Demise of the Ricoh GXR

[Carduelis]

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Just read the other day in Amateur Photographer that Ricoh has recently ceased producing the Ricoh GXR. I feel this is a shame because I really liked the concept of the Ricoh modular approach and enjoyed using the A12 Leica M mount on it and discovering Leica M mount lenses. In fact I have the Ricoh GXR to thank for introducing me to the wonderful world of Leica optics and eventually discovering this Forum which I think is excellent. I was hoping for an improved cropped 1.5 sensor or better still a full frame mount for use with Leica M lenses, however it was not to be. Although I have a Leica M240 camera, I will still continue to use the Ricoh with A12 Leica mount as a light weight backup and to offer me extended telephoto capability via the 1.5 cropped sensor.

 

Three stand out lenses on the Ricoh GXR in my opinion are:

 

CV 15 mm f4.5 which offers a sharp wide angle lens (effective focal length 22.5 mm) without any artefacts.

 

Leica Elmar 24 mm f3.8 (effective focal length 36 mm) which is very sharp corner to corner with very little distortion.

 

Leica Tele Elmarit 90 mm (thin) which offers an effective focal length of 135 mm which in the absence of AF and image stabilisation is reasonably controllable and produces sharp images.

[algrove]

I remember asking at the Ricoh booth at Photokina in September of 2012 if and when they were going to release an A16. They only said we hope so too.

 

Even though very good they really needed an A16-22 or better module to keep up with sensor developments.

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[sfage]

I just picked one up. I have the M mount and the VF is on the way, I've heard the 28 and 50 are the best lensors so think I'll pick those up.

 

I really wish they'd release a 35mm FF for those of us that still like the machine.

[Carduelis]

I just picked one up. I have the M mount and the VF is on the way, I've heard the 28 and 50 are the best lensors so think I'll pick those up.

 

I really wish they'd release a 35mm FF for those of us that still like the machine.

 

I think a 28 mm lens such as the ASPH Elmarit f2.8 could provide a useful light weight intermediate 42 mm lens if you are keeping lenses to a minimum and can't decide between an effective 35 or 50 mm lens.

 

I am afraid the FF module seems out of the question now.

 

Think I will keep an eye out for any GXR equipment going cheap such as spare batteries, an additional GXR body / Leica A12 mount.

[sfage]

I'm going to get an R to M adapter. I have a 28mm Elmarit.

[algrove]

Just noticed I have a brand new BJ-9 battery charger. Anyone want one?

[sfage]

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The more I use this camera, the more I like it.

[lct]

I was tempted by it as well. The forthcoming Leica EVIL will be a GXR on steroids hopefully.

[sfage]

1961 Elmarit 90

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[Stealth3kpl]

I bought 4 Leica mount modules a few months ago. I think it's the perfect travel system, and great for bad weather when you need to change lenses. It's very light weight and delivers excellent image quality. A full frame version with similar dimensions would've made quite an impact I'm sure.

Ricoh GXR M - a set on Flickr

 

Pete

[Carduelis]

I bought 4 Leica mount modules a few months ago. I think it's the perfect travel system, and great for bad weather when you need to change lenses. It's very light weight and delivers excellent image quality. A full frame version with similar dimensions would've made quite an impact I'm sure.

Ricoh GXR M - a set on Flickr

 

Pete

 

I fully agree with your comments, What Leica M lenses do you often use with the modules?

 

Just bought a Leki walking pole with a removable hard plastic head that has been designed for photographers to use as a monopod. Works a treat with the light weight Ricoh GXR system.

[Stealth3kpl]

I fully agree with your comments, What Leica M lenses do you often use with the modules?

Well, I've only taken it on one trip (trekking in the Canadian Rockies) and I used a Voigt 15mm/4.5, a Voigt 25/4 colour skopar, and a Summicron 50mm. You can imagine what a lightweight compact kit that was! Infact, so light and compact, I thought I may as well take two "bodies". I was surprised how much I enjoyed using it.

As a walk around, one-lens option, I have a 24mm/2.8 Elmarit which becomes a 35/2.8 equivalent.

2 lens option, the elmarit and the 50 summicron (35/75 equiv).

The joy of the GXR is that there are lots of cheap adaptors avaliable for most manufacturers lenses. Because the GXR is cheap, you don't feel too anal about sticking any old adaptor and lens on it. I have a Nikon 50mm/1.2 which gives interesting results.

Because the system is so compact, I intend to shoot film with my Film Ms on holidays, but, when conditions dictate (eg, indoors, low light or simply the need to travel light) have the GXR available.

Pete

[sfage]

I'm just waiting on the VF. It should be here any day. I find that I cannot connect with the machine using the screen.

[sfage]

Bought the Leica R to M mount adapter. Expensive but works Beautifully.

[Archiver]

I bought one of the first GXR-M modules to arrive in Australia, and I've loved it ever since. I found myself shooting with it more than the M9, due to the smaller form factor, more quiet shutter, and less worry about losing several thousand dollars worth of equipment. The image quality is not as far from the M9 as you might think, due to the excellent Sony 16mp sensor with no AA filter. And it even has a totally silent electronic shutter, a feature that very few cameras have.

 

I use the Voigtlander 15/4.5, 35/1.4, Leica Elmarit 28/2.8 and Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 on the GXR. This provides the equivalent of 22.5mm, 42mm, 50mm and 75mm.

 

The Sonnar is utterly gorgeous on the GXR, producing luscious bokeh and uniquely dreamy rendering. I like 28mm lenses on the GXR as they become like 42mm, which is a nice focal length for general shooting. The 15/4.5 on the GXR turns it into a hyperfocal snapshot machine, able to grab almost anything from 2m to infinity at f4.5.

[gyoung]

Surely its 12mp not 16?

I liked it generally when I tried it except for the evf.

 

Gerry

 

 

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[luigi bertolotti]

That's a pity... it seems to me that Ricoh is in a uncomfortable market / brand position : isn't a superestablished name like Nikon / Canon / Olympus / Fuji, isn't a highly recognized consumer brand like Sony and Panasonic.... also in the photo world only, I think that a name like Sigma is someway better identified, for their track record on lenses; Ricoh made a remarkable effort with the GXR concept which probably hasn't been sufficiently prized by the market, and probably our Leica community is a good example of this partial appreciation : we aren't thousands and thousands of people... many of us (me included) showed interest when they announced the M module... but what share of us DID buy it ? Probably the global sales figures were unsatisfactory, at the end.... and it has been available just in the period in which Leica started to spread the FF line...

Edited March 5, 2014 by luigi bertolotti

[gyoung]

I was very dissapointed with the EVF, good enough for focusing but as a general viewfinder it was small, and suffered from the problems of the early EVFs such as lag etc. It was significantly worse than then Panasonic G1 I had at the time.

I would have been prepared to use it just for focusing if there had been a shoe available for an optical finder, but there wasn't when the EVF was in place.

The image quality looked very good, but I could'nt get on with the user experience.

 

Gerry

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[jankap]

I use the Hoodman lens fixed mounted on the display instead of the EVF. It is a somewhat large construction, but works as an excellent viewfinder. I often become jealous comments from arm length shooters.

 

A forum member here has bought an M-mount for each of his lenses, following the lensor principle. An excellent idea.

Jan