(Camera: Ricoh GX200) On the street, a group of Chinese tourists are waiting for probably pick-up. With oblivion to the surrounding, this man changes his vest for an unknown reason to the author taking the opportunity to do a snap shot of the scene of an indecent taste. The increasingly common sights, or eyesores considered by some, of people squatting in front of shops or in the thoroughfares, together with more billboards written in simplified Chinese, seem to push this international city towards the Chinese characteristics of the Mainland cities. The other day when the author visited the the aquarium and panda's home in the Ocean Park, there were, among the swamps of tourists, conspicuous signs saying, "Keep Quiet" and "Don't Use Flash". The management of the Park has obviously deployed a much bigger troop of attendants to carry the signs around. On one occasion, one of those attendants was so annoyed that she went up to a tourist and made a big long...
Here is the special site where you can click to view the 360° view of the camera, gallery and more.
Comments
At the end of the day you have to ask will it take better pictures, will it be better to use, is it something I need?
I’m afraid my answer to all those is No.
The modules are always going to be expensive and it’s a fair chance the lens you like, want or need will not be with the sensor you want.
At first glance it seems to be very flexible but I don’t see it that way.
Every new model is a new camera but it isn’t it’s a new lens and sensor for what will always be near the price and size of another camera that can do the job as well or better.
When is the line reached that carrying the body and few lens sensor units is going to bulkier than carrying a small DSLR and a few lenses or a couple of good small sensor compacts?
I’m not sure, I’m a DSLR user and a GRD 1 and 2 user and I’m actually thinking I don’t really need a bigger sensor with a compact that I will only want to print up to 10 x 8 inches from. Of course IF somebody produces one that ticks my boxes I will jump at it but I’m afraid at the moment the GXR doesn’t.
As for some of the stuff in the ‘Pipeline’ I’m afraid I’m a bit old fashioned and see it almost as a joke. I want a camera to take photos with not to be a GPS, MP3 player or a make do printer.
Shame on you Ricoh.
The sensor plus lens is a newthink and big risk to take. That's Ricoh, going its own direction always.
Rob, I think there are lots of people in the photography taking the same critical view as you do. It does sound like a risky gamble to many, not to mention your valid points.
And the price factor....
But the mindset of converting to the new system is beyond the confine of carrying a pocketable camera; it will be more for replacing the bulkier stuff. For that matter, the GXR may be considered from the perspective of rivalling the MFT or DSLR systems.
For the special site, I wonder if I am foolhardy in saying that the photos in the gallery simply lack punch. Ricoh can consider giving me the camera and a ticket to the UK again. I will come back with some more good photos.
Okay, that said, I really wish for a hands-on. The APS-C sensor will deliver photos with good enough IQ; no doubt about that.
Back to work.