GXR - would you buy a X10 style module?

All of the hoohaa about the Fuji X10 has led me to think about what it might be like to have a X10 style module for the GXR. Imagine this:

• 2/3" sensor
• 28-110mm equivalent zoom
• zoom lens mechanically driven rather than motor
• f2-2.8 aperture
• 1080p video using h.264 codec
• near silent shutter
• high dynamic range, good low light capabilities, better overall IQ than GRD III

Put that into a GXR module. The resulting combination would be a bit heavier than the X10 but smaller, and possessed of the Ricoh ergonomics and customization that we all love.

I would buy this the minute my credit card hit the table. Would anyone else buy a module like this?
--
Archiver - Loving Every Image Captured Always
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/

You have missed out the one key X10/X100 feature : the optical viewfinder.

The GRD has been crying for one since day one.

The GXR needs a built in finder optical or electronic to compete with the next wave of competition.

SphericalAberration said:

You have missed out the one key X10/X100 feature : the optical viewfinder.

The GRD has been crying for one since day one.

The GXR needs a built in finder optical or electronic to compete with the next wave of competition.

Click to expand...

That would be an update to the back, rather than a module. Can you imagine how clumsy an EVF implementation would be on a module?

The idea of a X10-style module still stands without a VF. The GXR already has an external EVF, so you're conflating two concepts that are not necessarily related.
--
Archiver - Loving Every Image Captured Always
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/

Archiver said:

I would buy this the minute my credit card hit the table. Would anyone else buy a module like this?

Click to expand...

No...

But an X100 style module, yes!

A 35mm or 37mm (equivalent) f/2 lens, with an APS-C sensor, and relatively light anti-aliasing filter. That is probably the last GXR module I am waiting for.

Paul

I'd get them both!
--
Rube
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71881102@N00/

I'm sure some would find this grand, but I have no interest in such midrange zooms. a P10 would make for a nice ultra zoom point and shoot, but I don't want that either.
--
Godfrey
http://godfreydigiorgi.posterous.com

I certainly would!

The fact that there is no competitive near-pocket zoom for the GXR has so far kept me from buying. As much as I like Ricoh and the GXR concept, a premium "carry everywhere" camera needs to be very close to the X10 on features. and the two current GXR zoom modules are miles away from there.

Regards,

Sven

Oddly, I think I'd prefer this to an APS-C zoom, so yep I would buy. APS-C and primes for IQ, this sensor and a zoom for convenience and compactness. I have a S10, and it's IQ is okay, but this new sensor would be a big step up and still allow a reasonable size. The specs you list look good, the extra reach would be attractive, and I don't need 300mm.

cheers
Alan

Isn't that close to the S10?

It has the 1/1.7 sensor, 24 to 72.

i see little pics mad with this module, so maybe it does nto sell that well.

so an updated module to 2/3 and the X10 specs could boost this module yes.

If a GRD would have this specs, even with a 14/72, this would be the ideal camera for everything. I'dd sell a few camera's for such a GRd with a bit of zoom.

very possibly, and then sell the others as to them being redundant. Maybe not APS but a great take everywhere, great all the FL's one needs (in my case) and travel light. As I look at my camera bad I remember a fellow forum member laughing at my older posts talking about a small compact camera and now I laugh at myself.

SphericalAberration said:

You have missed out the one key X10/X100 feature : the optical viewfinder.

Click to expand...

Optical viewfinder with matching 'zoom', I believe it is.

The X10 has one other little feature I like: three little words: "Made In Japan".

--
Art is far superior to "artsy".

The main reason I bought the X100 was for the finder and the external controls. Ricoh should strongly consider adding a new body with a built-in EVF and updated electronics.

As far as a small sensor compact, they have that and I don't think they need any more. The only other small sensor module I could see them making would be a Q module for the use of Pentax Q lenses.

In addition they need to round out the Lensor offering and make some type of a K mount with Pentax. As someone mentioned in another post, maybe some type of micro AF K mount.

Beyond that, I would like to see them exploit those technology modules they keep showing at trade shows. A large storage module like a Hyperdrive Colorspace would be great.

--
Cheers,
Snowbird_UT

The S10 seems similar but on closer inspection it is very different. The S10's image quality drops sharply at higher ISO's compared with the GRD III, and for some reason the dynamic range is just not the same. The zoom range is not as long as the X10, nor is the aperture as wide through the zoom range. And a mechanical zoom, rather than a motor driven one, would enable very fast zoom adjustments to capture things faster.

I would also love to see a X100 style module, with an aps-c sensor, high quality but compact lens that does not extend, and silent shutter. The shutter on the other aps-c modules is too darn loud compared with, for example, the Sigma DP1 and Leica X1.

And frankly, video quality on Ricoh cameras could be a LOT better. The GRD III's video is patchy, grainy and horrible, and the same goes for the aps-c modules. The sound quality is like someone's stuck the camera inside a sock. It's the only reason why I still carry a Canon S90 - high quality video. If Ricoh improved their video quality to at least that level I would not need feel the need to carry yet another camera.
--
Archiver - Loving Every Image Captured Always
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/

home about either. IMO, most of these cameras have poor video implementation and it's just there to check off a marketing requirement. If I wanted a still camera that shot great video I'd buy a Panny GH or maybe a NEX. I think Ricoh and Fuji would be much better off focusing on improved still images and forget the video but maybe that would be market suicide these days.
--
Cheers,
Snowbird_UT