Ricoh announces GXR system with new "cartridge" interchangable lenses and sensor

Kudos to Ricoh for pushing the envelope. If it works, it works. I don't care if it has a baby monkey inside running things as long as its small, good controls, and low noise.
 
Has anyone figured out what the dimensions of the sensors will be? The focal lengths of the listed lenses seem to imply that the sensors will be full-frame 35mm sensors. But maybe they just listed the lens specs as 35mm equivalent for convenience sake?
 
alien8 said:
Has anyone figured out what the dimensions of the sensors will be? The focal lengths of the listed lenses seem to imply that the sensors will be full-frame 35mm sensors. But maybe they just listed the lens specs as 35mm equivalent for convenience sake?
Click to expand...

The sensor dimensions vary with the lens. The 50mm macro package has an aps-c sized sensor, the zoom package has one roughly 4/3 sized.
 
My guess is the 50 on an APS-C is about a 75. Macro prime.

It's interesting from the perspective that you could design and build some kick ass lenses and not worry about what size sensor you were using. They could come out with a 21mm equivalent without worries about the back end part. Something wider perhaps like an 18, longer and faster like a 180/2.8.

Focusing speed can really be tuned for the lens size. I kind of agree with the idea of a design approach reminiscent of the Nikon F. You could bring out just a sensor back in F, M, S, OM and K mount without too much trouble in APS-C. Wonder how long before they could come out with a full frame back in the same?

I'm hoping. The video got me very interested.

B2 (;->
 
Bad idear, stay away. This reeks of one of them thar new-fangled "system" cameras that used to be introduced every so often in the film camera heyday, usually by 2nd tier players swingin' for the fence trying to come up with the "next big thing", their very own "M mount" (or whatever) , that never catches on and dies... So you're stuck with an expensive "system" camera with no new lenses, no one to repair it should it break, hard/impossible to get parts if there is someone to repair it, difficult/impossible/expensive-to-get-on-the-used-market lenses... etc., etc., etc.... You know this drill.
 
Do you pick your cameras on how well they will sell on the used market X number of months/years out? Did you happen to buy a body say two years ago and knew the market for everything was going to be this soft?

I believe in buying a camera for what it will do for you today and tomorrow. Resale I believe is speculation at best as you never know what might happen to a camera.

B2 (;->
 
Great Idea .. but

Great Idea .. but

This sound like a great concept, but the proof is in the execution of the concept. They need to have the lens/sensor that I want to shoot, good ergonomics and a quality end product. For those that are critical of this concept, consider that this certainly makes more sense than the X1, where you gain the sealed sensor and dedicated lens/sensor design, but lose the possibility of another focal length. Of course, a telephoto lens is not my first choice in a carry around prime, so the X1 shines in this respect. So, marketing a zoom (I don't want) and a tele might not get my purchase, but give me a bit wider lens and it might make sense.
 
sensor format changes from prime to zoom? i understand you can make smaller zooms, and it's not like i'm going to buy a zoom, but that's just weird. no 35mm-e prime announced, either. or image stabilization.
 
BillBingham2 said:
My guess is the 50 on an APS-C is about a 75. Macro prime.
B2 (;->
Click to expand...

The 50mm macro is a 50mm equiv, it's real focal length is 33mm. It runs on an APS-c sensor.


The 24-70mm zoom is actually something like a 5-14mm real focal length, and the sensor on that one is the same size as the current gx200/grd sensor - ie way smaller than 4/3rds.

I love the idea of this system though. It means they can make seriously good prime lenses with APS-c sensors for ultimate performance and also tiny little zoom lenses w/compact camera sensors for versatility. It's a really good idea.
 
Very very interesting. As a big fan of the GRD I look forward to seeing what this little guy can do.

Regardless of whether this proves successful or not I love the fact that Ricoh really is a different kind of camera manufacturer. Hopefully they can find a niche to own.

Kent
 
I'll give Ricoh an A-minus for Heavy Thinking, but a B-minus for results. When you think "outside the box", it's damned important to have a hot idea. This, to me, doesn't seem too hot.


- Barrett
 
fdigital said:
The 50mm macro is a 50mm equiv, it's real focal length is 33mm. It runs on an APS-c sensor.


The 24-70mm zoom is actually something like a 5-14mm real focal length, and the sensor on that one is the same size as the current gx200/grd sensor - ie way smaller than 4/3rds.

I love the idea of this system though. It means they can make seriously good prime lenses with APS-c sensors for ultimate performance and also tiny little zoom lenses w/compact camera sensors for versatility. It's a really good idea.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on this one. I think switching sensors can be really useful.

For instance lets say you're heading out for a day of street shooting in good light, then take the zoom with the small sensor and it's huge DoF. Easy scale focusing. Or could be useful for landscape shooting in good light while hiking.

On another outing when it's darker and you want the high ISO performance of the larger APS-C sensor, you take the 50mm prime. Now you can shoot in the dark or have bokeh pictures of your cat and wife. 🙂

IMO being able to swap sensors is kind of like the swapping film. Albeit very expensively :bang:
 
Well in terms of economy, if you have a very nice control system that you know well, then if Ricoh continue to produce different units, you wouldn't have a to pay extra for the screen and controls.

Compare that with changing a camera body to take advantage of an existing lens.

If they produce a 28mm module, you would get a APS-C GRD3. Does look bigger to carry around though, not much smaller than a GF1.
 
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