Is there a consensus building on the GXR?

[Andrewteee]

Is it heading in the very positive, positive, perhaps negative direction? In particular with the A12 lens unit. If it was not so expensive I'd bite without question, but at that price I'll wait and see where the real-world impressions lie. I've also been smitten with my E-P2. I love my GRD3, but for larger sensors I may choose to stick to one camera. It depends...

 

[mitchall]

I'd be wary in assuming that there is a consensus, as it is early days and few people that post here have the camera; and even fewer, including myself, have enough experience or skill in using it to reach a meaningful conclusion. If you thought you discerned a consensus in the GXR threads here, it would be meaningless and possibly wrong.

Actually, your question doesn't even specify whether you are referring to the A12 or the S10, which are two very different cameras, and therefore doesn't make sense to me.

—Mitch/Paknampran
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malland/sets/72157623125199790/show/

 

[Harold66]

Hello Mitch

How are you ?
best wishes for 2010

I am curious about something you wrote. I would assume that with your experience in handling the GRD , the learning curve of the GXR with the A12 would be minimal

After all , it is one of the selling points of the camera . To allow a camera with a larger sensor for existing users of the GRD/GX or am I missing something ?
Harold
--
http://www.harold-glit.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/haroldglit

 

[mitchall]

Harold:

Yes, the controls are almost identical except for the possibility of manually focusing the the A12 by turning the lens. However, the while the GRD3, and the S10, can be focused very approximately, the A12, with its large sensor and 33mm lens, has much shallower depth of field; and therefore must be focused much more precisely: this represents a completely different way of working.

—Mitch/Paknampran
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malland/sets/72157623125199790/show/

 

[Andrewteee]

I did specifically mention the A12. And no, I have not discerned any consensus yet, here or anywhere, and realize that there won't be one just yet. But, having been out in the field for a few weeks now (though limited) I was curious to learn if any consensus was building . Not final by any means, but moving in a certain direction, realizing the compass could possibly be all over the map.

The only summary I can gather is that the GXR/A12 is a very good camera, but people seem somewhat ambivalent about it or aren't getting too excited about the results.

 

[TMacaw]

.... as a 'standalone' 50mm Macro f2.5 cam given its apprx US$1,400. ($1,600. w/VF) cost and larger-than-pocket-cam profile?
I welcomed this post given it is a bit early in the GXR intro period.

It may be tough to get responses which can separate the strong FUTURE benefits (new modules) and just compare to other comparable cams in the 'less-than $2.000' class.

Mitch's (and others) mention of M8 _ 9 has value, but the cost is really not a possibility for many who are now trying to sort A12 versus other options.

Tom B

 

[ddk]

Mitch is correct, its going to be a while for any meaningful consensus. I think that one system photographers with the GXR as their main would reach their conclusions faster than those of us with multiple systems and established shooting habits and workflow.

Speaking for myself, almost all of my serious personal work is shot with a Contax 645 with a digital back and a Fuji S. I need time to see how the GXR will work out in this context, but I have my doubts here when the D3 didn't do it for me.

For the rest of my casual work I use the GRD (now v.3), this is where I'm trying to fit the GXR first. Its going to be tough since there's very little that I don't like about the GRD3 and in many ways its been my ideal pocket camera several years, we'll see. Hope to start posting some samples soon...
--
david
http://www.pbase.com/ddk

 

[Najinsky]

Even Ricoh's own production runs (5000 units a months) shows what Ricoh expect in terms of a market for this system.

This is a system that people will choose to want.

For example, people who go into a regular camera shop and ask for advice on which camera to buy, I suspect will rarely be advised to to buy GRX.

And I doubt Kevin Spacey will be employed to help a nostalgic, feeling based kind of thing.

However, I do expect GRX to win numerous awards and accolades from the enthusiasts centred organisations, and I do expect people like me, wanting something different and amazing will be encouraged to seek it out via whatever channels they manage to discover it through. The samples I have seen from the A12 are truly special, and I am intrigued to see what a site like DPR will conclude in their reviews.

-Najinsky

 

[Andrewteee]

That's where I am - a Ricoh enthusiast with a deep respect for my GRDs. I do want the GXR/A12 but I'm being prudent for the moment and taking a wait and see approach, only my curiosity is getting the best of me.

 

[Franka T.L.]

