The GM5 is also no more but the GX80/85 is flourishing
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Tom Caldwell
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GXR-talk - where do we move to when there are no more?
- Thread starter Tom Caldwell
- Start date
The GM5 is also no more but the GX80/85 is flourishing
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Tom Caldwell
I personally move to quality afocal converters.
It requires some modification but the results can be very promising. I'm ready to modify 2 more lenses but I'm patiently waiting for GR3 before adapting the lenses in case Ricoh changes their mount type. If all goes as planned I will have 40, 50, and 70mm GR.
It requires some modification but the results can be very promising. I'm ready to modify 2 more lenses but I'm patiently waiting for GR3 before adapting the lenses in case Ricoh changes their mount type. If all goes as planned I will have 40, 50, and 70mm GR.
My strategy is simple: I have a GXR-body, a M-module and a VF-2 as unused spare items to extend the life span of my GXR-M system.
However, if I really would have to change my system in the unknown future I will most likely change to a Leica-M camera as I have already a large collection of RF lenses for that system.
MFT-format is no real alternative for me due to the limited field of view on the wide angle side. I still have a Panasonic GF1 but I rarely use it any longer for that reason (Additionally the focus aid is rather lousy compared to the GXR. I don't know if they have improved that in the meantime).
However, if I really would have to change my system in the unknown future I will most likely change to a Leica-M camera as I have already a large collection of RF lenses for that system.
MFT-format is no real alternative for me due to the limited field of view on the wide angle side. I still have a Panasonic GF1 but I rarely use it any longer for that reason (Additionally the focus aid is rather lousy compared to the GXR. I don't know if they have improved that in the meantime).
Brentliris
Veteran Member
It's hardly my place to comment here, as I've just bought the GXR with S10 24-72mm module and will pick up my A12 m-mount module in a day or so.
But I feel I'll be able to keep using this setup for 4 years or so, then if I get on with MF lenses at that time, I could upgrade to a used APSC or FF leica m mount body.
The whole idea to this setup for me is to have a format that I'm used APSC in a more compact form than a DSLR but with no compromises in IQ and in this case dare I say an improvement i the character of the rendering over my present pentax DA limited lenses. I find they can be a little clinical at times. Especielly for portrait or mood shots.
For large weather sealed zoom lens work I can use the K3 II with the DA * 60-250, and perhaps a pentax 16-85mm. The DA limiteds and the FA limited will work fine on the KP if I need AF in the smaller lens formfactor.
But the GXR with m mount lenses will beat that setup in weight and size for everyday and social use. GR is for the wide end for everyday use.
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Reflections, understandings, discoveries and intimations..
But I feel I'll be able to keep using this setup for 4 years or so, then if I get on with MF lenses at that time, I could upgrade to a used APSC or FF leica m mount body.
The whole idea to this setup for me is to have a format that I'm used APSC in a more compact form than a DSLR but with no compromises in IQ and in this case dare I say an improvement i the character of the rendering over my present pentax DA limited lenses. I find they can be a little clinical at times. Especielly for portrait or mood shots.
For large weather sealed zoom lens work I can use the K3 II with the DA * 60-250, and perhaps a pentax 16-85mm. The DA limiteds and the FA limited will work fine on the KP if I need AF in the smaller lens formfactor.
But the GXR with m mount lenses will beat that setup in weight and size for everyday and social use. GR is for the wide end for everyday use.
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Reflections, understandings, discoveries and intimations..
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Yes it is just a matter of style and what we individually need. I might have done this myself but the GXR-M had me off stuffing my attic full of legacy MF lenses
Also the GXR-M by definition is a MF camera and one without a built in evf. So lots of MF work on bright days and use of the lcd alone gets pretty iffy if you need to see to focus.
The delicate/expensive easily knocked evf on top never really excited me. I never managed to pull it off its ratchet like some others but I found it fiddly to carry separately, awkward to pack if left on camera, and usually found that I had left it back at base when I suddenly needed it deperately.
I bought a Clearviewer and found that it slipped into a corner of a bag and therefore could "always be there". It was obviously not the 100% equivalent of an evf but was more than adequate and well up to finding accurate MF on a bright day. And I always had it there.
I still have it tucked away somewhere. But it was only when I moved on to the Panasonic GM1 with no hotshoe that I decided that this camera also needed a Clearviewer badly. I did buy the tripod mount version but found it worse-fiddly pacable than the evf on the GXR.
So desperate to take the GM1 on a trip with the Nocticron lens illustrated in my first post on this thread I made myself my first try easy-remove tripod mount for the GM1. It worked well on a three week trip. I copied the design and suggest to the Clearviewer manufacturer that he could try making this with my compliments. He never replied despite my being a good customer and never encroaching on his field of business.
In any case I did revise and revise and revise my design to end up with "nearly right" but good enough.
