aizan
Veteran
hmm, iso 1600 shows banding. i hope it isn't there in production models.
.ken
I like pictures
All they need is a Daido Moriyama sponsorship and everyone will follow 
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Well-known
A brillaint camera
A brillaint camera
Of course it's early days for both cameras, but the Ricoh GXR photographs on dpreview look better than those of the Leica X1: not just when pixel-peeping at 100% views of brick walls but also in the entire "feel" of the pictures in the whole, including the rendering of out-of-focus areas.
It does look like the GXR with the 50mm EFOV-macro module is a brilliant camera that changes the camera vs sensor vs lens paradigm. The GXR looks like the first interchangeable lens camera that has been designed as a digital camera from the ground up, rather than a camera being based on a film camera paradigm, like the X1.
There are at least three major advantages of having the sensor and lens in one module:
1. Elimination of the sensor dust problem that comes from changing lenses;
2. Providing the user with the same interface for widely different lens/sensor combinations, which is a great plus because switching between different digital cameras can be confusing: not like switching between two film cameras, like a Leica-M and a Nikon-F, for example. So, now, one will be able to use different camera formats, while maintaining the same user interface.
3. Optimizing the lens and sensor combination for each lens.
Against this, some people have expressed concern about having to replace the lens when you want to change to a new sensor; but my feeling is that the advantages of the "closed" sensor/lens unit outweighs this and, once there is a new sensor, I tend to think that there will be changes in the lens as the sensor/lens combination is optimized. It's a new ball game.
Finally, many people want the simplicity of the X1 controls — an aperture wheel and and shutter speed wheel — but as some have pointed out the controls on Ricoh cameras are excellent and can be operated very simply. For example on the GRD3, which has virtually the same ones as the GXR, can be used very simply in the manual exposure and focus modes as I've described in my recent review of the GRD3.
—Mitch/Bangkok
A walk in Bangkok (GRD3)
A brillaint camera
Of course it's early days for both cameras, but the Ricoh GXR photographs on dpreview look better than those of the Leica X1: not just when pixel-peeping at 100% views of brick walls but also in the entire "feel" of the pictures in the whole, including the rendering of out-of-focus areas.
It does look like the GXR with the 50mm EFOV-macro module is a brilliant camera that changes the camera vs sensor vs lens paradigm. The GXR looks like the first interchangeable lens camera that has been designed as a digital camera from the ground up, rather than a camera being based on a film camera paradigm, like the X1.
There are at least three major advantages of having the sensor and lens in one module:
1. Elimination of the sensor dust problem that comes from changing lenses;
2. Providing the user with the same interface for widely different lens/sensor combinations, which is a great plus because switching between different digital cameras can be confusing: not like switching between two film cameras, like a Leica-M and a Nikon-F, for example. So, now, one will be able to use different camera formats, while maintaining the same user interface.
3. Optimizing the lens and sensor combination for each lens.
Against this, some people have expressed concern about having to replace the lens when you want to change to a new sensor; but my feeling is that the advantages of the "closed" sensor/lens unit outweighs this and, once there is a new sensor, I tend to think that there will be changes in the lens as the sensor/lens combination is optimized. It's a new ball game.
Finally, many people want the simplicity of the X1 controls — an aperture wheel and and shutter speed wheel — but as some have pointed out the controls on Ricoh cameras are excellent and can be operated very simply. For example on the GRD3, which has virtually the same ones as the GXR, can be used very simply in the manual exposure and focus modes as I've described in my recent review of the GRD3.
—Mitch/Bangkok
A walk in Bangkok (GRD3)
Tuolumne
Veteran
Why not just put sensors on a roll and sell them as "digital film" for $3600 a pop?
/T
/T
Fenwick
Established
Why not just put sensors on a roll and sell them as "digital film" for $3600 a pop?
/T
Funny stuff
The GXR looks kinda strange to me
I dont know if Id be caught dead with that think around my neck
Its butt ugly
Just my two cents
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
How much for the pinhole/25MP module?
A bit out there?
Bill58
Native Texan
Maybe nice but Ricoh STILL has a legendary lack of service centers anywhere on this globe, except Japan. No thank you!
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Well-known
That may be true in the States, but is not the case in Europe: I bought a GX100 in Paris and, when a problem arose, had it fixed within 10 days — I think it was sent to the service center in Germany.
—Mitch/Bangkok
Walks in Bangkok (GRD3)
andy_v
Established
Is it really possible to see in future modules with M-mount, EOS-mount, etc?..
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urban_alchemist
Well-known
Agreed - The display module of my GR1s was repaired in two weeks. GB-DE-GB for a ten year old camera. Very happy with their service centres, thank you...
kywong
Established
Why can't it be removable sensor AND removable lens? It might happen in the future but... why not now? The 33mm can't be the only lens suitable for that sensor. The dust thing, well, don't we have that dust shaking... technology? It's also really ugly... But at least we have an APS sized sensor camera.
