Sometimes something happens in the world of photography that I didn’t expect and it takes me by surprise. Some things are to be expected, like RED’s now year old announcements seeming to be vaporware, but some things pop up out of the blue. In the spirit of these moments and with the assumption that someone might read these thoughts and find them interesting, I will attempt to start a new type of post for this site. With each of these “Surprises” posts I will take on something that I hadn’t expected (so the theory is I won’t do this too often, I try to keep on top of things!) and try to cover it from as many sides as possible.
Why start with the Ricoh GXR?
In truth this one popped up out of nowhere on me. Tidbits started floating out in to the open the day before its announcement, which is when I created my first post about this camera. When I initially read the details I didn’t think this was something that was a day away from official release but after viewing the images of the camera and the hands-on video I started to change my tune.
Ricoh is an interesting company, they have long been innovative but somewhat minor players in the digital camera market. They tend to cater to those looking for something a little more upscale and refined, although they don’t quite reach in to Leica’s territory. Ricoh has offered cameras with wide zooms, long zoom ranges and has offered unique products like the GR series using fast prime lenses. In some ways Ricoh seems to have taken to being more daring in the digital era than I recall many of their film offerings really being.
For a company that plays on the sidelines like Ricoh, innovation is usually the best way to steal the spotlight. You can make as many competent cameras as you want but with Canon, Nikon, Sony and so many other big players it can be difficult to break in and capture the crowd’s attention. With the GXR Ricoh has certainly done something different, and it has captured the attention of many photographers, bloggers and forums. Thanks to the nonexistent ramping up of hype they don’t have to live up to some inflated expectations like the Sigma DP1, which ultimately failed to meet even most reasonable expectations. Ricoh’s history of making solid cameras with good build quality is reassuring, but they don’t often fare well when image quality is compared to other brands. As a result I face the GXR’s future with anticipation but I remain grounded by not expecting too much.
What is the GXR?
Ricoh has reanimated a concept last toyed with by Minolta (another creative and sometimes daring company) with the Dimage EX 1500 (thanks for finding that DPreview!). It’s interesting that in looking back 10 years a product so familiar can be found, but the Ricoh can still seem so unusual or even revolutionary. The GXR obviously shows what ten years of improvement in technology can do to a concept though.
The GXR system debuts with a number of accessories but the most interesting components are of course the two lens modules. The two lens modules are a 24-70 equivalent f/2.8-4.4 zoom mated to a ten megapixel P&S sized CCD sensor and a 50mm equivalent f/2.5 macro lens attached to a 12 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor. The majority of the important camera-business goes on in the modules: VR, focus & zoom motors, the lens, sensor and processing all find their homes in the lens modules instead of the body, which almost seems more appropriate to call a grip at this point.
The GXR system isn’t cheap, unfortunately. Amazon has the “body” up for $550, while the 50mm macro module is $830 and the other lens will set you back $440. Those are some pretty impressive prices, for $550 you can pick up an entry level DSLR and kit lens. You’ll also find a broad range of accessories from lenses to flashes available for most other systems, including less expensive third party options. With the GXR you’re stuck with a fairly limited and expensive set of accessories, including some wide angle and telephoto adapters, interesting accessories considering the lens could actually be replaced with a module better suited for either purpose.
The system
With a modular system like this, the grip component can wind up as host to a variety of slide-on accessories; perhaps we’ll even see printers and projectors some day. It could even accept a module built to take third party lenses that has just the processing, sensor and lens mount. It would be an odd sight but perhaps being able to attach your favorite Nikon or Canon lens to your P&S would have some appeal at times.
Interestingly, Ricoh hasn’t mentioned any kind of extension cable for the modules. While wireless could certainly happen, I’d be much more interested in being able to attach a cord between body and lens module to allow me to shoot from angles I wouldn’t be able to see the back of the camera from. Suddenly the GXR turns in to a two handed affair, allowing you to get odd angles with the lens and use the body to compose with live view. Minolta offered this ten years ago, so hopefully if Ricoh doesn’t do this someone will come up with a third party accessory cable.
Ricoh has made some good moves with the design of the body. It’s nice to see Ricoh not following Olympus or Sigma down the path of giving you a camera with a subpar viewing screen and no optical viewfinder, the rear screen really sounds like it’s as good as you can hope for on a camera right now. An EVF hotshoe viewfinder is also available, but I’ve yet to see one of these that impresses me and it’s expensive at over $250. I am curious how popular these accessory EVF viewfinders are for the various cameras. Considering how expensive they are, I doubt they are widely used.
As the system grows it will become interesting to see how the capabilities of the camera expand. You may find yourself juggling a bag full of modules with different video recording capabilities, vastly different ISO ranges and sensor aspect ratios, among other things. Just imagine tossing in an additional module to project your shots from the day on the wall to share with friends.
I don’t think that modular systems beyond the current more traditional interchangeable lens systems aren’t going to happen but I doubt Ricoh’s idea is what it will take to drive widespread acceptance or be imitated by other manufacturers. While Ricoh could always choose to separate the lens and sensor in to separate modules, the current idea of paired upgrades is one that could become quite frustrating. Just because I want a new lens doesn’t mean I necessarily would need a whole new sensor to go with it. In terms of design there may be advantages to the combined module, but to the consumer this forces an expensive additional sensor on them with each upgrade. The system is expensive to begin with, so this strategy is likely to drive away many would-be buyers. I still believe the ideal completely modular system will have the body, sensor and lens as three separate components like many medium format systems. That way your lenses, which aren’t going to go out of style on you or need replacing that often, could work with newer sensor technologies should something of benefit come out. Such a system might possibly be more economical in the long run as well if you can continue to use the same body and lenses when all you want to upgrade is the sensor.
Bottom line
Even with stellar image quality, the GXR would still be a tough bite to swallow. At almost $1000 with the zoom module it’s a very expensive P&S with no particularly outstanding features if you don’t consider the removable lens modules. At almost $1400 with the macro prime it has entered the territory where it’s up against serious competition in terms of the range of camera bodies & lenses available that could compete with it. Sure, the GXR might be smaller, but if that’s all it has going for it will it be worth the price?
In spite of these premium prices the GXR is still far less expensive than the Leica X1, but it doesn’t carry the same amount of name loyalty or prestige. To become anything more than a niche product that the rest of the photography community briefly took notice of, it needs to be competitive. While I would be immensely interested in an extension cable that would allow the lens/sensor module to be used remotely, I don’t see it justifying the cost of the rest of the system; even if I had a money tree.
I have looked forward to more modular systems becoming available as time goes by but the GXR it is not the camera I hoped for. The system is neat, but ultimately I think its cost above all else will be its downfall. Even with the build quality Ricoh is known for I don’t feel the price is justified when compared to the Olympus E-P1, E-P2 or Panasonic GF1, nevermind their larger siblings and the other micro 4/3 cameras. Micro 4/3s has already started to gain traction and there are already some well made (albeit not perfect) cameras out trying to offer a similar blend of performance and compactness to the Ricoh.
Looking for more on this camera? 1001noisycameras has some nice coverage of what the world has to say about the GXR
