Samuel L. Streetlife New Vid: RICOH GRIII - MY SETTINGS & Beginner's Guide!

[JacobTheNewb]

Hey,

Awesome overview of the camera and a guide on settings.

Just Posted! (Note i'm not affiliated in any way!)



Or Link:

 

[Mark_A_B]

Thanks very much for the heads-up on this new video by Samuel. Through my own trial and error, as well as reading the manual, I was able to derive most (though not all) of the info on my own, but he presents it well (as usual), and it's worth watching. So thank you.

Some of my user settings differ, so I plan on trying out his to see how I like them, chiefly setting the back "Fn" button to focus, with the top "focus" button set to AE lock, with full snap enabled. I'm still not sure I much like focusing with my thumb on the back "Fn" button; index finger on the top "Focus" button feels more natural. But that setup gives you some interesting control of the camera.

Happy shooting.

Regards,

-Mark

 

[JacobTheNewb]

I am super excited to try out his film simulation settings and see how they compare to the defaults

 

[Mark_A_B]

Yes, I ponied up the 18 Euros for his film simulation presets and have been playing around a little bit with them. I'm finding the "Positive Color 01" to be almost too cool, however. Regardless, it's nice to have some choices in Lightroom for processing GR DNG files

Best,

-Mark

 

[JacobTheNewb]

Oh no I meant the in camera ones Maybe the in camera ones are supposed to be combined with the lightroom ones?

 

[jsla]

Some of my user settings differ, so I plan on trying out his to see how I like them, chiefly setting the back "Fn" button to focus, with the top "focus" button set to AE lock, with full snap enabled. I'm still not sure I much like focusing with my thumb on the back "Fn" button; index finger on the top "Focus" button feels more natural. But that setup gives you some interesting control of the camera.

I'd really would like to know how this works. The way I see it, you can either have full press snap (FPS) or back button focus (BBF), but not both, since they go against each other. With BBF, pressing shutter button fully should always just take photo at current focus distance, almost by definition. With FPS, quickly pressing shutter fully should take photo at snap focus distance, by definition. They're kind of in direct contradiction.

 

[Mark_A_B]

Hi Jacob -

Sorry, my misunderstanding, ha! No, the Lightroom presets are used separately for processing DNG files out of camera (that is, exported) and I believe approximate what Samuel thinks are Ricoh's in-camera positive film simulation.

I believe the in-camera simulations can only be used on JPEG files; or, perhaps you can apply them with in-camera raw "development" (not sure - can someone confirm?). But once you export the DNG files you're on your own in terms of processing. Thus my interest in Samuel's presets.

Regards,

-Mark

 

[Mark_A_B]

Some of my user settings differ, so I plan on trying out his to see how I like them, chiefly setting the back "Fn" button to focus, with the top "focus" button set to AE lock, with full snap enabled. I'm still not sure I much like focusing with my thumb on the back "Fn" button; index finger on the top "Focus" button feels more natural. But that setup gives you some interesting control of the camera.

I'd really would like to know how this works. The way I see it, you can either have full press snap (FPS) or back button focus (BBF), but not both, since they go against each other. With BBF, pressing shutter button fully should always just take photo at current focus distance, almost by definition. With FPS, quickly pressing shutter fully should take photo at snap focus distance, by definition. They're kind of in direct contradiction.

Hi jsla -

Thanks for that comment, which I had not fully thought through: you are right, I don't see how you can have both! I will play around a little to see if I can figure it out. I typically do not use back-button focus, preferring to half-press the shutter button to obtain focus, then typically recomposing.

When I shoot Street, I have a USR1 setting with focus set to Snap, with focus distance of 1.5M, and aperture set to F8. That usually gives me an acceptable range of focus. I used to do zone focusing on my manual cameras, so I love how the GR achieves this.

Thus I don't really use full-press snap, so have not had experience with how it interacts, or interoperates, with the other settings. Your point is quite striking.

Regards,

-Mark

 

[Retzius]

Some of my user settings differ, so I plan on trying out his to see how I like them, chiefly setting the back "Fn" button to focus, with the top "focus" button set to AE lock, with full snap enabled. I'm still not sure I much like focusing with my thumb on the back "Fn" button; index finger on the top "Focus" button feels more natural. But that setup gives you some interesting control of the camera.

I'd really would like to know how this works. The way I see it, you can either have full press snap (FPS) or back button focus (BBF), but not both, since they go against each other. With BBF, pressing shutter button fully should always just take photo at current focus distance, almost by definition. With FPS, quickly pressing shutter fully should take photo at snap focus distance, by definition. They're kind of in direct contradiction.

Using the Fn button to focus provides the focus distance so it is an easy way to see if your intended subject falls within the dof range you have set with snap focus. The two work together nicely but you must use it with full press snap only. if you change to snap focus mode then the ability to back button focus, along with the distance scale, disappears unfortunately.

 

[jsla]

Some of my user settings differ, so I plan on trying out his to see how I like them, chiefly setting the back "Fn" button to focus, with the top "focus" button set to AE lock, with full snap enabled. I'm still not sure I much like focusing with my thumb on the back "Fn" button; index finger on the top "Focus" button feels more natural. But that setup gives you some interesting control of the camera.

I'd really would like to know how this works. The way I see it, you can either have full press snap (FPS) or back button focus (BBF), but not both, since they go against each other. With BBF, pressing shutter button fully should always just take photo at current focus distance, almost by definition. With FPS, quickly pressing shutter fully should take photo at snap focus distance, by definition. They're kind of in direct contradiction.

Hi jsla -

Thanks for that comment, which I had not fully thought through: you are right, I don't see how you can have both! I will play around a little to see if I can figure it out. I typically do not use back-button focus, preferring to half-press the shutter button to obtain focus, then typically recomposing.

I posted question on the video, maybe Samuel will clarify this for us.

When I shoot Street, I have a USR1 setting with focus set to Snap, with focus distance of 1.5M, and aperture set to F8. That usually gives me an acceptable range of focus. I used to do zone focusing on my manual cameras, so I love how the GR achieves this.

Yes. If you know you're going to be using mostly snap focus, it makes lot of sense to be in the dedicated snap focus mode. I have user mode similar to yours and use it regularly. While FPS is great, it still introduces very slight delay, because the lens is typically not pre-focused to your snap focus distance. So it still needs to move when you press the shutter fully, although it's extremely quick. Snap Focus keeps your lens already focused at the preset distance, so pressing shutter really just needs to take a picture.

Thus I don't really use full-press snap, so have not had experience with how it interacts, or interoperates, with the other settings. Your point is quite striking.

I like FPS for situations where I am mostly using AF, but occasionally I am not. But I also like the ability to disengage the focus from shutter button quickly when the camera is already focused at the required distance. So I am playing with different settings to see which works the best, but generally all of these require extra button.

Favorite settings I've tried:

1. Shutter button to AF+AE lock, Fn button to Enable AF, Drive button to ->MF, Fn button focus setting to Select AF. FPS On. This gives me the ability to quickly turn on/off AF by pressing drive button (plus I get distance scale), quickly access snap focus via FPS if I am in AF mode, and quick access to Select AF mode in all circumstances by pressing Fn button.
2. Shutter button to AE lock only, Fn button to Enable AF, Drive button to ->Snap, Fn button focus setting to Same as Shutter. This is typical BBAF setup. Fn button serves as your only AF activator. If I quickly need Snap, and because FPS doesn't work with BBAF, I press Drive to go to Snap mode, take a picture, press it again to go to my last focus mode. This is solid choice for BBAF lovers.

 

[jsla]

Some of my user settings differ, so I plan on trying out his to see how I like them, chiefly setting the back "Fn" button to focus, with the top "focus" button set to AE lock, with full snap enabled. I'm still not sure I much like focusing with my thumb on the back "Fn" button; index finger on the top "Focus" button feels more natural. But that setup gives you some interesting control of the camera.

I'd really would like to know how this works. The way I see it, you can either have full press snap (FPS) or back button focus (BBF), but not both, since they go against each other. With BBF, pressing shutter button fully should always just take photo at current focus distance, almost by definition. With FPS, quickly pressing shutter fully should take photo at snap focus distance, by definition. They're kind of in direct contradiction.

Using the Fn button to focus provides the focus distance so it is an easy way to see if your intended subject falls within the dof range you have set with snap focus.

Yes. This is one thing I love about using Fn button to focus. You'll get distance scale every time you press it.

The two work together nicely but you must use it with full press snap only.

Not sure if I understand correctly. Yes, you can use Fn button to focus while still keeping shutter button set to AF+AE lock (default). And at that configuration, you also have FPS available. But that is not true back button auto focus in a way Samuel describes, where pressing shutter simply locks your exposure. If you just press the shutter button half way, without pressing Fn first, it will still autofocus. Not only lock exposure. And if you change that behavior by setting Shutter to AE lock only, FPS ability seems gone as well.

if you change to snap focus mode then the ability to back button focus, along with the distance scale, disappears unfortunately.

No. The setting that Samuel glosses over in the video, C2 menu/Fn button setting/Focus setting controls this behavior. It defaults to Same as Shutter, which means that if you change your focus mode for the shutter button, it will also change it for Fn button as you describe. But I have mine set to Select AF, which means that Fn button will always engage Select AF. It does this in manual focus mode, in Snap Focus mode, whatever. You could also use touch screen to similar effect, but that's not always efficient.

It's a bit funny in Snap Focus, because pressing Fn will engage AF and if you let go of Fn, it will immediately revert back to snap focus distance, but that's kind of what you'd expect.

 

[ekah2722]

Some of my user settings differ, so I plan on trying out his to see how I like them, chiefly setting the back "Fn" button to focus, with the top "focus" button set to AE lock, with full snap enabled. I'm still not sure I much like focusing with my thumb on the back "Fn" button; index finger on the top "Focus" button feels more natural. But that setup gives you some interesting control of the camera.

I'd really would like to know how this works. The way I see it, you can either have full press snap (FPS) or back button focus (BBF), but not both, since they go against each other. With BBF, pressing shutter button fully should always just take photo at current focus distance, almost by definition. With FPS, quickly pressing shutter fully should take photo at snap focus distance, by definition. They're kind of in direct contradiction.

With BBF pressed, BBF overrides FPS when the shutter button is pressed even if the shutter is set to AF+AE lock. With BBF not pressed, FPS then works when the shutter is set to AF+AE lock.

Eric

 

[jsla]

Some of my user settings differ, so I plan on trying out his to see how I like them, chiefly setting the back "Fn" button to focus, with the top "focus" button set to AE lock, with full snap enabled. I'm still not sure I much like focusing with my thumb on the back "Fn" button; index finger on the top "Focus" button feels more natural. But that setup gives you some interesting control of the camera.

I'd really would like to know how this works. The way I see it, you can either have full press snap (FPS) or back button focus (BBF), but not both, since they go against each other. With BBF, pressing shutter button fully should always just take photo at current focus distance, almost by definition. With FPS, quickly pressing shutter fully should take photo at snap focus distance, by definition. They're kind of in direct contradiction.

With BBF pressed, BBF overrides FPS when the shutter button is pressed even if the shutter is set to AF+AE lock.

Yes. I also noticed that the override holds as long as you keep the Fn (BBF as you call it) pressed, even if you take photos in between. So you can focus once, and then keep the focus lock over multiple pictures as long as you keep the button pressed.

My definition of BBF in the above was BBF only. If you read articles about BBF (or BBAF), then the main point is disengaging AF from shutter so the camera doesn't decide when to focus, you do. But yes, the terms are confusing.

With BBF not pressed, FPS then works when the shutter is set to AF+AE lock.

That's my experience. So you cannot have FPS if your shutter button is set to AE lock only.

It's the same with manual focus. If your camera is in manual focus, or focus at infinity, or any other non-AF focus mode, FPS doesn't work. So my conclusion is that for FPS to work, you have to have the camera set in the way that half-press of shutter button activates AF.

I

 

[ekah2722]

With BBF pressed, BBF overrides FPS when the shutter button is pressed even if the shutter is set to AF+AE lock.

Yes. I also noticed that the override holds as long as you keep the Fn (BBF as you call it) pressed, even if you take photos in between. So you can focus once, and then keep the focus lock over multiple pictures as long as you keep the button pressed.

My definition of BBF in the above was BBF only. If you read articles about BBF (or BBAF), then the main point is disengaging AF from shutter so the camera doesn't decide when to focus, you do. But yes, the terms are confusing.

With BBF not pressed, FPS then works when the shutter is set to AF+AE lock.

That's my experience. So you cannot have FPS if your shutter button is set to AE lock only.

It's the same with manual focus. If your camera is in manual focus, or focus at infinity, or any other non-AF focus mode, FPS doesn't work. So my conclusion is that for FPS to work, you have to have the camera set in the way that half-press of shutter button activates AF.

Indeed, that's exactly my experience too from trying out my GR III that arrived a few days ago.

I never used BBF and never had any GR before. In the beginning I was fascinated with FPS as well as BBF on GR III, but now I'll probably abandon them. I don't like keeping the Fn button pressed, but then there would be no FPS with the shutter set to AE lock only.

My planned setting for now is: The default focus mode is Select AF. And re-assign Fn, ISO, and Drive to Snap, Snap distance, and Tracking AF, respectively. This way changing mode from AF to Snap only takes a click on Fn. Adjusting Snap distance, if necessary, should be also quick. I'll see if this really works for me in the next couple weeks when I am in the street.

Eric

 

[jsla]

With BBF pressed, BBF overrides FPS when the shutter button is pressed even if the shutter is set to AF+AE lock.

Yes. I also noticed that the override holds as long as you keep the Fn (BBF as you call it) pressed, even if you take photos in between. So you can focus once, and then keep the focus lock over multiple pictures as long as you keep the button pressed.

