How do you review a system camera that is not one camera but many or no camera at all? And more important how do you explain the system to other people if even the manufacturer did not do a very good job at explaining it?

These and other reasons (main other one being time) were what kept me from writing my Ricoh GXR review sooner.

Since this is more than a simple camera review I decided to approach it slightly different but without making it any less extensive than my other reviews.
So to start off I tought the best would be to look at what the GXR system is and try to explain it first before moving on to the body and modules.
There will be no comparisons done for the GXR review, instead each unit will stand on it’s own. Don’t worry though, I will post comparisons between the GXR modules and and other cameras but these will be done separate.

So without further ado let’s go to the first part and look at what the GXR system is and at the build and controls.

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So to keep things simple, I decided to move everything to my Blogger blog here.

Thanks for visiting this blog and for all your comments, I hope to see you at my new address. All my reviews and articles are being moved over so you will find everything and more there.

While most people eagerly await more APS base modules, like the announced A12 28mm f2.5 module for me this module is very interesting since I really like the CX series cameras. This module is certainly interesting for me an would make sense as a 2nd module, more so than the S10 module does.

What I am waiting for is for Ricoh to release a module with lens mount to allow the use of legacy lenses and hopefully new Ricoh lenses. Having most Ricoh cameras as module for the GXR available is nice and certainly welcome but for the GXR system to become successful Ricoh needs more interesting modules. In my opinion a long a Ricoh won’t release a lens mount module the system will always remain very niche.
With Samsung and now Sony also joining the race for the best mirrorless large sensor compact the market will become very crowded and it would be a shame not to see Ricoh compete at the top where they have been for the last years when it camera to serious compact cameras.

Full press release after the break.

Tokyo, Japan, May 7, 2010—Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) today announced the development and release of the new GXR camera unit RICOH LENS P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC*1.

Featuring a high-magnification 10.7x (28-300 mm) optical wide-angle zoom and high-speed continuous shooting of RAW still images at about 5 frames/second*2, this camera unit has a back-illuminated CMOS sensor and an advanced noise reduction function.

Image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine IV and the high-speed image processing capabilities of the CMOS sensor combine to enhance image quality and expand dynamic range. The 10.7x optical zoom expands image-creation possibilities from wide-angle through telephoto.

The RAW mode high-speed continuous shooting at about 5 frames/second enables the photographer to catch the desired scene. And the noise reduction function and back-illuminated CMOS sensor together give high imaging performance in low-light shooting.

Also included are a 1280 x 720 pixel HD movie function, the dynamic range double shot mode function, a macro function capable of close-up shooting at 1 cm, and many other enhanced functions for diverse and effortless enjoyment of shooting from 28 mm wide-angle to 300 mm telephoto.

For this model, there are two package types available. The product name “RICOH LENS P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC” refers to just the camera unit by itself. Product name “GXR+P10 KIT” refers to the GXR body and the RICOH LENS P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC camera unit packaged together.

Main features of RICOH LENS P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC

This GXR camera unit has a 10.7x optical zoom (28-300 mm) that enables the photographer to shoot at will from wide-angle to telephoto.

•With 28 mm wide-angle to 300 mm telephoto coverage, this high-magnification zoom lens can handle a wide range of shooting situations, including powerful telephoto shots as well as wide-angle shooting of both expansive landscapes and interior scenes with limited distance between camera and subject.
•There is also a zoom function for changing to high-speed zoom when the photographer continues to push the zoom lever.

Get the shot you want with high-speed continuous shooting functions capable of high image quality

•High-speed continuous shooting functions have been improved. It is now possible to do high-speed continuous shooting in RAW mode at a rate of up to about 5 frames/second*3.

•The M-continuous plus shooting function saves consecutive images shot before the finger is removed from the shutter release button. To fit the scene being photographed, you can select from two modes: M-Continuous Plus (Low)*4 for 15 images taken in as little as three seconds and M-Continuous Plus (Hi)*5 for 26 images taken in about 0.9 seconds.
•Ultra-high-speed continuous shooting is possible with shooting of 120 images (120 frames/sec.) during an interval of about one second after the shutter release button is pushed or 120 images (60 frames/sec.) during an interval of about two seconds. Image size is fixed at 640 × 480 VGA. The consecutively shot images are recorded as a single MP file (a file format with multiple still images in a single file).

