Vintage Digital, AKA I Am A Sucker For An Odd Duck: The Ricoh GXR + 28mm f/2.5… Module.

This may contradict a recent post… I think. But does it? Because I want to write it… so it kind of does not contradict it since I no longer need to seek validation, internal or otherwise… I say it keeps the spirit of not overthinking my overthinking… or is this overthinking my overthinking?…

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As mentioned in that post it is precisely how I ended up here… Eesh. Anyhoo. This is my lot in life it seems. I wanted to write this so here we go.

There are a few times in photography gear history where I wonder,

“What were the engineers and bean counters on to think of such a thing and then actually green light it?”

Then I usually buy it. Looking at you Konica AiBORG…

…,Canon T80…

…, and SIGMA Foveon twins.

Somewhere at some point I imagine someone in RICOH Engineering mumbling under their breath,

“Ergonomics and looks only a mother could love with an insane list of “Just why?” features, a clumsy first try one and done AF system, and ergonomics not seemingly made for human hands and a layered sensor that seems not quite ready for prime time? Pfft. Hold my Red Bull.”

And following that line of thinking, that I just imagined and not based in fact, they went on to produce… Oof. How do I best describe this? I will provide two takes. One from a mad scientist angle and one from a mad customer angle.

Mad Scientist

Interchangeable lens? Nah. Let’s swap out all of the most expensive bits of kit, the lens, AF, a good portion of the electronics, and the sensor of course,…

…while leaving a shell of a thing behind that only houses the buttons, flash, battery, memory card slot, and… some more electronics.

Sounds crazy. It is crazy. From a “practical” viewpoint that is.

Mad Consumer

But here is the thing. I get it. This was not a product made with being “sensible” in mind. But here are the things that make sense to me:

• “Value” (In quotes because… well you know. None of this makes sense.)
  • I have not taken the time to research the asking price as compared to rivals at release in 2009, but current asking prices for most bits of this kit are surprisingly affordable compared to other similar, APS-C fixed lens point and shoot products of similar vintage. A body (Around $175) and GR 28mm module (Around $225 or so.) can be had combined for around the current price <Rechecked current asking prices since I have not looked in a while and wow.> far less than an also quirky SIGMA dp Quattro vintage digital all in one. Now the GXR does forgo the Pixie Dust Foveon sensor but it does add some features as well, that I will go into later.
• Different Sensors, Same System
  • While I would not touch the zoom modules I find them fascinating. In this same form factor SIGMA created zoom modules with tiny sensors to manage impressive range and include IBIS. What? That is madness, but I like it. Just not enough to buy one even though they are dirt cheap. An APS-C sensor is a large draw for me. Take that away, and my interest goes with it. The IQ of all sample photos do nothing for me.
• Different Mount, Same System
  • Hear me clearly. They made an M mount module. <ahem> They made an M mount module! Put another way they did exactly what I had hoped manufacturers other than Leica would have done by now. And they did it. Kind of… More in the bullets below. Like the zooms, I am not interested even if it is for completely different reasons. Three to be exact. All are personal preferences.
    • No full frame, then no interest from me.
    • For M mount I am in it for the rangefinder and this is yet another focus peaking situation.
    • Nearly twice the price of the AF lens having 28mm and 50mm modules is more than I am willing to spend on novelty alone.
• A Bit More Failure Proof
  • A downside of vintage digital cameras, as well as high fallutin’ electronic film cameras for that matter, is that if they fail repair is off the table, risky, and/or prohibitively expensive. I found out with a stuck shutter on power up with my RICOH GR just getting someone to look at your camera can be pricey. With no guarantee that it can be fixed and it might get bricked. So I left it as is and just added pressing the shutter, which frees the shutter, as a part of my startup routine. Why not just replace it? The asking price was more than I wanted to pay to address a common issue that may happen again and the camera I have technically still works. And newer models that might avoid the issue cost more than I want to pay. To sum up, a failure of the GXR body might happen and a failure of a module might happen, but a failure of both seems unlikely and I can replace either for little more than KEH was charging just to look at my GR, with no promise of a repair or working camera.

