Ricoh GR1 and LCD Display issues

[thereabouts]

I've been interested in the Ricoh GR1 film cameras for a while. But pretty much every advert I've seen for them seems to indicate issues with the LCD display. This seems to range between completely busted, to 'a few characters missing'.

Either way, none of these cameras ever seems to be cheaper than around $350 (and often more) – which isn't cheap for an old point and shoot film camera, however good it is supposed to be.

That being the case, I wonder if those of you who have experience with this camera might be able to let me know how big a deal that is in actual use?

What information is missing in the LCD and how much of a nuisance is it when actually using the camera?

Thanks.

 

[walnuts]

My GR1 worked perfectly with the LCD display until a few hours after I brought home the GR digital special edition. I think its feelings were hurt. You lose the frame number, as well as the basic shooting modes that you can cycle through. Not a huge problem.

 

[schaki]

Luckily there is a DIY fix for this problem. The problem seems to have been use of cheap tape in the first place. http://apug.org/forums/forum147/107868-how-missing-lcd-segments-repair-ricoh-gr1.html

 

[thereabouts]

My GR1 worked perfectly with the LCD display until a few hours after I brought home the GR digital special edition. I think its feelings were hurt. You lose the frame number, as well as the basic shooting modes that you can cycle through. Not a huge problem.

Hmmm. I can live without frame numbers. But how hard is it to know what shooting mode you are on and then changing it?

 

[thereabouts]

Luckily there is a DIY fix for this problem. The problem seems to have been use of cheap tape in the first place. http://apug.org/forums/forum147/107868-how-missing-lcd-segments-repair-ricoh-gr1.html

Thanks, yes I read that.

Not sure that I'd trust myself to make that kind of repair.

I'd love one of these cameras, but I'm kind of edging away from them somewhat, due to the reliability issues that I keep reading about.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

My GR1 has a sporadic loss of some of the segments that compose the frame number. By sporadic I mean that the problem occurs sometimes and is gone for long periods in between. Even when it's there, the problem does not affect the symbols that indicate which modus the camera is shooting in.

Now, even assuming that the display is completely dead, the camera has three shooting modes: 1) normal AF, 2) focus locked on infinity and 3) focus locked on "snap" (a preset distance of a fe meters). You can read this inside the finder too, not only in the display on the camera top. So as long as the finder is alive, you're safe. Even in the worst case, you can easily tell when the camera is in the normal AF mode cause that's the only of the three modes in which the AF moves the lens as you half press the trigger.. I wouldn't worry about that issue, in other words.

 

[bence8810]

Hello,

I am thinking about buying one of these cameras and was wondering of two things.

1a. The LCD problem - that's the obvious one. I could try the DIY from APUG but not sure where to get that tape from?

1b. Do they still fix these in Japan and if so - what is the damage I am looking at?

2. Light seals. Is that a DIY job or needs professional assistance? I can be handy at times so wouldn't mind trying myself. Are there places where such a seal can be ordered from, preferably in Japan?

Thanks,
Ben

 

[jonmanjiro]

Hey Ben, I'm not sure about your questions 1a and 2 but I can answer question 1b. Unfortunately Ricoh in Japan doesn't service the GR1 series cameras anymore. I got a Ricoh GR1v and GR21 serviced by Ricoh in early 2014 and at the time they'd already stopped accepting earlier models (GR1/s) for repairs, and I heard they stopped accepting the GR1v and GR21 sometime later last year.

I think the best bet these days for a 28mm film P&S is a Klasse W if only for the fact that Fujifilm still services them.

 

[bence8810]

Hey Ben, I'm not sure about your questions 1a and 2 but I can answer question 1b. Unfortunately Ricoh in Japan doesn't service the GR1 series cameras anymore. I got a Ricoh GR1v and GR21 serviced by Ricoh in early 2014 and at the time they'd already stopped accepting earlier models (GR1/s) for repairs, and I heard they stopped accepting the GR1v and GR21 sometime later last year.

I think the best bet these days for a 28mm film P&S is a Klasse W if only for the fact that Fujifilm still services them.

Thanks Jon! That's a real shame - these Ricoh's are just amazing.
I went around to the Tokyo stores today, found two.

1. Shinjuku small store on 2nd floor by ABC shoes (behind MAP camera) - Black GR1v - 70,000 yen - looks brand new without a single scratch. LCD and everything in good working order.

2. Nakano Fujiya camera - Silver GR1v - 65,000 yen - looks almost as good as the other one but not quite. Still 9 on a 10point scale. LCD and everything in good working order.

Having said that its a lot of money for something that is most likely to break sooner or later.

I will look that Klasse W up! Thanks for the tip.

Otherwise I might get a beater GR1x (x = anything) from yahoo just to put this GAS to rest.

A friend has a GR10 which was the cheapo version of the GR series but since the Lens is the same I'd be good with that too. It lacks some of the fancy functions like setting ISO or SNAP mode etc but should be still ok as I can cheat that using fake DX codes.

The whole idea is to have something with me all the time ready to shoot. The Leica is perfect but it doesn't see a lot of usage during the week.

Ben

 

[nightfly]

I have one with the LCD issue that only effects the frame number, not the shooting mode so it doesn't worry me too much.

I had a second one that was basically new in box that I sold to someone here about a year ago. Kinda regret not having a backup but what are you going to do?

It's a great camera to have on hand for all those times you don't want to bring your Leica. I also found it loosens up my shooting a bit when it gets too rigid. I leave it in SNAP mode and shoot away.

 

[bence8810]

Just to post back - managed to find was in great condition from an auction site very cheap - the GR1s and although it isn't perfect it's nearly there.

Black version - completely functional except the first digit of the film counter isn't showing fully.
Great little camera - I have to mess with the DX codes a little for pushing film and bulk loading but I have gotten it down now so it doesn't take much time.

Ben