Ricoh GXR APS-C Point-And-Shoot With Interchangeable Lens Modules

2011-06-09 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: EVF

Just in is a Ricoh GXR with the 28mm f/2.5 lens module and the standard 24-72mm f/2.5-4.4 lens module (which is a notably smaller sensor then the 28mm module).

Just coming off my Fuji X100 review, here are some items of note about the GXR, which I’ll cover in some more detail in DAP:

• The Ricoh GXR has vastly superior rear LCD. It’s not only 3.0", but it’s about twice the resolution, so text is crisp and highly legible, especially menus.
• The menu system makes the Fuji menu system look absolutely moronic; the GXR menus are fast to access with better controls, are much more legible, and twice as many are visible at once, without the X100 multi-page modal nonsense.
• Weighing the GXR with 28mm lens module and optional EVR (26g), the weight difference is only 6g from the Fuji X100. So the two are essentially identical in weight with or without the GXR EVF.
• The GXR grip is far superior to the X100 (which doesn’t have one). The GXR can be held without any fear of dropping it, which is not the case with the X100.
• The Ricoh GXR is all black, an industrial look which has no particular elegance, but is highly functional.
• The optional EVF attachment really protrudes upward. It makes a considerable form factor difference in terms of pocketability. Bad news. And it doesn’t auto-switch as with the X100, and it’s not a better display than the X100.
• An even more idiotic (than the X100) off-center tripod thread placement: impossible to get either the battery or the storage card out with a small camera mounting plate attached (with the X100, at least the card can come out).

More to follow in my coming review of the Ricoh GXR. I doubt I’ll go into as much depth as the X100 unless something special pops up in the image quality department.

Ricoh GXR with standard lens module
About $1300 with EVF and 28mm