Well the GXR especially the A12 is perhaps more an old school fixed lens compact idea ( say that of the 60's like the famous Werra, or Canonet )

Price can be a hurdle, but I can see it dropping in coming months. What matters though is how Ricoh are going to go about it. Personally among the true large sensor compacts. Only the GXR offer a decent standard lens ( I say the M4/3 with the Panasonic 20mm might qualify if they do not cheat on the lens with required soft correction )

I do not consider these pocketables, just compact, & the GXR is compact enough

--

• Franka -

 

[JJJRRR768]

Interesting...my daughter played with the A12 yesterday, not downloaded yet, but she has an eye that I wish I had. She did some portraits, black and white jpegs of me that I will post when I am home in two weeks..... She really got, from the LCD some good stuff. I think we get too critical of what we are using, me included. The A12 was the furthest module from my mind yet i have it left on the camera (well right now I have the S10 on there as we drive cross country. I will go to my old grad school and take a few pictures to see the changes and capture the beauty that I remember...stone buildings against a wonderful setting in St Louis, then off west to KC and then through the rest of KS to Boulder CO where I hope to get a couple of days of picture taking, then San Diego where I hope to get one 1/2 day.......I will have to get better with MF as it is a great took with the A12, but the S10 is no slouch, just a GX300 in drag.

 

[Stephen Kovac Jr]

I am beginning to see more people saying that really like the GXR after holding it in their hands and using it for a while. I hear that they are saying that the GXR feels very conformable in their hands than they had though. It look as the Ricoh GXR is the type of camera that once you have use it, you are hook and most likely to buy one. That is what I am beginning to understand reading the comments on the GXR on this forum.

 

[rondom]

convincing ricoh fans won't be difficult for sure, but I doubt it will have any impact beyond ricoh people. things may change if they somehow decide to introduce a larger selection of modules, or at least talk about their future plans. I for one am not interested the gx200 on steroids or a "normal" lens.

 

[marquisbob]

This is in the form of a comment.

Ricoh is not taking the time to refine new product offerings. This is clearly the case with the new GXR series as well as the GRDIII. See comments by users and the ongoing comparison of the GRD1,2 and 3 in Ricoh GR Diary.

Unlike Apple, as an example, Ricoh brings to market product that does not deliver on it's potential.

The lost opportunity, for market share and an enhanced consumer imaging experience
is significant.

Bob Troiano

 

[Harold66]

This is in the form of a comment.

Ricoh is not taking the time to refine new product offerings. This is clearly the case with the new GXR series as well as the GRDIII. See comments by users and the ongoing comparison of the GRD1,2 and 3 in Ricoh GR Diary.

Hello Bob

I am not sure what allows you to make such a statement. The other comment on the GRD3 versus its predecessors, I simply do not get

While everyone is welcome to express his or her opinion , it would be better to have some "general statements " backed up if not by verifiable facts , at least by argumented and specific points

I have spent the last week reading about the whining of the supposed slow AF of the GXR with A12 but NOT ONE giving us detailed facts of how much longer is the AF on the Ricoh versus similar cameras ( like the Ep1 and GF1 ) in different situations , also with the success rate ...

really disappointing that so many "articles" previews contains so little ACTUAL data
(
Harold

--
http://www.harold-glit.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/haroldglit

 

[mitchall]

Ricoh is not taking the time to refine new product offerings. This is clearly the case with the new GXR series as well as the GRDIII.

In my view this is not the case at all: the GRD3 is a major step forward from earlier versions and the GXR with A12 module is an excellent camera. In addition, Ricoh has an excellent record on adding features as they become available through free firmware upgrades.

—Mitch/Paknampran
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malland/sets/72157623125199790/show/

 

[mitchall]

...I have spent the last week reading about the whining of the supposed slow AF of the GXR with A12 but NOT ONE giving us detailed facts of how much longer is the AF on the Ricoh versus similar cameras ( like the Ep1 and GF1 ) in different situations , also with the success rate ...

really disappointing that so many "articles" previews contains so little ACTUAL data

Harold, I wouldn't give much credence to the views of Mac Welt, the German version of Mac World, on any camera.

—Mitch/Paknampran
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malland/sets/72157623125199790/show/

 

[JJJRRR768]

This is in the form of a comment.

Ricoh is not taking the time to refine new product offerings. This is clearly the case with the new GXR series as well as the GRDIII. See comments by users and the ongoing comparison of the GRD1,2 and 3 in Ricoh GR Diary.

Unlike Apple, as an example, Ricoh brings to market product that does not deliver on it's potential.

The lost opportunity, for market share and an enhanced consumer imaging experience
is significant.

Bob Troiano

How do you know this?

 

[JJJRRR768]

Harold, the AF is fast enough for me.......

 

[Harold66]

Hello Mitch

Thanks for the message. yes , I am not putting any stock too much weight on mac welt review

I guess I was making a comment on other so-called previews on photographer's sites

Guess will have to make my own opinion and wait for Sean reid's review on that camera

Mitch , I have a question. Once you use the GXR in manual focus. if turned off and back on , does it go back to the last focus distance set on the camera ??
Harold
--
http://www.harold-glit.com
http://www.modelmayhem.com/haroldglit