Ricoh GR-D

[pstevenin]

I personnaly use the VC metal VF, ans so far so good, as the VF is conservative (and I do not wear glasses). but as a left eyed guy, I usually not plug the VF totally in the socket, so you may adjust the VF to you needs.

Regarding the mis-alignment, I live with, not a big deal compared shooting with the VF VS with the screen.

About the settings :

I use BW as is, and the results are quite good.

for the color parts I personnaly use :

1°) for vivid colors up to 400 iso (if you want to... as usually everything is at 0...)

Contrast +1
sharpening 0
intensity +1

2°) for ISO 800 or 1600

Contrast +2
sharpening 0
Intensity -2

just give it a try... Magic for iso 800, and makes color 1600 usable (with some noise cleaning afterwards)

At iso 400 color, usually I remove some chroma noise (and also at iso 1600 with 2°) setup)

at iso 800 B&W, I just apply a slight noise reduction trying to keep details. I don't use it at 1600 for &W (to much noise for my taste)


Have a look at my Street folder. This is raw & cropped materials, & have fun with the GR-D, the most unobtrusive gear even if the quality is far from the Leica or the MF RF (which I use for some more 'serious but boring' photo....)

If you have time, try also the DNG format, you may have some good results for landscapes (esp for the highlights)

Philippe

 

[fgianni]

That is just hideous!

Actually I quite like it, it looks like a toy camera, and probably makes the best street shooter since no one will think it's a proper camera.

 

[fgianni]

I have been temprted by the GRD, but eventually decided for the LX1 mainly due to the extremely slow handling of raw files by the GRD,
Now I am waiting to see how the Sigma DP1 turns out; a compact digicam with an APS sized sensor is could definitely bring good results at high ISO.

 

[gelmir]

Thanks for your feedback Philippe ! That gives me some tips to start with and I will eventually find my own settings by trying a lot.

All in all, despite its few quirks (or is it because of ?), I like the camera a lot !

 

[IGMeanwell]

There is a firmware update for all your GRD'ers

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0611/06112101ricohgrdfirmv210.asp

 

[Silva Lining]

Actually I quite like it, it looks like a toy camera, and probably makes the best street shooter since no one will think it's a proper camera.

True but its hardly inconspicuous! It looks like a disposible camera!

 

[pizzahut88]

Had this cam for a while.

Had this cam for a while.

I had this camera for a while, since I had used the 35mm GR's before.

Construction is wonderful.
Full magnesium body construction.
Battery door is flimsy.
The AAAs don't fit really well.
Twin dial control means it's made for us.
Not p&s people. Neither would they buy it.
Right now it is selling for the same price as a DSLR.

Eventually I will buy it again when it drop in price.
I can see that eventually there will be an APS sensor version.
Look at what Sigma is doing with it right now!
But Ricoh needs to make a new lens for it.

Almost everything is perfect.
Except for one tiny thing,
excessive noise reduction.

A noise filter is automatically activated for exposure of one second or more.
And it just destroys alot of details.
No one seems to mention this fact.
Neither have any of the later firmwares solved the problem.
Please take a look at the attached sample.
It's not a thing to die for, and there are no perfect cameras out there.
Do hope later on Ricoh will make available a firmware update to give the user an option to turn off the NR.

The camera can do some pretty macros,
it's perfect for street photography,
it doesn't draw a lot of attention.
It's not exactly quick if not in snap mode.


Here is MTF comparison chart of GR-D against the 35mm GR:
http://manfred-lai.blogspot.com/2006/03/gr-digital-mtf-comparison.html

A closer look at the body and various parts:
http://manfred-lai.blogspot.com/2006/03/purchased-ricoh-gr-digital-today.html
http://manfred-lai.blogspot.com/2006/03/closer-look-at-ricoh-gr-digitals-mode.html
http://manfred-lai.blogspot.com/2006/03/gr-lens-closeup.html


If you know how to do stacking, the GR-D is perfect,
as it has a built-in time-lapse thing. Easy to obtain better images.
http://manfred-lai.blogspot.com/2006/03/stacking-with-ricoh-gr.html


My macro samples:
http://manfred-lai.blogspot.com/2006/03/macro-test-with-ricoh-gr-digital.html
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/40/918/1600/R0011121-crop-web.jpg
http://manfred-lai.blogspot.com/2006/03/random-shooting.html


Night-time photography:
http://manfred-lai.blogspot.com/2006/03/painting-with-light.html

Overall, I give this camera 8.5 points out of them.
There are no ten points camera in my mind.
A Leica MP gets 9.5

 

[edodo]

Ever considered the mini 28/35 finder from CV? It would be really more ergonomic since the 28mm seems gigantic on the GRD.

 

[Ascender]

GRD is the best PnS available

GRD is the best PnS available

ywenz also has one, I believe.