So my path has been dictated by the GXR-M's influence in getting me to buy lots of MF lenses and then leaving me high and dry when Ricoh decided not to continue.
Since then I have looked for and declined to follow other camera body hosts - in each case declining to buy oem lenses and simply buying adapters. I have tried Pentax Q, Samsung NX10, Sony NEX6 and A7R (MkI) before settling on M4/3.
The GM1 turned out to be a GR with a lens mount system - just as I suspected. Maybe the GR is slightly more sophisticated but I can adapt all my MF lenses to M4/3. Furthermore a good range of body types are on offer. It is a simple slide from GM1 to GM5 with built in evf, to GX7 or its replacement GX80/85 or to EM-I for a larger dslr-style body with meaty grip.
All these things Ricoh could have offered but chose to buy Pentax and throw huge wads of money at the coming redundancy of the dslr body instead. Pentax misplaced hubris?
My original intention was to keep my options open and stick to MF lenses but as time passed the huge variety of M4/3 lenses on offer was irresistable. The Nocticron 42.5 f1.2 OIS was one of my first steps down the slippery slope. One might wonder just how long it might have taken Ricoh to get around to offering such a sophisticated 85mm FF eq fov lens.
And yes - you can fit this quite large (stabilised) lens to the tiny GM5 body and when attached to the GX85 as shown on this post offers 5-way body stabilised and lens stabilisation combined - I suppose it works, but I would need to stop right down in a dark night to know for sure
I still think that a GR body as base plus an inbuilt evf (Panasonic squeezed one into the GM5 which is physically smaller) and a M4/3 mount system would allow the GR to enter the big wide world of M4/3 mount lenses. Panasonic opened the door for such a camera as they have stopped making the GM5. Whether or not they would change their mind if Ricoh made such a camera is a moot thing. Panasonic already sell a very high perfoming 15mm f1.7 lens. This is 30/1.7 in FF eq fov terms and pretty close in fov terms, but faster than the lens in the GR. But of course it does not fold into the camera body.
But then Ricoh has never paid any attention to our (its customers) advice in the past.
Although Panasonic has stopped making the GM line I suspect that it sold a whole lot more of these camera bodies than Ricoh ever sold GR cameras in the process.
Well Tom, that's certainly true. We all have different preferences and I'm glad that you found your way out which suits best to your needs.
I have also stopped buying lenses as I have already a very huge collection of manual focus lenses for RF and SLR from 8 to 600mm (apprx. 100 lenses) and in particular for excursions I really like the compactness of RF lenses.
I found the focus aid system of the GXR-M as "state of the art" most probably because this camera was solely developed for manual focus lenses. When I really want to switch to AF then I take one of my DSLRs, primarily my Sony A850 for which I have a rather complete set of Minolta AF prime lenses. The downside is the size and weight of this set but the FF sensor has certainly some advantages as well.
Therefore I do hope that my GXR-Ms will last as long as possible in order to protect my investment; i.e. to continue the usage of my beloved MF prime lenses from Asahi to Zeiss, particularly the RF ones from Leitz and Voigtländer. Most probably the GXR-M is still the only camera in existence which is able to cope with my wide and ultra-wide RF lenses without color shift or smearing. Finally, I hate the idea to put something in between my lenses and the sensor which may possibly degrade the quality of the final output. I even don't use "protection" filters for that reason. Maybe I'm a little bit freaky on that. ;-)
LichtFan
Active member
I own the GXR body and 3 M Lenses. How much would a used M module be? Are they still available brand new?
Thanks for answers. Btw I am writing from Germany, so Euro price would be nice
Thanks for answers. Btw I am writing from Germany, so Euro price would be nice
I bought my second unit in brand new condition here:
http://stores.ebay.de/upgrademonkey-worldwide?_trksid=p2047675.l2563
It's a reliable seller and everything (incl. shipping to Europe) was fine.
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Regards, Thomas
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LichtFan
Active member
Thank you, Thomas
Brentliris
Veteran Member
LichtFan
Active member
Just ordered the M module. Can't wait for my new toy
Brentliris
Veteran Member
Just ordered the M module. Can't wait for my new toy
that was a minor fiasco, by the way. I thought otherwise, I tried but I couldn't make any lens other than the Fuji TCL X100 to match the GR.
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Not to brag or anything, but I just bought a second M module for 80 $/euros.
Some people are desperate to let them go and try to make a few bucks before they are completely obsolete... Not knowing that they will never be obsolete. Anyway.
Ebay gets a lot of attention so I would keep an eye on places such as Craigslist or willhaben.
Some people are desperate to let them go and try to make a few bucks before they are completely obsolete... Not knowing that they will never be obsolete. Anyway.
Ebay gets a lot of attention so I would keep an eye on places such as Craigslist or willhaben.
I own the GXR body and 3 M Lenses. How much would a used M module be? Are they still available brand new?
Thanks for answers. Btw I am writing from Germany, so Euro price would be nice
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