film left to shoot 🙂
 
dreilly said:
For macro work on the GXR I was thinking of a Nikon F/Leica M adapter and a 50/2.8 macro lens.
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Why bother? Ricoh's own APS-C 50mm (effective) f2.5 macro produces stunning results. The reason I'm buying into the GXR system is because it replaces or augments a number of my current camera systems :

  • My Canon S90 point and shoot is replaced by the GXR + P10 28-300 module
  • My NEX5 is replaced by the GXR + A12 25 & 50mm modules
  • My X1 is redundant - the GXR and either of the current APC modules is as good or better in terms of image quality
  • It acts as a great back-up for my M9 with the A12 M module and my current Leica lenses.
And I get the advantage of consistent handling and user interface across all of the above!
 
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