Ricoh GXR M-module review by DigitalRev

I'm sorry but that's the second time I've seen a video review by this group and I can only say..... Let's just say I'll keep my mouth shut.

However, I will say something after all, and it has to do with about 5 seconds of video. He was setting up the Sony to do the noise test and it took him 5 or 6 button presses in the menu to set the ISO. Does anyone else see an issue with how this camera is designed?

Sorry, I'll take the noise at 3200 ISO or whatever it is to have the camera not being in the way to keep my GXR.

I just wonder what this character will say when the full frame M mount module is released. Will he say something like, "Gee if Ricoh had only released this module 2 years ago this would be a winner!" Or, ..... I'll just keep my mouth shut and enjoy taking pictures with my Ricoh GXR and whatever I have attached to the front end.
 
However, I will say something after all, and it has to do with about 5 seconds of video. He was setting up the Sony to do the noise test and it took him 5 or 6 button presses in the menu to set the ISO. Does anyone else see an issue with how this camera is designed?
The Nex is hugely customizable. I had a Nex 5 for a while. In its default form, it was a PIA, to be sure. But once FW 3 came out (and I believe its a couple of versions beyond that now), you could easily set it up so that all of your important adjustments were either immediately available or no more than one click away. Based on my experience with the GRD3, I'd say the Ricoh is the top of the pile for UI and ergonomics, but the Nex, X100, and the m43 cameras I've owned and used are only slightly worse and mostly in theory. I can always make an argument for why the Ricoh is better, but in use, the differences melt away and all of these cameras are easy to set up so your key adjustments become second nature VERY quickly. I like Pany the least of them because you always have to click the main control dial to change functions and its easy enough to lose track of which function its controlling, but this is a minor annoyance at worst and I've used them happily in the past. Its tough to find a badly designed camera these days.

-Ray
 
Duane, stop reading my mind and posting my thoughts...
Nah... Keep it up, it saves me work...

Aside from the M module, the 28 & 50 are great but I didn't enjoy their vids...
 
The Nex is hugely customizable. I had a Nex 5 for a while. In its default form, it was a PIA, to be sure. But once FW 3 came out (and I believe its a couple of versions beyond that now), you could easily set it up so that all of your important adjustments were either immediately available or no more than one click away. Based on my experience with the GRD3, I'd say the Ricoh is the top of the pile for UI and ergonomics, but the Nex, X100, and the m43 cameras I've owned and used are only slightly worse and mostly in theory. I can always make an argument for why the Ricoh is better, but in use, the differences melt away and all of these cameras are easy to set up so your key adjustments become second nature VERY quickly. I like Pany the least of them because you always have to click the main control dial to change functions and its easy enough to lose track of which function its controlling, but this is a minor annoyance at worst and I've used them happily in the past. Its tough to find a badly designed camera these days.

-Ray

Thanks Ray, you've confirmed my initial impression of the quality of this reviewer, or I should say what I didn't say. Cuz its best to sometimes keep ones mouth closed.

He not only didn't help one realize the potential of the GXR, but really didn't help in understanding what the NEX 5 can do either.
 
Kai is entertaining and I see the Digitalrev reviews more like I see Top Gear, in no way are these actual reviews but more comedy and entertainment.

As for the Nex-5n, I don't like the handling at all although I quite liked the Nex-3 when I had the chance to use for a few hours in Amsterdam. The controls were not all that bad but would not work for me since I always have to move my hand away from the shooting position to reach that tiny dial.
The Nex-7 has much better controls and is next to Ricoh the best I have used so far.

I like the tilt screens on the Sony cameras and wish the GXR would have them but if I were to buy a camera for M lenses (which I have done) it would be the GXR because it's more flexible, better suited for the task and I get the Ricoh support with regular firmware updates and enhancements without the need to purchase a new camera. Oh, I also get two excellent and compact prime lenses with the other A12 modules where there is no real compact and good lens for the Nex system. Not to mention the ability to get a new body for only £250 when it's released.
 
On topic: I have a good time laughing at these reviews but don't count on them for actionable information.

Slightly on topic, responding to Duane's musings of a FF GXR module - has Ricoh announced or even speculated / hinted at a future full frame M module? I read the "fill the gap" comment a Ricoh UK representative made recently and wonder what that might mean. Would you expect such a module to run on current GXR bodies? I would expect existing modules/lensors to run on future bodies but maybe the reverse might not always be the case.

I would buy such a module with barely a second thought, not in the expectation of getting sublime quality out of the machine but so I could again enjoy the perspective the lens designers intended my M lenses to give. It'd be nice to have a 25/2.8 actually reflect the field of view 25mm gives on full frame, rather than having to buy something like a ZM 18/4 or a CV 17 to get a 27-ishmm perspective.

