The GXW seems to promise two ways of making the camera of your choice: The compact folding camera with its small sensor and the small external lensed camera with APS-C sensor and no pretentions to fitting in your pocket.
The third way has already been alluded to and is the method by which this rather unusual innovative system might show its true genius for Ricoh. Very early in the rumour mill the mount was referred to as 'k-mount'. There have already been comments that Ricoh should design adapter cartridges for various other mounts. Even Ricoh itself seems to think this a possibility in discussions with dpreview. Perhaps Ricoh has already trialled this concept with a k-mount? (hence the rumour).
However the true genius is not Ricoh making these adapters but each proprietory company making their own to fit their lenses to Ricoh's back.
Obviously the lens flange would have to fit the cartridge mount. However there would be no concern that these would not fit in one's pocket (see model #2 above). The object would just to be able to interface with a sweet little working back with Ricoh's optimised interface and hi-res lcd.
This would make the camera a three-part confection - the back, the lens-mount cartridge, and the proprietory lens. At least you would not need a new sensor for each of your proprietory lenses.
What is in it for the other manufacturer? Well they get to fit their own sensor and proprietory chips and firmware. These lens-mount cartridges will not be cheap and they can make reasonable money on them - saves them designing their own back. It does not lock them out of making their own small camera and they can get an entry into the ultra small replaceable lensed camera market without a huge gamble on r&d and stocking costs. Furthermore they can pretend to their dslr purists that they are only pandering to the mad micks who insist on strapping their proper dlsr lenses on to tiny Ricoh backs. Obviously keeping a steady course and churning out lots more dslrs in the process.
However if the Ricoh idea kicks off then they might phase out the mirror box more gracefully.
Sort of make some money but not too much risk stuff.
Meanwhile most with dslr capable lenses would keep their dslr for serious work and have a good play with a Ricoh back. Win - win for everyone.
Ricoh sells heaps of backs, the price comes right down, Ricoh sells more backs, more manufacturers make their own lens mount cartridge modules to fit the Ricoh back ... there are Ricoh backs everywhere - variations proliferate ...
If a Canon EOS mount were to surface I would have one like a shot. Not about to abandon my dslr gear but there are occassions when any reduction in size/weight would be welcome.
It might just catch on - however if the other guys stuck in the mud then what we now see is likely to be what we will always see - a great idea - a great little niche product. Needs one manufacturer to break ranks and give it a go - Pentax? Even Sigma would not be giving anything away to make their own Foveon chipped lens-mount cartridge. This gives a wealth of lens possibilities to the idea and variety is the spice of life.
...and the fourth way? Printer and other non camera accessories - hmmm not so interesting to me but handy if you were travelling ...
--
Tom Caldwell
The third way has already been alluded to and is the method by which this rather unusual innovative system might show its true genius for Ricoh. Very early in the rumour mill the mount was referred to as 'k-mount'. There have already been comments that Ricoh should design adapter cartridges for various other mounts. Even Ricoh itself seems to think this a possibility in discussions with dpreview. Perhaps Ricoh has already trialled this concept with a k-mount? (hence the rumour).
However the true genius is not Ricoh making these adapters but each proprietory company making their own to fit their lenses to Ricoh's back.
Obviously the lens flange would have to fit the cartridge mount. However there would be no concern that these would not fit in one's pocket (see model #2 above). The object would just to be able to interface with a sweet little working back with Ricoh's optimised interface and hi-res lcd.
This would make the camera a three-part confection - the back, the lens-mount cartridge, and the proprietory lens. At least you would not need a new sensor for each of your proprietory lenses.
What is in it for the other manufacturer? Well they get to fit their own sensor and proprietory chips and firmware. These lens-mount cartridges will not be cheap and they can make reasonable money on them - saves them designing their own back. It does not lock them out of making their own small camera and they can get an entry into the ultra small replaceable lensed camera market without a huge gamble on r&d and stocking costs. Furthermore they can pretend to their dslr purists that they are only pandering to the mad micks who insist on strapping their proper dlsr lenses on to tiny Ricoh backs. Obviously keeping a steady course and churning out lots more dslrs in the process.
However if the Ricoh idea kicks off then they might phase out the mirror box more gracefully.
Sort of make some money but not too much risk stuff.
Meanwhile most with dslr capable lenses would keep their dslr for serious work and have a good play with a Ricoh back. Win - win for everyone.
Ricoh sells heaps of backs, the price comes right down, Ricoh sells more backs, more manufacturers make their own lens mount cartridge modules to fit the Ricoh back ... there are Ricoh backs everywhere - variations proliferate ...
If a Canon EOS mount were to surface I would have one like a shot. Not about to abandon my dslr gear but there are occassions when any reduction in size/weight would be welcome.
It might just catch on - however if the other guys stuck in the mud then what we now see is likely to be what we will always see - a great idea - a great little niche product. Needs one manufacturer to break ranks and give it a go - Pentax? Even Sigma would not be giving anything away to make their own Foveon chipped lens-mount cartridge. This gives a wealth of lens possibilities to the idea and variety is the spice of life.
...and the fourth way? Printer and other non camera accessories - hmmm not so interesting to me but handy if you were travelling ...
--
Tom Caldwell
