What about Ricoh GR 28mm M lens?

[Krosya]

Hi again,
yes, more questions from me. 😉
I came across this lens on some photos - looks very interesting. Never saw it in real life. Nor seen any reviews. However Ricoh GR p&s camera is famous, so I'd guess that M mount 28mm Ricoh GR lens could be very good as well. Anyone here that owns one? Any user info? WHere to find one? How much? How does it compare with other 28mm lenses in M mount? Any other GR lenses in M mount?
Any info would be great.
Thanks.

 

[freusen]

I bought this f2.8/28mm Ricoh GR lens for my M6 a few years ago, unfortunately only a few were made and therefore it's a collector’s item. It's a SM lens so you need a 28mm SM-to-M adapter.

It's a very good lens but don't compare it with the rasor sharp Asph f2.0/28mm Summicron. It makes a nice combination with the f2.8/50mm Leica Elmar-M for traveling light and compact.

There's also a f3.5/21mm Ricoh GR lens in the same Leica SM design. Both lenses were made in chrom and black but they have been sold in Japan only.

 

[nikola]

I think Tom Abrahamsson gave it a review somewhere?

 

[saxshooter]

The Ricoh GR 28 2.8 lens was made in very limited numbers, apparently a nod to the celebrated lens in their GR1 point and shoot camera. It was also compact in size, compared to the 28mm Elmarit at that time.

I don't know how much the Ricoh goes for, but my guess is pretty high due to its scarcity. But Leica now makes the 28mm Elmarit ASPH which is comparable in its compact size. Not sure about their compared image qualities, though...

 

[jsrockit]

Anybody using this lens these days?

 

[john_s]

Somewhere on Erwin Puts's web site there is mention of it. IIRC he compared it to the 2nd generation of pre-aspherical 28/2.8 Leica lenses. So it wasn't as good as the 3rd and 4th generation of the pre-aspherical 28/2.8.

 

[Tom A]

I did have the 28 GR lens in LTM for several years. Very compact and extremely well built! Performance was good, not remarkable - but on par with the Elmarit 28f2.8 from the 80's and 90's. I do prefer the VC 28f3.5 though and some collector was drooling on the Ricoh - so he got it.
I still have the 21f3.5 Ricoh in LTM (in black too!). It is remarkably compact, quite a good performer by any standard. Worst finder of just about any 21 finder though!!!!
The 28 had a bit of flare to it - the 21 is very good in this aspect. The 21 was given to me by the designer so that one I keep, even though it is now a highly sought after 'collectible". I do like it on the R4's as it is truly compact.

 

[crist]

Tom , what do you think about the 28 color skopar is really very very good, i want to use this on my m8, so what do you prefer this lens or the elmarit asph 28mm??

 

[stupid leica]

i've seen a few of the 21's over here for sale, very expensive.

 

[jsrockit]

Thanks all... I was thinking about one of these as a cheaper, compact vs. the elmarit ASPH. My heart is with the Elmarit though... I may as well go for my first new Leica lens ever... 🙂 I've decided the Zeiss is too big (though nice).

 

[marnicq]

I saw one on a Dutch site for (only?) 695 euros.
http://www.fotoapparatuur.nl/Ricoh/Lens_(MF)/Ricoh-GR-28-28-Limited-LSM-near-mint/Ad118635.html

 

[Tom A]

Tom , what do you think about the 28 color skopar is really very very good, i want to use this on my m8, so what do you prefer this lens or the elmarit asph 28mm??

I shoot mainly black/white film - and that is were the VC 28f3.5 truly shines. Some of the nicest tones of any lens.
If you are going to use the lens on a M8, I would be tempted by the 28f2.8 Asph as it comes coded for the M8. It is a very good lens - but pretty contrasty - at least for bl/w film.

 

[crist]

thanks Tom

 

[jsrockit]

Very hard to find this lens ... ebay has one or two, at inflated prices.

 

[DavidKKHansen]

Anybody know what filter thread the Ricoh 28mm LTM uses?

...also, does anyone know if it's possible to permanently convert a (modern-ish) LTM lens to a M-mount? I find the adaptor rings pesky to use sometimes.

 

[Tom A]

Easiest way to convey a LTM lens to M-mount would be to attach the correct adapter with Loc-Tite. Making it in to a M-mount would be a bit complicated and really not worth the effort. Leica used to make the early 35f2/35f2.8 and the 90f2 into M mounts by simply "glueing" the adapter to LTM lenses. Works well and as it is not permanent, the lens retains its value. A "hacked" lens is a bit iffy - unless it is done very well.

 

[DavidKKHansen]

Easiest way to convey a LTM lens to M-mount would be to attach the correct adapter with Loc-Tite.

HA! What a simple solution, wonder why that didn't cross my mind! Thanks for the tip 😉

 

[a.noctilux]

Anybody know what filter thread the Ricoh 28mm LTM uses?

...also, does anyone know if it's possible to permanently convert a (modern-ish) LTM lens to a M-mount? I find the adaptor rings pesky to use sometimes.

David,
filter for Ricoh 28mm LTM is E40.5

More here a link to Marco's study of compact's lenses, in italian:
http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/lenses_for_35mm_compact_cameras/00_pag.htm

Arnaud

 

[DavidKKHansen]

David,
filter for Ricoh 28mm LTM is E40.5

More here a link to Marco's study of compact's lenses, in italian:
http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/lenses_for_35mm_compact_cameras/00_pag.htm

Arnaud

Hey Arnaud!

Thanks for the info on the filter thread as well as the link. Google Translate does a decent job of translating the site, I'll give a good read next week!

 

[YYV_146]

Thanks all... I was thinking about one of these as a cheaper, compact vs. the elmarit ASPH. My heart is with the Elmarit though... I may as well go for my first new Leica lens ever... 🙂 I've decided the Zeiss is too big (though nice).

The elmarit healthily outperforms the GR at every stop until F5.6, where the difference becomes negligible. The Leica is the more contrasty of the two, and better for digital use.

Both are about the same weight mounted on an M camera. The GR 28 is probably the single highest performing 28mm lens made for LTM, though, which might make its high prices these days more tolerable...