Ricoh GX100

HughConacher · #1 06-07-2007, 02:52 PM

Has anyone tried the new Ricoh GX100, yet??

I'm thinking of this as a take-everywhere. It seems to be getting some good comments out there in web-land and I'm wondering what the pros may think about it.

Cheers,
Hugh

HughConacher · #2 06-16-2007, 10:07 PM

No one tried one??

Matt_Sachs · #3 07-31-2007, 01:18 PM

I just received one yesterday, so you must take these as first impressions, I love the 24mm equivalent (and having a “24-70” in such a small package is awesome). The low ISO images work (it is the case that 1DM2 images with its sensor and L glass look better, no surprise, will have to learn to deal with it, but I also wanted a full-time carry camera) and while I haven’t been able to make the camera totally silent, it is very quiet with the volume at 0 (I think it’s a quieter "exposure acquisition" than a Leica M7 I sold when I moved to the 1DM2). The controls are quite usable - particularly the adjustments for exposure compensation and such can be made relatively quickly with dial and programmable adjustment lever (these can be made with eye at viewfinder). I have a Canon Pro1 which I now very rarely use, and it is no contest, I am quicker with the GX100 camera on day 1 than I ever was with the Pro1 (I think of that camera having that name as an oxymoron). So, coming from shooting with a 1DM2, what to contrast? Setting focus to center spot seems to work well; the multifocus points are not my cup of tea, while I may not fully grasp how to use them, the camera and I seem to have different ideas about what’s important; focus slower than with DSLR, but not awfully slow (there’s a claim that focusing in snap mode is really fast though I haven’t tried that mode, it may be a mid-distance prefocus). RAW reads are slow, but that comes with the territory. The lack of flash exposure compensation may be somewhat overcome by adjusting normal exposure compensation, but how this will work in complex light (e.g., window backlight) I haven't fully explored, and it’s a kludge (I knew pre-purchase this might annoy me). There is no shutter priority mode, and aperture priority doesn't give access to the highest shutter speeds (I think it was topping out at 1/760, don't recollect the exact number). In very bright light, this may be an issue for using aperture priority mode. The program mode looks promising – haven’t explored it thoroughly yet, it is a program-shift mode that allows changing aperture/shutter values quickly with dial (keeping whatever exposure compensation chosen). The VF1 viewfinder works ok, and it’s nice to have a viewfinder option that doubles as a right-angle finder; you have to have your eye close to it, it’s not a sportfinder.

Matt_Sachs · #4 08-07-2007, 12:06 PM

Dpreview has reviewed the GX100: Ricoh Caplio GX100 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

MichaelMoenning · #5 08-16-2007, 12:57 AM

I have the GR-D and I would say the only thing I long for is a zoom. So, from my experiences with the GR-D the GX100 looks like a winner. Make no mistake, this is a P&S that is designed to be used on sunny days with no need to "stop action." So, if your needing the perfect vacation post card camera these Ricoh cameras are great, as they are one of the very few cameras to provide the ability to capture a raw DNG file.

I am regularly amazed by the results on the GR-D and will inevitably find a way to rationalize purchasing it's zoomable brother the GX100.

If you want a P&S that a lot of DSLR features check out the Ricoh GR-D or GX100.

Mike