Ricoh GRD IV Review

[d2creative]

I've always been really really surprised that we don't see more Ricoh talk here.
IMHO, even though they may not offer the highest megapixels, the lowest noise, etc... they make THE most user friendly P&S cameras geared specifically towards the professional photographer. If you have never shot with a Ricoh, you owe it to yourself to try it out. I don't own one at the moment, but this new GRD has got me thinking about picking one up again.

Ricoh GR Digital IV Review | PhotographyBLOG

[Daniel Bates]

johnastovall was one of the Ricoh backers, back in the days of the GR-D and GR-D II. I almost bought one, but got a S90 instead.

[d2creative]

Yup, i believe it. John was a huge leica fan, and I always thought of the GRD as the poor man's leica, or wannabe rangefinder. They have a very big following for street photography. Especially in b/w. The noise produced by ricoh cameras at higher iso settings was always very film like.

[darktiger]

The specs does not impress me. I think I rather have that fuji x10 in that price range...

I think it is not really talked about is because people get other p&s such as the S90-S100 or G10-G12 for their small camera needs...

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by darktiger

The specs does not impress me. I think I rather have that fuji x10 in that price range...

I think it is not really talked about is because people get other p&s such as the S90-S100 or G10-G12 for their small camera needs...

Yup, fully agree. Your whole post is spot on.
And that's what I'm saying. People get hung up on megapixels and other "specs".

Sometimes though, it's not about what the camera has, but what it doesn't have.
Look at the M9. It's almost barren in comparison to all other digital cameras when it comes to buttons and features. Sure, it has a great sensor. But what else about it's specs stand out? Even cheap P&S cameras do so much more. The screen sucks, no video, no "scene modes", it's no speed demon in writing images to the card, indoor white balance has issues, etc. Would I give up the M9 for any of those other cameras? Heck no. Because it just "works" so well. Dedicated controls for aperture, shutterspeed and iso is all a camera needs. When the camera gets out of the way and becomes an extension of the photographer, this is when you know you have a winner. Most Ricoh GRD and GX users will tell you this is what its like to own one.

For me personally, if I'm going to walk out of the house with a p&s instead of a dslr, it HAS to function just like my dlsr, AND produce images I'm happy with. I don't want to feel like I'm using a P&S. I've owned some of the better ones like the Panny Lumix LX-3/LX-5 line, and played with some of the Canons and such. But IMHO, no one GETS it like Ricoh does.

Of course I could go on and on, but it's one of those things where if you don't partake, you just won't "get it" either.

I would suggest reading the full article and ignoring the specs for now. Everything the writer loves about it you will see echoed over and over by other Ricoh owners.

[groovyone]

I almost bought the GR III but then the NEX series came out. If I do decide to go pocket camera again it will definitely get a look and be near the top of my list.

[darktiger]

I will have to stop by HCE and play with one when they get it in. But it would would be a hard sell for me because I am addicted to the Fuji X100....

It's sortof like Italian/Chinese food, it is hard to find a good place in the US if you have been to Italy/China a few times...

[d2creative]

Just got the following email from Reid Reviews that he just posted his grd iv review.

Hello,

I have just published an extensive field review of the Ricoh GR IV (compared to the Sigma DP1x). With a small sensor and a fixed prime lens - with an EFOV of about 28 mm - this is a specialized camera. But I think it may be the smallest digital camera on the market that a serious photographer might take seriously. This version of the now venerable GR series includes some significant improvements that make the GR IV one of the best small sensor cameras I've tested to date. The review also includes some sections written and illustrated by my sixteen year old daughter Cheyenne who comments not only on the cameras tested but also on some of the challenges she faces photographing people in public while using cameras with a wide-angle lenses.

As always, these announcements only go to people in the Reid Reviews subscriber database and no one should be there accidentally (since the subscription requires payment when it is set up). Fortunately, the new system may also allow people to get these announcements who were never able to get them before. But if you don't want them, please let me know.

Cheers,
Sean Reid
Publisher
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