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.
