Griffin
Grampa's cameras user
Getting serious GAS for a Ricoh GR Digital. The 1 might be within reach, but is it good enough? DPReview kind of turned me off, but I wouldn't mind using it as a B&W only camera.
How are the other GR's?
Can somebody talk me out of it?
How are the other GR's?
Can somebody talk me out of it?
maitani
Well-known
forget DPReview (not just for this camera)
The GRD is THE compact for serious photography, and for people who don't mind the prime-lens.
original GRD is the best for BW work I know, i 'grain like triX' in a good 'non-digital' way.
otherwise the GRDIII or IV are great choice with slightly brighter lens, and better hi-iso.
all of them are great, maybe spare the GRDII it's the less popular of them all
a decent one can be had around 180-200 $, a IV used around 350.- that's ok for what you get.
best
maitani
The GRD is THE compact for serious photography, and for people who don't mind the prime-lens.
original GRD is the best for BW work I know, i 'grain like triX' in a good 'non-digital' way.
otherwise the GRDIII or IV are great choice with slightly brighter lens, and better hi-iso.
all of them are great, maybe spare the GRDII it's the less popular of them all
a decent one can be had around 180-200 $, a IV used around 350.- that's ok for what you get.
best
maitani
Michael Markey
Veteran
Most useful camera that I have by a long way.
gilpen123
Gil
Nice, was that B&W in-camera?
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
Fab shot MM (Michael)
Griffin
Grampa's cameras user
Thanks for the replies all. I'm not much of a RAW processor, can I just fumble around with jpg's from the 1?
Michael Markey
Veteran
Yes ...I find that I prefer the look of the in camera BW rather than the converted colour files.
I have the first version which ....I find..runs out of steam over 400.
I hear that the later models are better in this regard.
AJShepherd
Well-known
I've had a GR Digital since 2006 and it's possibly the best digital camera I've ever owned.
It's small and light, you can stick it in your pocket and take it anywhere, but it's not flimsy.
The battery holds its charge when not in use, unlike many cameras I've owned which will drain a battery dead within a week even when switched off!
You can configure the camera how you want it, then save the settings. The GRD1 and 2 had two setting slots, I believe the 3 and 4 have three slots. With the GRD1 you have to go into the menus to select which setting you want the camera to power up in, later models have the selection on the control wheel.
I've got mine so that setting 1 is 400ISO black and white 'snapshot' fixed focus, and setting 2 is 64ISO colour.
The problem with the GRD1 is that it's very slow at saving raw files. Mine takes about 15 seconds during which time it shows the last image with the caption "RECORDING". So I just shoot JPEG most of the time.
These are a few out of the camera jpegs...
Texture by Antony J Shepherd, on Flickr
or, in colour
Autumnal Colour by Antony J Shepherd, on Flickr
Note that a GRD1 won't take SDHC cards (I just tried that).
Also, mine has started to suffer from the problem where using the Adjust wheel makes the firmware crash, and I need to switch the camera off and on again to make it work. That's something else you'd need to look out for on a GRD1.
It's small and light, you can stick it in your pocket and take it anywhere, but it's not flimsy.
The battery holds its charge when not in use, unlike many cameras I've owned which will drain a battery dead within a week even when switched off!
You can configure the camera how you want it, then save the settings. The GRD1 and 2 had two setting slots, I believe the 3 and 4 have three slots. With the GRD1 you have to go into the menus to select which setting you want the camera to power up in, later models have the selection on the control wheel.
I've got mine so that setting 1 is 400ISO black and white 'snapshot' fixed focus, and setting 2 is 64ISO colour.
The problem with the GRD1 is that it's very slow at saving raw files. Mine takes about 15 seconds during which time it shows the last image with the caption "RECORDING". So I just shoot JPEG most of the time.
These are a few out of the camera jpegs...
Texture by Antony J Shepherd, on Flickr
or, in colour
Autumnal Colour by Antony J Shepherd, on Flickr
Note that a GRD1 won't take SDHC cards (I just tried that).
Also, mine has started to suffer from the problem where using the Adjust wheel makes the firmware crash, and I need to switch the camera off and on again to make it work. That's something else you'd need to look out for on a GRD1.
lam
Well-known
I've owned 2 GRD's, a GRD 2 and GRD 3, both were fantastic cameras and I always will make it a point to get another one eventually. The interface and build alone is enough to warrant them.
Griffin
Grampa's cameras user
You guys are not helping...
Talk me OUT of it! :bang:
Talk me OUT of it! :bang:
nonot
Well-known
fwiw, it's the only digital camera that I regret getting rid of. I had the grd1 and it was the raw save times that killed it for me. I'm hoping one of the newer ones finds it's way to me one of these days.
andersju
Well-known
Haven't tried the later ones but the original GRD is my favorite digital camera ever. Still works fine, six years later. I love shooting at ISO 800, e.g.:
ISO 200:
All JPEGs, and then nothing but channel mixer+curves in PS. Never even tried RAW on this camera (never felt the need for it).
ISO 200:
All JPEGs, and then nothing but channel mixer+curves in PS. Never even tried RAW on this camera (never felt the need for it).
Michael Markey
Veteran
That`s what I do....never felt the need to try RAW either.
Its always set on Snap focus too.
In the UK the GRD 1 goes for around a hundred quid....for what it does you can`t go wrong at that price.
nonot
Well-known
Haven't tried the later ones but the original GRD is my favorite digital camera ever. Still works fine, six years later. I love shooting at ISO 800, e.g.:
All JPEGs, and then nothing but channel mixer+curves in PS. Never even tried RAW on this camera (never felt the need for it).
I had to check where you were from, this guy looks so much like a good friend of mine, thought it was him at first.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
I just got one (the IV model) recently and wish I got it sooner.
I'm sure you have seen this thread, which, I think contains some of the most interesting B&W photos I've seen on RFF (that's saying a lot):
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98682
If you haven't, then have fun :angel:
rhl-oregon
Cameras Guitars Wonders
No one here will talk you out of it. And if you can justify the expense, the low light capabilities of the III or IV will make you forget the debt. Some instruments are priceless-- what they do invalidates their cost. By that measure, the GRDs are a lot more priceless than say the Leica MM. But I'm being whimsical in my logic here. Just get the latest one you can afford and explore it.
Griffin
Grampa's cameras user
So rather than talk me out of it I'm being encouraged to go into debt and buy the newer version... 
ruby.monkey
Veteran
... and the GV-2 minifinder. Invaluable for the times when you can't (or won't) use the LCD.
rhl-oregon
Cameras Guitars Wonders
Przemek
[' o°]
So rather than talk me out of it I'm being encouraged to go into debt and buy the newer version...
Go for it, GRD is a lovely camera. I recently bought a X100 for better IQ but I'm not getting rid of my GRDIII for sure... unless I'd be buying an updated version. To good to get rid of.
Sorry for not talking you out of it :angel: