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Pentax user very interested in the GR.... Is a new model coming?

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sgtsween

sgtsween

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I'm a long time Pentax user gravitating towards more compact cameras. I'm a fan of Ricoh (they sort of saved Pentax after all) and the GR looks pretty excellent. APS-C in a small body etc, really good IQ as far as I can tell, the Positive Film effect looks pretty great.

My question... as I haven't been following the GR much, I was wondering if now would be a bad time to pick one up if there is an upgrade in the near future? Is there a GRII or similar rumored to be coming out? I don't want to buy the GR and see something updated pop up at Photokina.

Thank you in advance.

Matt
 
Ricoh's release cycle is about 18 months. There will always be more GRs, but it is never a bad time to buy one now (fact is, I still have 2 of my previous GR(D)s) in addition to the GR. Wonderful camera. Just about all I use nowadays. Just took mine backpacking with my son in the Emigrant Wilderness of California.
 
Thanks, that is helpful. It looks like the GR came out last summer, so potentially a newer version next year? As long as nothing is imminent, I think I may snatch one up soon.
 
sgtsween said:
Thanks, that is helpful. It looks like the GR came out last summer, so potentially a newer version next year? As long as nothing is imminent, I think I may snatch one up soon.
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Once you could set your watch by the Ricoh release cycle. The GRD was every four years for a radical remake with an interim model makeover half way. The R which became the CX series was an annual new model with a makeover model every six months.

This went out of the window with the GXR where only one model was ever made and is still popular with those that believe in it four years from release but is definitely well out of production and no apparent plans for another model. The GR is too new to be thought to be following any particular patteren - if it is "GRD-like" then one might expect a makeover model in the next six months, if it is GXR-like then a new version might be years away if ever.

What non-Ricoh people must realise is that Ricoh tend to make cameras for lasting use. Andrew partly alluded to this when he said that he was still using GRD cameras. They do not hold back innovation to provide a feature to sell the next model - this is seen by me as a sort of trickle out technology used by some other manufacturers to stoke the upgrade frenzy. Being a small volume camera manufacturer they are probably not in any great need to keep a production line endlessly churning out product in some great volume. As far as I can determine they make stock into warehouse in a relatively short run and sell it off over a predetermined period. This results in "special deals" from time to time to keep the stock moving if the sales budget is lacking. But it also means that Ricoh are willing to keep selling old stock for years rather than have a fire sale to rid themself of remaining stocks of an earlier model.

The GRD/GRDII were very similar cameras as was the radically different in a similar box GRDIII/IV. The GDRIV wwhilsst very similar to the GRDIII is the classic of the type and seems to have swept up all the remaining ideas from the R&D department into a bankable final classic model of the series. The GR of course was another radically different camera which re-defined the GRD series as virtually another camera although made in the same idiom but left out some of the goodies that were in the GRDIV.

If the GR follows the GRD "plan" then the GRII will be a worthwhile makeover of the GR but not in such a way as to make users of the GR wish to update a perfectly good camera that has years of life left in its design.

I still have my original GRD and get it out from time to time to marvel at what it still does better than later models - I think I can realistically say that it is well superseded but it is quite refreshing that when owning a GRD, GRDIII, GRDIV, & GR I only think that the GRDIII has been directly replaced by the GRDIV, the others have quite distinct characters which keep them unique enough to remain desirable.
 
sgtsween said:
I'm a long time Pentax user gravitating towards more compact cameras. I'm a fan of Ricoh (they sort of saved Pentax after all) and the GR looks pretty excellent. APS-C in a small body etc, really good IQ as far as I can tell, the Positive Film effect looks pretty great.

My question... as I haven't been following the GR much, I was wondering if now would be a bad time to pick one up if there is an upgrade in the near future? Is there a GRII or similar rumored to be coming out? I don't want to buy the GR and see something updated pop up at Photokina.

Thank you in advance.

Matt
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Knowing Ricoh i very much doubt of anything new at Photokina. I actually do not think that Ricoh EVER introduced a new product at that time. i would think that we may seen an updated GR ( with the sony 24 mp aps sensor and some kind of possibility of EVF) in May or June of next year

of course, as the eternal optimist I also hope to see sometime in the near future a GR-? with the above mentioned sensor and evf option and a 40mm FOV equivalent.

Along with the 28mm GR that duo would make a killer combo which could be my only cameras on so many trips

For the OP, I am a full time photographer and the GR is the only camera that is always with me whenever and wherever I go. I also think this is the ONLY digital camera i have ever used that could not really be replaced by any other camera

Hope this helps your thinking process

Harold
 
Harold66 said:
For the OP, I am a full time photographer and the GR is the only camera that is always with me whenever and wherever I go.
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This is key for me. I have a Pentax K-3, but only use it when I am heading out expressly for the purpose of taking photos. I also have a Fuji X100, which is a great camera, but still not super compact. I need something small enough to always have with me. I carry a Pentax Q around quite often and it's a fun camera, but the IQ is what you would expect from a small sensor. The GR looks like a good balance with both excellent portability and IQ.

Thank you for the insight.
 
Interesting info. I'll admit that I have never know a whole lot about Ricoh and the GR models. This is very useful. I'm pretty much sold.
 
sgtsween said:
sgtsween said:
For the OP, I am a full time photographer and the GR is the only camera that is always with me whenever and wherever I go.
Click to expand...
This is key for me. I have a Pentax K-3, but only use it when I am heading out expressly for the purpose of taking photos. I also have a Fuji X100, which is a great camera, but still not super compact. I need something small enough to always have with me. I carry a Pentax Q around quite often and it's a fun camera, but the IQ is what you would expect from a small sensor. The GR looks like a good balance with both excellent portability and IQ.

Thank you for the insight.
Click to expand...
I hate to say it but if you like the use of the Pentax Q then the Panasonic GM1 is the Q on steroids. But although smaller physically than the GR it is not really meant to be a pocketable camera - as soon as you fit it up with come nice lenses it looses out badly size wise to the GR.
 
Tom,

you never miss a beat to place a post about the gm1 regardless of the subject, do you? ;)

H
 
The K3 and GR are an amazing pair. I use the K3 with the 20-40mm Limited when I'm out and willing to take a larger camera or need the zoom and take the GR anywhere anytime. I also have the 35mm Limited Macro; my two most focal lengths are 28 and 50mm.
 
I pulled the trigger on a GR with GV-1 and an SD card bundled for free. Looking forward to putting it through it's paces!!
 
sgtsween said:
I pulled the trigger on a GR with GV-1 and an SD card bundled for free. Looking forward to putting it through it's paces!!
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Congrats !! Do not forget to post some pics after you have used the camera for a while ;)

Harold
 
The new GR 2.ax is due out to the dealers in under 7 weeks. It has a 24m full frame sensor with a 21-280 f 1.9 zoom, and articulated LCD. And... it's smaller than the current GR! I wouldn't do ANYTHING until after this camera is released, otherwise you'll be kicking yourself for your lack of patience.

- A.
 
A Subset said:
The new GR 2.ax is due out to the dealers in under 7 weeks. It has a 24m full frame sensor with a 21-280 f 1.9 zoom, and articulated LCD. And... it's smaller than the current GR! I wouldn't do ANYTHING until after this camera is released, otherwise you'll be kicking yourself for your lack of patience.

- A.
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Too late! Something tells me your claim is dubious, though.
 
sgtsween said:
I'm a long time Pentax user gravitating towards more compact cameras. I'm a fan of Ricoh (they sort of saved Pentax after all) and the GR looks pretty excellent. APS-C in a small body etc, really good IQ as far as I can tell, the Positive Film effect looks pretty great.

My question... as I haven't been following the GR much, I was wondering if now would be a bad time to pick one up if there is an upgrade in the near future? Is there a GRII or similar rumored to be coming out? I don't want to buy the GR and see something updated pop up at Photokina.

Thank you in advance.

Matt
Click to expand...
I would love a 35mm
 
A Subset said:
The new GR 2.ax is due out to the dealers in under 7 weeks. It has a 24m full frame sensor with a 21-280 f 1.9 zoom, and articulated LCD. And... it's smaller than the current GR! I wouldn't do ANYTHING until after this camera is released, otherwise you'll be kicking yourself for your lack of patience.

- A.
Click to expand...
The above is most likely a sarcastic comment as the specs are not realistic. However, if the next GR were to have a zoom, out the window goes the GR's excellent image quality and the price would go up. The current GR is outstanding because of it's excellent fixed focal length lens and excellent APS-C sensor. The controls and customization are excellent as well.
 
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Greg A A said:
A Subset said:
The new GR 2.ax is due out to the dealers in under 7 weeks. It has a 24m full frame sensor with a 21-280 f 1.9 zoom, and articulated LCD. And... it's smaller than the current GR! I wouldn't do ANYTHING until after this camera is released, otherwise you'll be kicking yourself for your lack of patience.

- A.
Click to expand...
The above is most likely a sarcastic comment as the specs are not realistic. However, if the next GR were to have a zoom, out the window goes the GR's excellent image quality and the price would go up. The current GR is outstanding because of it's excellent fixed focal length lens and excellent APS-C sensor. The controls and customization are excellent as well.
Click to expand...
They tried this once before it was the GX100/200 and accepted as a GRDII with a zoom lens.

Nice camera, but the lens was slow and it cannot have sold well. Anyway the history of that matter will probably put a tin lid on any thoughts at Ricoh HQ about a zoom lensed GR.

I always liked my GX100, but it was the GRD model that I used.
 
photo perzon said:
sgtsween said:
I'm a long time Pentax user gravitating towards more compact cameras. I'm a fan of Ricoh (they sort of saved Pentax after all) and the GR looks pretty excellent. APS-C in a small body etc, really good IQ as far as I can tell, the Positive Film effect looks pretty great.

My question... as I haven't been following the GR much, I was wondering if now would be a bad time to pick one up if there is an upgrade in the near future? Is there a GRII or similar rumored to be coming out? I don't want to buy the GR and see something updated pop up at Photokina.

Thank you in advance.

Matt
Click to expand...
I would love a 35mm
Click to expand...
Like the old song ... "here I go again..."

Yes and there are a lot of others who would like a 21/40/45/50 as well. And I would like an 85/1.2 and retractable into the camera body - just a teeny bit bigger than the current GR would do. I will forgive them a 135mm f2.0 equivalent that would just be too hard. Nice though ....
 
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