A back-illuminated CMOS sensor strong in low-light scenes and a powerful noise reduction function

Performing noise reduction processing on the signal immediately after it is output by the back-illuminated CMOS sensor makes it possible to reduce noise while maintaining resolution, tone characteristics, and saturation.

The noise reduction level can be specified as Off, Weak, Strong, or MAX. By specifying MAX, it is possible to do sophisticated variance-estimation type noise reduction processing in which the sensor image data’s noise variance is analyzed and the optimum processing is done for each region.

•Residing on a customized circuit of the image processing engine, the pixel output interpolation algorithm reduces whiteout in high-contrast situations, thereby recreating beauty as seen.
•Dynamic range double shot mode makes it possible to record images with an almost naked-eye impression. Enjoy the possibilities created by a dynamic range expansion effect equivalent to up to 12EV.
•Multi-pattern auto white balance makes it possible to recreate natural as-seen colors even in people-photography scenes that were difficult to shoot with past auto white balance functions, such as scenes with both shadow and sunlight and scenes mixing flash and natural light (or fluorescent light, etc.).

A wide range of functions

•It is now possible to shoot 1280 × 720 pixel HD movies.
•With the macro photography functions you can get as close to the subject as 1 cm for wide angle*6 and 27 cm for telephoto.
Note: When shooting movies of 1280 × 720 size, the use of an SD/SDHC memory card with an SD speed class of Class 6 or higher is recommended.

Special features common to GXR camera units

•The automatic exposure modes include program shift mode, shutter priority mode, and aperture priority*7 mode.

•Picture settings can be customized with nine setting levels for easy creation of a diverse range of images.
•ISO3200 facilitates shooting in low light conditions.
•The Pre-AF function accelerates focusing speed by adjusting the focus to match subject movement.
•The full press snap function shoots at a preset distance for a one-push full-press of the shutter-release button.
•When shooting subjects up close, the camera automatically switches to macro mode so macro photography can now be enjoyed without having to worry about switching modes.(Auto macro setting)

*1 The “VC” designation indicates that this unit has the Vibration Correction function developed independently by Ricoh.
*2 The maximum number of images for continuous shooting in RAW mode is five.
*3 Continuous shooting speed will vary depending on shooting conditions, card type, card condition, etc.
*4 M-Continuous Plus (Low) image size is fixed at 10M 4:3N.
*5 M-Continuous Plus (Hi) image size is fixed at 2M 4:3N. The consecutively shot images are recorded as a single MP file (a file format with multiple still images in a single file).
*6 Equivalent to 31 mm focal length for 35 mm cameras
*7 ND filter used for aperture priority mode.

The usual models on stage were also very rare and aside from a few places most did not even have models.

Also the printer manufacturers have become really cheap an you can’t even get some good prints done for free as in previous years.

The best stands were from Panasonic, who also had the biggest stand, and Sony.

Panasonic took the opportunity to announce and display the G2 with touchscreen and HD video and the G10, the entry level m4/3 camera with a normal LCD screen and a cheaper kit lens with plastic mount and no IS but the same quality as the more expensive lens.
The G2 and G10 both are uninteresting to me and have a really cheap build with a plastic shell and the usual fake dSLR design known from the G1. The touch screen however works really well and is especially useful to quickly determine the AF point.

They also showed three new lenses for the m4/3 system, theeagerly anticipated 28mm f2.8 lens, and the 8mm f3.5 fish-eye lens which should be released in the 2nd half of the year. They also showed the 100-300mm f4 lens which was pretty small considering the specs but is for me uninteresting.

At the Jacobs booth I could get my hands on the new Samsung NX10 and was pleasantly surprised. The camera is much smaller than I would have thought from the pictures and feels quite good. The LCD screen is great as is the EVF but neither are as good as on the G2 or the Ricoh GXR, which still has the edge.

The 30mm f2 pancake is very small and the AF with it and the kit lens is quite fast. What is not as fast is the write times and even worse is the shutter lag the camera has. When pressing the shutter the cameras focuses, then the screen goes black and then after a few ms it takes the picture. Looking at the NX10, the GXR and Sigma DPx cameras, I don’t think APS sensors are good enough to be used in live-view only cameras and with contrast detect. None so far realy deliver a good performance in this area, it looks like m4/3 cameras are still ahead.
From taking a few pictures I can also say that it has a horrible JPG engine and NR algorithms which produce red fringing around everything black. Turning the NR off improves the JPGs but there is noise visible even at ISO 200 so I am not sure the Samsung 14MP APS sensor is that good.
Samsungs aggressive pricing strategy could pay off however as the NX10 costs less than the G2, EP2 or GF1 and a half the price of the GXR. To achieve such a low price however Samsung has used mounts on the kit lenses, as Panasonic has done on the G10 lens, in order to save money and the lenses feel very light but plasticky.
The 30mm pancake lens has a metal mount however and feels better while still being very light.

I got one interesting bit of information while questioning the fake dSLR design of the NX10, the Samsung representative there told me too keep my eyes open for a NX5 which might have a more Rangefinder-like styling.

While at the Jacobs booth I could not resist the temptation and ended up walking away with a brand new GF1 and 20mm f1.7 lens.

Other than that, I had an interesting chat with Panasonic representatives and put forward my wish to see a L2 or a m4/3 camera designed like it.
Since I just bought one of their cameras they were kind enough to let me test the 7-14mm f4 lens and also the Leica 45mm f2.8 lens. Both lenses are fantastic and seem to justify the high asking price.

I had the GXR with me and quite a few people asked me about it and the quality of it’s EVF. All were quite impressed by the build, quality and EVF but all were pretty much as disappointed as I about the slow and unreliable AF of the A12 module.
It is a shame Ricoh did not have a booth or rented some space at one of the retailers to showcase their GXR, even with the slow AF, I am sure it would have been quite a big hit with people.

Ricoh has announced the CX3 today.
The CX3 follows on from the R-series and the most recent CX1 and CX2 cameras to offer a superzoom lens in a compact package.

Like the CX2, it offers a f3.5-5.6 10x zoom lens ranging from 28-300mm and a 3″ LCD display with 920,000 pixel. It also offers the same fast continous shooting modes, high-contrast b&w mode and the minuaturize mode.

So what is new you ask?

Read on to find out.

Well, the sensor is now a new 10MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor that also supports 720p HD video recording.

Other new features include the improved NR algorithms from the GRD III and the ability to turn the NR ‘off’ as well as a improved high ISO of 3200.
It also includes a new ‘Pet’ scene mode for whoever might need this.

Pet-mode aside, this seems to be a great upgrade. I was very impressed with the CX1 in my review and the only issues I had were with the strong NR and the poor video mode, both seem to have been addressed now.

While this market segment has become very crowded now with most manufacturers offering similar cameras, the CX3 will have a place for everyone who values build quality and ergonomics in a compact camera.

You can also download a pdf version here and of course the flash version is still available for view here.

I am planning on releasing more books in the future about Ricoh and their cameras but also more general photo books. If you have any comments or suggestions about this let me know.

Also, this website does and will not feature any adverts but if you want to support the site you can buy the book on Blurb.

Image Quality

If you have looked at the previous pages you have probably already reached a conclusion regarding the image quality.
Below, I will try to summarize the findings and give my opinion on how the image quality compares.

The first thing I can say is that Ricoh’s decision to use a 10 MP sensor instead of moving to even more MP was indeed a very good choice. The new sensor offers a higher dynamic range and less noise than the previous sensors Ricoh has used. Especially when compared with the GRD II, the GRD III delivers a much improved image quality. The image quality is probably as good as it gets from a small sensor at the moment, especially when using low ISO the GRD III produces great images, full of detail, with great colors and a high dynamic range. The excellent Multi-Pattern AWB does a fantastic job when it comes to accurate but also pleasing looking colors under most light sources.
Overall, the GRD III produces images which at ISO 100-400 are some of the best you can currently get from small sensors.

This brings it’s own problems however and the images from the GRD III, while pleasing for most who expect a technical perfect image, have lost the character which makes the images from the GRD I so special. Yes, they have noise but as you can see from the comparison pictures the noise on the GRD I is quite pleasing looking and resembles film grain as has been mentioned by many. So while the GRD III produces very good images, they are also a bit digital looking and lack a certain depth especially the b&w images. This will however not be a problem for most people and should not detract from the overall very good image quality.