And while we are talking about the GR.

Once you get past the whole one of a kind module thing the GXR is basically a slightly larger GR that adds:

• Well… modules.
  • Or additional focal lengths with one body. Where other brands make you settle on one focal length, like the Leica Q, or buy a whole other camera, like the dp Quattro line and RICOH’s own GRIIIx, for a relatively modest sum you gain access to multiple focal lengths in a point and shoot system. When the dust settles I will have a GXR body with 28mm and 50mm equivalent focal length modules for less than the cost of a used GRII.
• A flash.
  • GRIII models and dp Quattro models do not have a flash.
• An honest to goodness EVF.
  • Not an OVF. And an EVF that costs barely more than a SIGMA GR OVF. I bought one on GP. On general principle simply because it exists. And it flips up (which I have already made much use of).

Or remove the EVF for a more compact profile.

While I am aware that the tiny size of the pants pocket GR is the selling point I do prefer the slightly larger jacket pocket GXR.

This is a quibble but I also prefer the dedicated ON/OFF switch instead of a power button.

All great, but none of this matters if it does not produce a fine image. Well, it does. So far every bit the equal of the GR. Which makes sense since I understand that the lens in the 28mm GR module is exactly th same as the lens in the GR. As far as the sensor in the module it does better with recovering shadows than it does with highlights so I underexpose a bit if there is a risk of a blowout. Made very easy to adjust on the fly since the GXR shares the GR’s dedicated exposure up/down toggle.

It has video. That is about enough of that.

Honestly, other than the modules every praise of the GR line applies here. All of the one handed functionality, snap focus, and other features are there.

I will note that the 28mm module does not have a dedicated macro mode, like the GR or 50mm module, but it focuses closely enough that this is not an issue. If you have or have had a GR camera the GXR will feel quite natural to you. With an EVF and additional focal lengths available.

And this is just based on my experience with the 28mm module. I hear the 50mm module is the real star of the show. I should know soon. Blaming Steve Huff for this one. His 50mm sample shots, especially the macro pics of his son’s eye, are quite impressive. I cannot blame 35mmc at all this time. I read their post after I had pulled the trigger, but it did confirm my decision.

Sample Images (GR 28mm module)

Wrap Up

Here are some parting notes.

• All of the images taken here were taken less than a week of receiving the camera body and 28mm module. I clocked in at over 150 images in total which is impressive. I have had the GR for far longer and have not cracked 800. And I really like that camera. If you are familiar with the GR system you will be up and running in no time at all. Only slightly more time if you have not used a GR or GXR before. Well laid out and intuitive to use.
• With a relatively modest aperture and MP spec this is not a pixel peepers camera. And that is ok. It is not meant to be the do everything imaging solution. For me it is an easy bring along solution that falls easily to hand and produces pleasing images without much muss or fuss.
• Like the GR this camera is discreet. Folks do not always appreciate having a camera put in their face. Some seem uncomfortable when they see a camera. This camera is so small that many will not even realize that you have a camera on you and those that do notice will not likely mind. Additionally, it is also perfect for those occasions when you do not want to draw attention to yourself. Furthermore, it is a relatively low cost high result solution.
• Unlike the GR this camera has an honest to goodness EVF available that I have already put to good use. And I imagine it will be helpful for the 50mm f/2.5 macro also.
• Has better battery life than the GR. I run through the Chiclet sized batteries on the original GR pretty quickly so extra batteries (plural) are a must, not a convenience. I will still need more than one battery, but I have made it through a modest day of captures on one battery with the GXR’s larger battery.

• Like the GR this camera is fun. After capturing images at an event Saturday, documented here and here, I put away my “real” gear and immediately went to the GXR for my own use. That is pretty high praise right there.

That was a lot of words.

Bottom line, I like it. And as stated in the post I linked at the top that is all that really matters.

Well, that about wraps things up for now.

Happy capturing.

-ELW