My definition of BBF in the above was BBF only. If you read articles about BBF (or BBAF), then the main point is disengaging AF from shutter so the camera doesn't decide when to focus, you do. But yes, the terms are confusing.

With BBF not pressed, FPS then works when the shutter is set to AF+AE lock.

That's my experience. So you cannot have FPS if your shutter button is set to AE lock only.

It's the same with manual focus. If your camera is in manual focus, or focus at infinity, or any other non-AF focus mode, FPS doesn't work. So my conclusion is that for FPS to work, you have to have the camera set in the way that half-press of shutter button activates AF.

Indeed, that's exactly my experience too from trying out my GR III that arrived a few days ago.

I never used BBF and never had any GR before. In the beginning I was fascinated with FPS as well as BBF on GR III, but now I'll probably abandon them. I don't like keeping the Fn button pressed, but then there would be no FPS with the shutter set to AE lock only.

My planned setting for now is: The default focus mode is Select AF. And re-assign Fn, ISO, and Drive to Snap, Snap distance, and Tracking AF, respectively. This way changing mode from AF to Snap only takes a click on Fn. Adjusting Snap distance, if necessary, should be also quick. I'll see if this really works for me in the next couple weeks when I am in the street.

You know you can set Fn button so that it performs different type of focus than shutter half press? I have mine set to always do Select AF. So regardless of what focus mode I am in, I can always press Fn and get Select AF. I also have my drive remapped to MF. So if I want to disengage AF from Shutter, I press drive and get distance scale as a bonus. I can still do Select AF via Fn button, let go of it and stay in manual focus. If I need snap quickly, press drive again to go back to AF mode and full press snap works. Snap distance can always be changed by holding macro button and turning the front dial.

But the beauty of this camera is you can set it the way you like. So don't let anybody else tell you what's best. ;-)

 

[ekah2722]

Indeed, that's exactly my experience too from trying out my GR III that arrived a few days ago.

I never used BBF and never had any GR before. In the beginning I was fascinated with FPS as well as BBF on GR III, but now I'll probably abandon them. I don't like keeping the Fn button pressed, but then there would be no FPS with the shutter set to AE lock only.

My planned setting for now is: The default focus mode is Select AF. And re-assign Fn, ISO, and Drive to Snap, Snap distance, and Tracking AF, respectively. This way changing mode from AF to Snap only takes a click on Fn. Adjusting Snap distance, if necessary, should be also quick. I'll see if this really works for me in the next couple weeks when I am in the street.

You know you can set Fn button so that it performs different type of focus than shutter half press? I have mine set to always do Select AF. So regardless of what focus mode I am in, I can always press Fn and get Select AF. I also have my drive remapped to MF. So if I want to disengage AF from Shutter, I press drive and get distance scale as a bonus. I can still do Select AF via Fn button, let go of it and stay in manual focus. If I need snap quickly, press drive again to go back to AF mode and full press snap works. Snap distance can always be changed by holding macro button and turning the front dial.

But the beauty of this camera is you can set it the way you like. So don't let anybody else tell you what's best. ;-)

I'll try more, including those you mentioned, to see what is the best setting for me. Thanks a lot for the info.

Eric

 

[Mark_A_B]

Eric, jsla -

Thanks for the ongoing dialogue on the nuances of this functionality! I was away over the weekend, so am just catching on this thread. I appreciate all the thoughtful replies, and look forward to experimenting!

Best,

-Mark

 

[jsla]

Some of my user settings differ, so I plan on trying out his to see how I like them, chiefly setting the back "Fn" button to focus, with the top "focus" button set to AE lock, with full snap enabled. I'm still not sure I much like focusing with my thumb on the back "Fn" button; index finger on the top "Focus" button feels more natural. But that setup gives you some interesting control of the camera.

I'd really would like to know how this works. The way I see it, you can either have full press snap (FPS) or back button focus (BBF), but not both, since they go against each other. With BBF, pressing shutter button fully should always just take photo at current focus distance, almost by definition. With FPS, quickly pressing shutter fully should take photo at snap focus distance, by definition. They're kind of in direct contradiction.

Hi jsla -

Thanks for that comment, which I had not fully thought through: you are right, I don't see how you can have both! I will play around a little to see if I can figure it out. I typically do not use back-button focus, preferring to half-press the shutter button to obtain focus, then typically recomposing.

I posted question on the video, maybe Samuel will clarify this for us.

Just a follow up, Samuel answered my question on youtube:

The thing is the snap focus doesn't work anymore when you set your shutter to AE lock. It is really frustrating to me as well. That's why I had to set up my user mode 2 for snap focus so I can switch between back button focusing and snap focus. I hope Ricoh will fix this in the future.

So I don't think you can have FPS and back button focus at the same time, at least with current firmware.