What will be a problem however is that although the GRD III sports the currently fastest wide-angle lens on any compact camera, it is by far not a low light camera due to the excessive banding that occurs at ISO 1600 and even at ISO 800 in underexposed areas. The banding is simply unacceptable and means you really can’t use ISO 1600 at all so lose the advantage of the fast lens. Here Ricoh needs to provide a firmware update and try to fix this problem, in a camera of this class (and price) this is simply unacceptable.

Conclusion

When Ricoh released the first GRD I over 4 years ago there was not much competition with regards to serious compact cameras offering wide-angle lenses, only the LX2 was a serious competition. Now the situation has changed and there is some string competition out there, the biggest being Panasonic again with the much praised and indeed excellent LX3 camera.

One thing that nobody has managed so far it to create a camera which comes even remotely close to the GRD III in terms of build, handling and controls. Here Ricoh has created the perfect and most customizable interface you can find on a compact camera. After using the previous GRD cameras and other Ricoh cameras in the last 4 years I can say that this sentence is absolutely true:
“Additionally, we also wanted to make a camera that brought a smile to one’s face, just by holding it.”

It is indeed a camera that feels good in your hand and that inspires you to go out and take pictures.

The fully customizable controls mean the camera will never get in your way when taking pictures and become like an extension of yourself, you never have to worry about missing a picture because you had to fiddle with flimsy controls and finding settings in cryptic menus.

The LCD screen is another highlight and probably the best LCD screen you can find in any digital camera to date. The screen is so good indeed that it can fool you thinking your pictures are better than they actually are.

It is a shame though that the camera is let down by banding issues at high ISO making it not quite as usable for low light photography as the lens specifications might suggest.

So how does it compare to the other GRDs?
Well, it is the camera that the GRD II should have been and easily beats the GRD II in every single aspect.
With the GRD I it is not so clear cut though and while it is technologically far advanced and provides better controls (aside from the missing Adj./Ok wheel), it does not manage to beat the GRD I when it comes to the image quality. The GRD I images just have more character and stand out from the rest.

What the GRD III is, is one of the best serious compact cameras available and the perfect camera for street photography. While it does not quite match the unique GRD I image characteristics, it produces excellent results which are some of the best in it’s class. If Ricoh can iron out the banding issue in a future firmware update, it will get my full recommendation. For now I can only recommend it if you stick to ISO 800 or lower.

Lets move on now and see how the cameras and lenses compare. This comparison is more out of curiosity and is not meant to determine which camera is better since the GRDs are completely different from the RD1s.

Part 7 – Image Comparison GRDs & RD1

As before, all cameras have been set to A-mode at f4.5, EV -0.3, b&w or standard color image parameters with NR off (GRD II and III). The JPGs are unprocessed and this test will be based only on the JPGs.
The pictures have all been taken without a tripod.

Let’s start with the first picture taken at ISO 400 in b&w.

It comes as no surprise that the RD1s has the highest dynamic range and the lowest noise. The GRD III comes closest to the RD1s though and has a quite similar look. You can see the noise reduction artifacts showing in both the GRD II and GRD III images, the GRD I shows all the noise where the RD1s does not have any noise to speak of.

Now it’s time to see how the cameras perform in this situation at ISO 1600.

There is no question here that none of the GRDs come anywhere close to the performance of the RD1s, this was however to be expected. As we know from the previous tests, the GRD I is the only GRD here which manages to capture and retain some details in JPG mode at this ISO.

Unsurprisingly so far the RD1s is in a different league, let’s see how the cameras perform in color and at lower ISO.

The next picture is taken at ISO 200.

This picture shows that at a low ISO the GRDs are also quite capable and show a good dynamic range. The RD1s shows here clearly the trade-offs associated with digital rangefinders where the lens is too close to the sensor, there is visible vignetting.

The last picture is the same scene at ISO 800 to see if there is a difference.

No difference here and the same story as before.

When I decided to test the RD1s against the GRDs, I was not sure what to expect and was more interested in the lens characteristics. This test has turned out not to prove too much but more to confirm what was expected. Since the RD1s and the GRDs are completely different cameras and in different classes there will not really be a competition between them.

Continue to the conclusion…

Now it’s time to see how they compare at ISO 400, 800 and 1600. This should be more interesting and also more revealing since it will be more obvious how much luminance noise the cameras have.