I do not like it. One major reason is that Ricoh claims it is the digital successor to the famous Ricoh GR series cameras, but it is not - at least not to me. I saw the GR series film cameras as very nearly ideal 'go-anywhere' cameras for street photography - and stealthy street photography at that. That's the main reason so many pros loved the pocket-sized GR cameras too - wide angle, fast (enough) lens, sharp optics, quiet, go anywhere.

You know, it's amazing how you can vehemently trash a camera when a) you've only read about it and b) you compare it to a camera that you never even had or in your own words...."saw". You criticise it for not having an internal viewfinder! Please....name one point and shoot camera today that has an internal viewfinder worth mentioning. I commend Ricoh for not incuding a bead of glass pathetic excuse of a viewfinder to merely appease the masses. Instead they provide a worthwhile option which incidentally they don't force you to buy.

The GR digital is the best point and shoot available today and as for it not being great for portraiture, errrr......I think the company made it pretty clear that it wasn't intended for that by going with a fixed 28 don't you think?

It's quite clear who and what this superb camera was aimed at. If you fit that customer then buy it and enjoy it. If not then don't just criticise it by bitching about the price.

-charlie

 

[Jim Watts]

Ever considered the mini 28/35 finder from CV? It would be really more ergonomic since the 28mm seems gigantic on the GRD.

I use the VC 28/35mm finder on my GRD and it is an excellent unobtrusive match, both in size and framing (28mm framelines).

 

[ywenz]

What about when putting the GRD into your pocket? Even with the CV mini finder, it looks to me that it would make the GRD to obtrusive to be stored in jeans pocket.

 

[Trius]

Yes, but some males might think it an enhancement.

 

[andersju]

I also have the 28/35 mini-finder, and even with the finder on the GRD fits nicely in my jeans pocket (and I'm just your regular tall, thin computer geek so the jeans are by all means normal! ).

The GRD has made shooting very enjoyable again, not the least since it's so small (so I can always have it with me) and quiet (more so than ANY Leica, even my Hexar (not counting the film advance of analog cameras!) -- but I suppose that's true for most digital compacts).

I usually set focus to "snap" (2,5m), turn off the lcd screen and start shooting. The ccd is a tiny chip, so depth of field is massive. According to dofmaster.com, in snap mode (2.5m) at f/2.4 (widest) it's 1.24m-infinity.

I've taken all the pics at http://2038.cc/ with the GRD. Excellent for candids. I believe all the subway pics are 1/60, f/3.2, IS0 800, no noise reduction.

 

[willie_901]

andersju

Your GRD photos are excellent. You are the second photographer I've seen who uses the ISO noise in an artistic way. Your results are superb.

willie

 

[Ascender]

Great Shots

Great Shots

I also have the 28/35 mini-finder, and even with the finder on the GRD fits nicely in my jeans pocket (and I'm just your regular tall, thin computer geek so the jeans are by all means normal! ).

The GRD has made shooting very enjoyable again, not the least since it's so small (so I can always have it with me) and quiet (more so than ANY Leica, even my Hexar (not counting the film advance of analog cameras!) -- but I suppose that's true for most digital compacts).

I usually set focus to "snap" (2,5m), turn off the lcd screen and start shooting. The ccd is a tiny chip, so depth of field is massive. According to dofmaster.com, in snap mode (2.5m) at f/2.4 (widest) it's 1.24m-infinity.

I've taken all the pics at http://2038.cc/ with the GRD. Excellent for candids. I believe all the subway pics are 1/60, f/3.2, IS0 800, no noise reduction.

I LOVE YOUR PICTURES. I have the camera and have not been able to achieve those kind of results. Well done...excellent job.

-charlie

 

[IGMeanwell]

I think these are strong examples of the GRD capabilities ... using its noise as almost a way to emphasize the lines of your subjects

 

[Jim Watts]

What about when putting the GRD into your pocket? Even with the CV mini finder, it looks to me that it would make the GRD to obtrusive to be stored in jeans pocket.

Well its usually in my hand, takes pictures better that way

But it goes in a jacket pocket quite easy or I put it in a small 'stretch fabric' Crumpler Pouch (on my belt).

 

[iml]

But it goes in a jacket pocket quite easy or I put it in a small 'stretch fabric' Crumpler Pouch (on my belt).

Ditto. I carry mine with me everywhere.

Ian

 

[ywenz]

This guy's work shows just how great of a camera the GRD is..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dos-chin/sets/72057594120624392/?page=2

This image by him in particular gets me every time:

andersju I find your B&W images to be excellent! I've included some of my high and not so high ISO shots below:

 

[Trius]

Ywenz: Whoa, that first one is great. The others are good/nice but unremarkable, IMO.

Edit: Are there any tele adapters for the GRD? I love WA, and 28/21 are great, but sometimes I want 35-40mm.