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Well-known
Ricoh gives the ratioinale for the "closed" sensor/lens modules on page 4 of it's 14-page GXR brochure, which can be downloadedhere, as follows (in marketing speak):
Thus, it seems to me, that once there is a new sensor, that there will be changes in the lens, as the sensor/lens combination is optimized.
There are at least three major advantages of having the sensor and lens in one module, which, as this really is a new paradigm for digital cameras, I'll summarize here once again:
1. Elimination of the sensor dust problem that comes from changing lenses.
2. Providing the user with the same interface for widely different lens/sensor combinations, which is a great plus because switching between different digital cameras can be confusing: not like switching between two film cameras, like a Leica-M and a Nikon-F, for example. So, now, one will be able to use different camera formats, while maintaining the same user interface.
3. Optimizing the lens and sensor combination for each lens.
—Mitch/Bangkok
Flickrstream
Thus, it seems to me, that once there is a new sensor, that there will be changes in the lens, as the sensor/lens combination is optimized.
There are at least three major advantages of having the sensor and lens in one module, which, as this really is a new paradigm for digital cameras, I'll summarize here once again:
1. Elimination of the sensor dust problem that comes from changing lenses.
2. Providing the user with the same interface for widely different lens/sensor combinations, which is a great plus because switching between different digital cameras can be confusing: not like switching between two film cameras, like a Leica-M and a Nikon-F, for example. So, now, one will be able to use different camera formats, while maintaining the same user interface.
3. Optimizing the lens and sensor combination for each lens.
—Mitch/Bangkok
Flickrstream
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aizan
Veteran
just waiting to hear from nikon now. some interesting patents are surfacing, like the 80mm-e f1.2. doesn't sound like they're messing around! i hope the 17mm sensor was settled on because it hits a sweet spot for compacts. big enough to lower noise and increase dynamic range and detail, small enough to keep the lenses small without needing microlenses, and possibly avoid the higher-than-expected high iso noise levels these aps-c compacts are showing.
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Solinar
Analog Preferred
Clean ISO images from semi-pocketable digital
Clean ISO images from semi-pocketable digital
This isn't a poor person's camera to be sure - but those high ISO images at DPReview with the 33mm lens and APS-C CMOS sensor look pretty clean to me for a pocketable digicam.
Try using even ISO 800 on a Canon G10 with its 1/1.7" Type CCD. Even with the NR software maxed out, the results will be quite mushy.
I'm not saying the Ricoh will blow a D700 or 7D out of the water, but this is way better than older, pocket sized P/S digitals.
Stick a Leitz 5cm bright-line finder in the flash shoe, 33mm Macro/APS-C module and wahlah a digital Leica 1c is born. Eventually, maybe a 20mm/APS-C module will come along for us urbanites that shoot in close quarters.
Clean ISO images from semi-pocketable digital
This isn't a poor person's camera to be sure - but those high ISO images at DPReview with the 33mm lens and APS-C CMOS sensor look pretty clean to me for a pocketable digicam.
Try using even ISO 800 on a Canon G10 with its 1/1.7" Type CCD. Even with the NR software maxed out, the results will be quite mushy.
I'm not saying the Ricoh will blow a D700 or 7D out of the water, but this is way better than older, pocket sized P/S digitals.
Stick a Leitz 5cm bright-line finder in the flash shoe, 33mm Macro/APS-C module and wahlah a digital Leica 1c is born. Eventually, maybe a 20mm/APS-C module will come along for us urbanites that shoot in close quarters.
Solinar
Analog Preferred
At least give Ricoh some credit for moving forward to the next goal post. I agree with a previous post, if they really wanted to move further out of the box, so to speak - how about a module with 20mm lens and a sensor optimized for B/W photography?
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
It doesn't look too pocketable too me! DP review also said something about slow AF.
Solinar
Analog Preferred
A wind breaker or jacket pocket for sure. Point and shoots use an contrast AF system via the sensor that are slow to begin with, but seem to get even slower when using an APS-C sensor.
If you go over to DP review, you'll notice there is no focus lock button as you'd find on a DSLR body - but I wonder if the dial behind shutter can be used to set the focus.
The AF point and shoots have always had their share of limitations and AF performance in low light is one of them.
If you go over to DP review, you'll notice there is no focus lock button as you'd find on a DSLR body - but I wonder if the dial behind shutter can be used to set the focus.
The AF point and shoots have always had their share of limitations and AF performance in low light is one of them.
gho
Well-known
Interesting concept and the sample images are looking quite good.
As others have mentioned, why not taking it a step further and making a body - (full-frame) sensor - mount/lens modular system? Camera a la carte, so to say.
As others have mentioned, why not taking it a step further and making a body - (full-frame) sensor - mount/lens modular system? Camera a la carte, so to say.
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Well-known
Because, in the light of the concept of the GXR, which is based on optimized sensor/lens modules that allow the user to use a single camera interface for a variety of lens types and sensor formats, providing a mount module without an integrated optimized sensor, this would be a step backward rather than forward. Or am I misinterpreting what you meant?
—Mitch/Bangkok
Walks in Bangkok (GRD3)