Part 6 – Image Comparison GRDs – Part 4 (b&w: ISO 400, 800 and 1600)

As before, all cameras have been set to A-mode, EV -0.3, ISO 400, 800 and 1600 respectively, b&w image parameters with NR off (GRD II and III) and Contrast +2 and Sharpening at +1. The JPGs are unprocessed and the RAW files were batch processed with RAW Therapee 2.4 using the default profile and then just changed to b&w using the Faststone grayscale option. This test will be based more on the JPGs though.
The pictures have all been taken without a tripod.

Let’s start with the first JPG taken at ISO 400.

Looking at the face it is easy to see why the GRD I has been praised for it’s excellent b&w mode and great JPGs. While there is noise it is quite nice and not distracting while both the GRD II and GRD III show signs of NR and the image appears blotchy.

Let’s move on to the RAW file.

All cameras look cleaner now but I feel that the GRD I JPG looked again better than the RAW file. Both the GRD II and GRD III are clearly improved now and especially the GRD III shows a very clean image.

Now it’s time to move on to the next picture and see how another ISO 400 image compares, first in JPG.

As before at ISO 200 we can see the loss of details due to the NR smearing of the GRD II but also the GRD III is using more NR now than it did at ISO 200. Again, I prefer the noise in the GRD I image and also the contrast is better.

The RAW file should offer no surprises judging from he previous images.

And indeed it is not a big surprise to see that all cameras are a bit cleaner now but it is also clear that the other GRDs dont have any real advantage over the GRD I when it comes to noise or details at ISO 400 and RAW. The GRD III can get ahead by a small margin and shows less noise but not more details. All files could benefit from some sharpening but this is just the default RAW Therapee profile.

Let’s see now how this picture looks at ISO 800 in JPG and see if the NR gets even more aggressive.

Ok, this image shows clearly how much you lose in the GRD II and GRD III due to the NR being applied, the GRD I has quite a lot of noise but you can still read ‘CANS’ and ‘WATER’ whereas on the GRD II and GRD III this is just a smear. I have to say I rather have the noise, which does not look to bad either, than lose details. The result from the GRD II and GRD III in JPG is very disappointing considering that both cameras have newer sensors and more MP, yet none can match the GRD I for details at ISO 800.

No it’s time to see if the GRD II and GRD III can at least make it up when using RAW.

And indeed they can perform fine when used in RAW mode, this will get back the lost details. Yet the most surprising thing is how close the GRD I is when it comes to both visible noise and the details captured.

Moving on to the last picture at ISO 1600 in JPG.

Looking at this I don’t think I need to lose any words about the GRD II output, it’s simply unusable. The GRD I shows quite a lot of noise now and loses some details but easily outclasses the GRD II. The GRD III delivers a much cleaner image and while it shows signs of NR, it still captured a lot of details.

Let’s move on to the last picture of this comparison and see how this picture looks when using RAW on the GRD II and GRD III, the GRD I does not have RAW at this ISO so it should be at a disadvantage.

I don’t know what to say and will need to have Ricoh look at my GRD II, the performance is extremely poor and frankly unusable. The GRD I holds it’s own very well even when comparing the JPG with the RAW files from the GRD II and GRD III. The GRD III has the best quality here and with some sharpening and some extra work when converting the RAW it should beat the GRD I. Another positive side effect for the GRD III is that if the picture is slightly overexposed you can’t see the banding.

The high ISO b&w test is my favorite as I like shooting in b&w and this a lot of times in low light so the performance of the cameras at this is important. Looking at the results it is clear that the GRD II underperforms and is unusable at ISO 1600 in both RAW and JPG. As for the GRD III, it does a very good job but only if used in RAW mode and then it really shines.
Now, were I to choose a camera for b&w high ISO photography it would always end up being the GRD I because it performs extremely well and it does this using JPG so no further processing is required. Still, the GRD III with it’s faster lens will be a better choice for most people but you need to be aware of the banding issue and work around it.

As usual you can download all the files used in this comparison here.

The next part will be a brief comparison with the Epson RD1s, this is more out of curiosity and I don’t expect the small sensor GRDs to outperform the APS sensor in the RD1s.

Continue to part 7…