(It is doubtful I'd completely shun APS-C as I'm quite a fan of what that size sensor can do.)
 
Hi adanac, I was just using the FF GXR module thing to make a point about his comment that Ricoh should have made the M mount first before they introduced any of their zooms or fixed lens modules.

As to a FF module fitting the existing bodies, Cristian explained it very well to me last night that it is very possible. If you look at the body without a module attached you can see that there is nothing to restrict a larger module sticking out to the left or below the body if need be. In fact, the M module is bigger that the other lensors that have already been introduced.

I'm not an electrical engineer nor a software geek either, but I can only assume that the connector used when mating the modules to the body will have no problem transferring the data.

It is an ingenious system in my eyes.
 
It is a very ingenious camera. I expect a FF M sensor is in the works and will be announced soon. Actually, it's part of the reason I'm holding off in the current offering. That and the fact that my wonderful, waiting, sleeping lenses refuse to mount on a crop camera.
I can't do that, I tried but I'm too oldt and stubborn.

If the FF sensor is announced, I'll be on it.
Gxr is just so compact with the standard modules...
Hmmmmmm
 
I'm kinda surprised at the negativity as to Kai's review of the GXR M module. Although I'm no Ricoh owner, I thought it was a very favorable review, and he concludes that it's a great choice for people who want to use M lenses with a non-Leica camera. I'm not sure what the beef is against him saying that he'd hoped that Ricoh would have come up with this module before all the other camera makers released their mirrorless cameras (that also allow for M lens adaptations). Anyway, just my 2 cents. His review was positive enough to me in which it does make me want to go out and spend more cash on yet another camera that I don't need. After the X10 of course. And possibly the V1. Yikes ... too many cameras keep getting released!! As BB said, I need to reach for that GAS-X!:)

PS: Amazon has the M module in stock!!! Bad ...
 
Haha. One would think so. On the other hand, I should just be using the M9 instead! :)

Which I have again recently. Took me a day to get used to having to manual focus again! But a lot of fun!

M9 is great but sometimes too big and bulky. The other day I went out with GXR and Perar 35mm mounted in one and the CV 15mm in the other jacket pocket. Spare battery and card in my jeans. The ultimate freedom.
 
Armando, forget gas. If you can afford it, get what you want. The GXR is a natural choice for you. With the M module and your M glass, a no brainer.
As far as reviews including Kai, I take it all with a single grain of salt.
I much prefer users opinions then those just testing gear.
The GXR found its way to me by mistake. It was a wrong present. Now that I have it, I realize the mistake was not getting it much sooner.

I have on issue with the camera I have not been able to resolve, and only I can figure it out.
That is, 4:3 or 3:2. Tsk, tsk... what a hassle.
Don
 
Thanks for the info guys! Couple more questions:

Is there IS in the M module? Or in the the GXR body?

Also, how does the whole "snap focus" thing work? Is it pretty much like manually focusing to a certain distance and having that available upon demand?

Thanks!
 
I can't help with the module specifics, but snap focus is basically just a very quick and convenient shortcut to zone focussing - ideal for street shooting. You put it in snap focus mode and set it to one of three or four distances (on the GRD3 its 1, 1.5, 2.5, and 5 meters, plus infinity), set your aperture to establish the DOF, and go shoot without ANY delay for focus of shutter lag. Its also very quick and easy to change the distance as conditions dictate. This would have absolutely no applicability to the m-module since you're dealing with manual focus lenses, but if you get the 28mm module also, its a great feature.

-Ray
 
Is there IS in the M module? Or in the the GXR body?

Also, how does the whole "snap focus" thing work? Is it pretty much like manually focusing to a certain distance and having that available upon demand?

There is no IS for any of the A12 modules, only the S10 and P10 modules with small sensors have sensor based IS.

For the Snap AF, I have tried to explain it a bit in my reviews:

In particular the ability to use the Fn1 button to switch between AF and Snap AF mode coupled with the quick setting of the Snap AF distance by just pressing the macro button and rotating the top dial means you can seamlessly switch between AF and a MF lens set at a desired distance (you can set it to 1m, 1.5m, 2m, 2.5m, 3m, 3.5m, 5m and infinity). Once you get used to working like this, it becomes the fastest way of working and you will hardly miss any shots because you have the benefit of both AF and MF systems at your fingertips. Another benefit of using both the AF and Snap AF in combination is that you can easily control everything with one hand and also without even looking at the camera so shooting from the hip has never been easier than here.

This does obviously not apply to the GXR Mount A12 module but all other modules and Ricoh cameras work this way.
 
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