Ricoh GR1s – did Leica have any input into that lens?

[mr_phillip]

Hey

I'm sure I have some vague memory of hearing and then mostly forgetting an unsubstantiated rumor back when the GR1 launched that Leica had some input into the design (but not the manufacture) of the 28mm lens.

Having recently bought a GR1s and now put four rolls through it, I'm struck by, not only how good the lens is, but just how much the images resemble the pre-ASPH Summicrons. The corner-to-corner sharpness, the way the images shift from sharp focus to smooth out of focus, the tonality – everything just screams Summicron to me.

So does anyone have the definitive word on this, or did I just dream the Leica rumor?

 

[VladimirV]

I doubt this , Ricoh is a very good lens manufacturer in their own right so would not see what they would gain by working with Leica.
Also, the GR1 lens available for the m-mount is also about half the size of the similar Leica lens.

 

[mr_phillip]

A quick trawl of the interwebs sees this being reported as fact on a number of web forums, which almost certainly means it's a myth. At least I know I didn't imagine hearing it though.

Whoever designed the lens, he did a spectacular job. Nice work sir, I salute you!

 

[kbg32]

That is all it ever was - a rumor.

 

[vincentbenoit]

I can't shed any light on the lens' design history but I certainly agree about its Summicron-like qualities.

Vincent

 

[Nikon Bob]

I have never heard the rumored Leica connection. I do vaguely recall reading a review of the GR1 when it first came out that the individual elements for the lens were matched up to give the best performance. As opposed to just taking whatever elements were needed and assembling same. That might help explain the good performance of the lens.

Bob

 

[Pablito]

Whoever designed the lens, he did a spectacular job. Nice work sir, I salute you!

Rumor says the designer was a "she."

 

[palec]

I'd done some sloppy comparison of GR1v and Elmarit 28 pre-asph lens (E46) and the Elmarit had better contrast, resolution and distortion control, but more flare sensitivity. Anyway, considering the size of GR lens I don't care for any nuances, it's just great pocketable film camera. I only wish the 1/500 speed was available for all apertures not just f/16 and up.

 

[amateriat]

I've used a GR-1 for quite a few years, and can vouch for the quality of that lens. However, I've never heard about any possible Ricoh-Leica design connection until reading this post, and highly doubt the credibility of rumors to that effect. Ricoh knows how to "do" optics on their own quite well.


- Barrett