Ricoh GXR (anyone still shoot it?)

I shoot mostly film, but when I need that instant satisfaction, I still use my GXR with the Macro A12 and sometimes with the wide-angle A12 module.

The Macro module is actually quite useful for "scanning" medium format negatives/positives, at least good enough for screen presentation.

After having played with a few other digital cameras, including the Olympus OM-D, a Sony RX-100, and a Nikon D810, I still find no other digital camera more user-friendly and better layed-out than the GXR. Too bad Ricoh doesn't do more digital stuff, imagine a Ricoh full-frame camera...
 
Hard to rate the controls against something like a D810 as the in tensional use there is so different. Compared to small pocketable mirrorless alternatives its definitely the best I'v used though fitting in the core setting without menu diving AND actually having a nice one handed grip. It helps they didn't scrimp on the controls, every button and dial feels well made.
 
DrTebi said:
After having played with a few other digital cameras, including the Olympus OM-D, a Sony RX-100, and a Nikon D810, I still find no other digital camera more user-friendly and better layed-out than the GXR. Too bad Ricoh doesn't do more digital stuff, imagine a Ricoh full-frame camera...
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We'll sorta get a Ricoh-backed full-frame camera, the soon to be released Pentax FF digital.
 
chrisso said:
Just bought a GRX and M Module.
I've found the manual focussing impossible using the LCD screen in daylight. Luckily I bought a VF2 viewfinder too.
Is it possible to change the colour of the peaking? With objects reflecting light in sunlight, the white peaking is sometimes hard to differentiate.
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I found the other focus peaking mode - the monochrome 'predator vision' mode - to be quite effective. I mapped it to the Fn2 position and assigned image magnification to Fn1. It was pretty quick to toggle between the two.

So this thread inspired me to power up my GXR for the first time in ages. Battery is still showing at full power too. Looking at the images on the memory card, the last time I used it was almost two years ago to the day...

Unfortunately, I discovered just now that my EVF doesn't work at all anymore. Well, I'm not entirely sure it's the EVF, but have no way of checking. Back a couple years ago the EVF image was extremely posterized, to the point where it was almost unusable. Like a bad 8-bit 1980s video game. I was able at that time to try the EVF on another GXR, where it worked perfectly. I suspect it's the EVF port on my GXR body. With it being modular, all I'd need is to find another body... But it's pretty low priority at the moment. As much as I like the camera... I'd love a 24MP module for it. But then the camera would probably be even slower than it is now, which is one of the few things I didn't like about it.
 
I love my Ricoh GXR its the only DIGITAL camera I have.

rscheffler; in my opinion, EVF is the weakest part in the whole GXR system , I heard that it fails quite often , the problem is in the flexi cable , try moving it up and down and see if Image flickers and comes back, you might be able to find a good contact position tape it and use it that way.
 
Have not used it for a while, the last time using is was I wanted to use Super Angulon, GXR A12 M is the best compatible digital back for that lens so far.
Thinking about to sell couple of M modules... I have 3 of them.

Sent from my DMC-CM1 using Tapatalk
 
Ricoh GXR-M is my primary camera, since I think 3 years ago. Thanks goes to Godfrey who sent me some RAW files for looking at and got me convinced.

My set is: two bodies - one for me and one for my daughter/backup. Two AF modules - 50mm and 28 mm for my daughter and two M-mount modules for me. I also have EVF, but as of recently I almost never use it.

I would gladly buy more M-mount modules and maybe one more body just for backup.
 
Still use and love mine. Added the 28mm module a while back and it's great too. Need to get the A16 and also the A12 50mm at some point. Have two GXR bodies right now.
 
I started "playing" with mine this week, and love the camera, although I have to get used to handling in low light, as stability is an issue for me.
 
I missed "the best deal", Robert. Is the A16 module the best on the market for the GXR?
 
raid said:
I missed "the best deal", Robert. Is the A16 module the best on the market for the GXR?
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The 24-85mm A16 is a very good lens, if that's the one you're asking about. However, it is a little slow to use, since it has no controls at all on the lens body. You do everything with on-camera buttons and rocker switches, and the power zoom button is OK but not real fast. So, you'd be happy with the image quality, but it might not be your favorite user.

Other than the M mount, my favorite is the 50mm macro. I also like the 24-72mm infrared unit that I got on ebay, although I have an infrared-converted m4/3 camera I like better.

... Hmmm. Actually I think the main excuse for the existence of this whole system is the M mount. Everything else has some coolness, but there are better alternatives. The GXR M still may be the best digital alternative to a Leica M body.

Tom
 
I still use mine often, usually with the 28mm A12 or leica m A12
Still enjoy using the camera.

It is hard to pick between that and a fuji XM-1. but the GXR usually wins because it is so compact.
 
The A16 was the last module released, and the only 16mp lensor. That was why I flirted with getting one of those eBay $325 kits, to have a nice dedicated zoom starting at 24mm on a body whose operation I understood well.

But I'm not a zoomer at heart nor required by work to be one; and my GXR days were over once Fuji X could do the same work better--and I now have in its 16mm/1.4 a much faster 24mm.

The M module was great. So was the 50 macro (33/2.5). But I always got the best from the GXR with the evf mounted, especially with ZM/CV lenses, and would advise any late adopters of this orphaned system to get one, though they show up rarely and ain't cheap (unlike the GXR body).

I may have written this elsewhere, but I think it best to try a GR or earlier GRD before adopting a GXR and the extras it will entail. The UI is consistent and so predictive of the GXR haptics, but in a complete pocket-rocket. If you love the GR/GRD, you may like the GXR's system capabilities--and be able to pick up the A12 50 and M and the A16 for good prices.
 
Never should have sold my GXR kit, up til this day people are attracted by the B&W portraits I show in my weddings portfolio, while the B&W portraits done with the D700 don't attract as much attention... :bang: Gotta get me some extra work and save up for a kit again
 
same here, the GXR is my only digital. I use the 50mm and 28mm equiv modules as well as the M-Mount. IF I use digital.
the GXR still has the best focus peaking (mode2) around and produces superb files.
 
I have thought about this system for a while. I owned a GRDII for about a year. I purchased it for a specific project and loved the camera, especially the snap mode. Do any of the modules or the camera body have this snap mode?
 
I got my GXR as a backup for Leica M9 in 2010 and boy was it needed. M9 and some lenses made an extended trip to Germany for repairs. Then come a M9P that was latter sold with a plan to get a Sony FF, but that did not happed, so M 240 arrived 18 month ago. Camera is OK, but battery and then charger failed. In all that time I enjoyed using GXR with Leica M lenses, GXR has been a great little camera without any problems, love it.
 
20151129-R1035383-Edit by Pete, on Flickr

Ricoh GXR 25/4 Color Skopar

I took mine out on a wet day. I don't use digital but I didn't want to get my Leica soaked when changing lenses. It's this sort of scenario for which I bought the GXR. Being able to swap lenses without exposing the delicate internals of a digital camera is wonderful.
Pete
 
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