cooltouch
Established
I'll admit that I don't know anything about these cameras, other than what I've learned just by browsing through the listings on eBay. It's a cool looking camera, no doubt. But really, why so expensive? I see prices ranging from $200 to over $1,000 -- which vary depending on lens, it appears -- the extra wides going for more.
But still, it's basically just a P&S camera, isn't it?
I'm not planning on buying one any time soon. I'm just curious if they actually live up to their price tags.
But still, it's basically just a P&S camera, isn't it?
I'm not planning on buying one any time soon. I'm just curious if they actually live up to their price tags.
RichardP
Member
nightfly
Well-known
They are great cameras for about $300-500. I think that's what I paid for the two I've purchased. One was basically mint, new in box from KEH. Bought as a back up and sold here to someone when I didn't need and it sat in my closet.
Nice things about them compared to regular P&S's:
1) Really nice 28mm lens. Nice enough that they produced a version of this to fit Leica briefly.
2) Snap mode- basically preset hyperfocal distance, point and shoot with no shutter lag
3) Marked aperture wheel on top. Not many P&S's let you control this. Just enough control without any small and fiddly buttons.
4) Good design/construction- very slim, light and made of metal mostly. Perfect size to fit in your pocket.
5) The things you set stay set and don't re-set every time you turn the camera off. This was my biggest pet peeve with my Yashica T4 (another great point and shoot with a fantastic lens).
Negatives are that I've had plastic bits on it fall off (piece around viewfinder) I glued back on. Also the LCD display tends to gradually stop working so you can't see number of photos left and settings.
Prices can get crazy as it was a favorite of Daido Moriyama and there is some fetishizing and collecting that drives prices up.
I wish the GR digital was simply a digital version of this. As much as people love (I've had 3 of various models) a dedicated marked aperture wheel on top would have made this camera perfect for me. As is need to look at screen to see what's going on.
Nice things about them compared to regular P&S's:
1) Really nice 28mm lens. Nice enough that they produced a version of this to fit Leica briefly.
2) Snap mode- basically preset hyperfocal distance, point and shoot with no shutter lag
3) Marked aperture wheel on top. Not many P&S's let you control this. Just enough control without any small and fiddly buttons.
4) Good design/construction- very slim, light and made of metal mostly. Perfect size to fit in your pocket.
5) The things you set stay set and don't re-set every time you turn the camera off. This was my biggest pet peeve with my Yashica T4 (another great point and shoot with a fantastic lens).
Negatives are that I've had plastic bits on it fall off (piece around viewfinder) I glued back on. Also the LCD display tends to gradually stop working so you can't see number of photos left and settings.
Prices can get crazy as it was a favorite of Daido Moriyama and there is some fetishizing and collecting that drives prices up.
I wish the GR digital was simply a digital version of this. As much as people love (I've had 3 of various models) a dedicated marked aperture wheel on top would have made this camera perfect for me. As is need to look at screen to see what's going on.
Sure, but a very good one.
Yes for the 28mm models. The 21mm models are nice but rarer...so they are more expensive. They've actually come down in price. The 28mm GR cameras have always been pricey.
philipus
ʎɐpɹəʇɥƃı&
I didn't know this. Which lens is that?
benlees
Well-known
If you want a cheaper version- which is a pure p&s, but still has the great lens, look out for a GR10. They can be found for around $100-120. The camera isn't as nice but the lens is.
I had a GR1 a few years a go but didn't get on with the autofocus. Sold it. Sure missed that lens, but didn't want to pay the premium again.
I had a GR1 a few years a go but didn't get on with the autofocus. Sold it. Sure missed that lens, but didn't want to pay the premium again.
BillBingham2
Registered User
Michael, are you talking film or digital?
For the digital cameras the user interface (e.g. menu, options) just work the way many photographers think. Not too many options that you can do better in post, not too many buttons and they are small.
On the film side those had great glass, some had 21mm, most 28, and they were smaller. Very usable P&S that always came through until mine took a jump from the top of a TV to test gravity and found that hard wood floors are just that, hard.
B2 (;->
For the digital cameras the user interface (e.g. menu, options) just work the way many photographers think. Not too many options that you can do better in post, not too many buttons and they are small.
On the film side those had great glass, some had 21mm, most 28, and they were smaller. Very usable P&S that always came through until mine took a jump from the top of a TV to test gravity and found that hard wood floors are just that, hard.
B2 (;->
nightfly
Well-known
They were screw mount. Quick search:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/161749615257?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/161749615257?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true
Archlich
Well-known
They belong to the elite class of the "advanced P&S" cameras from the 1990s. These cameras, while relatively small in size, refuse to compromise like the "ordinary" P&S and often retailed for around 100,000 yen when new. A good reminiscent of Japan's economy bubble.
Personally I deem the GR1 series as a rare example of cameras that finally "got it right", a polished mix of high usability and excellent image quality (offered by the 7/4 28/2.8 lens with two asperical surfaces - a Biogon design with Leica performance, and the GR21's lavish 9/6 21/3.5 lens performs on the same level as the ZM21/4.5) obviously designed by photogs for photogs, all in a sleek package that goes into your pants pocket. Even the cameras' finish - painted magnesium alloy - begs to be put into harsh use without worrying if you'd scratch the fine titanium shells of its contemporaries.
The only drawback is - for the GR1's intended MSRP of 90,000 yen in 1996 - it's rather crudely built. Anyone who had their GR1's eyepiece fell off, viewfinder fogged up by dust or suffered from the dreadful LCD bleed could testify to this. More so if you've taken one apart - no comparison to the fine luxury P&S cameras produced by Kyocera, Leica, Nikon and Minolta at the time. Again, it's positioned more like a highly specialized tool (quite similar to the Mamiya 6 and 7), not a vacation camera.
For their class they are dirt cheap now, if you know where to look. I won't pay more than $200 (or 25,000 yen) for a basic GR1 in full working order. I have just assembled and restored a GR1v from three different donor bodies that cost me $120 in total...there's a lot of them out there so definitely wait for your deal.
Personally I deem the GR1 series as a rare example of cameras that finally "got it right", a polished mix of high usability and excellent image quality (offered by the 7/4 28/2.8 lens with two asperical surfaces - a Biogon design with Leica performance, and the GR21's lavish 9/6 21/3.5 lens performs on the same level as the ZM21/4.5) obviously designed by photogs for photogs, all in a sleek package that goes into your pants pocket. Even the cameras' finish - painted magnesium alloy - begs to be put into harsh use without worrying if you'd scratch the fine titanium shells of its contemporaries.
The only drawback is - for the GR1's intended MSRP of 90,000 yen in 1996 - it's rather crudely built. Anyone who had their GR1's eyepiece fell off, viewfinder fogged up by dust or suffered from the dreadful LCD bleed could testify to this. More so if you've taken one apart - no comparison to the fine luxury P&S cameras produced by Kyocera, Leica, Nikon and Minolta at the time. Again, it's positioned more like a highly specialized tool (quite similar to the Mamiya 6 and 7), not a vacation camera.
For their class they are dirt cheap now, if you know where to look. I won't pay more than $200 (or 25,000 yen) for a basic GR1 in full working order. I have just assembled and restored a GR1v from three different donor bodies that cost me $120 in total...there's a lot of them out there so definitely wait for your deal.
kiss-o-matic
Well-known
I started a thread on the 28mm P&S's in the P&S subforum. Any of the GR1's sound great, but the whole "things falling off" part kinda scares me.
The crappy LCDs as well...
If the LCDs is completely toast, how hard is it to change the aperture (and know where it is) and zone focus?