The Ricoh GXR is a new camera system that consists of a main body and Lens/Sensor units. Each Ricoh GXR camera unit contains a lens (focal lengths differ between units), an image sensor of optimum type and size for the unit, and an image processing engine. By changing the Ricoh GXR camera units units, the photographer can handle a diverse range of scenes in a way that satisfies sophisticated requirements for photo expression. The slide mechanism adopted in the Ricoh GXR for attaching and removing camera units enables changes to be made quickly and securely.
The Ricoh GXR is digital camera with interchangeable lens camera that is unlike anything else currently on the market. The Ricoh GXR is just a new camera system that consists of a main body and Lens/Sensor units.
The Ricoh GXR is what Ricoh calls an interchangeable unit camera system. It doesn’t have a built-in sensor. Instead, the lenses you use will have a built-in sensor that best matches the lens capability. This is the ‘unit’ that Ricoh refers to and it has allowed Ricoh to create what it claims is the world’s smallest interchangeable lens camera.
cnet previews the Ricoh GXR and writes:
“The camera will launch with two lens units; a GR lens unit that contains a 12.3-megapixel APS-C-sized CMOS sensor (yes, it’s something to get excited about seeing as this sensor type is normally reserved for digital SLRs) and a Ricoh lens unit that has 3x optical zoom and a 10-megapixel CCD sensor.”
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pocket-lint writes:
“Ricoh has come the closest yet to delivering DSLR-like quality and versatility in compact form, though the GXR is still too tight a squeeze for a trouser pocket with or without its lens combos attached. Plus the high price of initial set up may have all but the most ardent photo enthusiast waiting until the cost comes down. But if you do have sufficient funds, for camera nuts this will be a dream come true.”
Photoreview say:
“Buy this camera if:
- You want a well-built, inconspicuous camera for street and candid photography.
- You want a small camera with raw file support.
- You’re interested in investing in extra camera units as the system evolves.
- You’re attracted by the accessories on offer.
Don’t buy this camera if:
- You’re looking for a low-priced point-and-shoot digicam.
- You require fast autofocusing, fast continuous shooting speeds and a large buffer memory for high-resolution images.”
Adorama reviews the Ricoh GXR and writes:
“f your bottom line is picture quality, the images I produced with the GXR A12 module proved to me that this unique, compact, modular camera has an outstanding lens, a nice-big sensor that produces great pictures. In other words, despite some first-generation bugginess, it has big-camera chops and potentially, a big future.”
LuminousLandscape reviews the Ricoh GXR and writes:
“Overall, the file quality from the GXR-A12 is excellent, even at high ISO levels. In fact it is similar in many ways to output from the Leica X1 or a DSLR with a sensor of the same size. The files are fairly robust and so can be worked fairly extensively in post-processing without falling apart.”
MacWorld reviews the Ricoh GXR and writes:
“Ultimately, the GXR is for someone who already owns a competent SLR and wants a more portable alternative that looks and feels the part while offering picture quality that’s just as good (or very near) SLR quality. “
GX Garnerings reviews the Ricoh GXR and writes:
“pricing is a concern for this organic system to grow in its market share. The drawbacks of price and the focusing speed in certain unfavourable situations for A12 aside, the GXR system is a very enjoyable system offering great ergonomics and superb (A12) to good (S10) image quality.”
TechyRadar reviews the Ricoh GXR and writes:
“The 24-72mm zoom has very good edge-to-edge sharpness and not much distortion (the camera can correct distortion internally too), and the exposure and white balance systems are up to the same high standard..”
One of the main features is the interchangeable unit camera system. The adoption of this new system has made it possible to achieve both “pocket size for go-anywhere portability” and “the highest image quality for every photographic situation and subject.”
Building on the operation control designs of the GR series and GX series, the GXR has several types of customizable buttons as well as the new DIRECT button, which the photographer can use to see many current settings at a glance. Sophisticated shooting settings can now be made faster than ever before.
The camera features the automatic exposure modes which include program shift mode, shutter priority mode, and aperture priority mode.
The high-resolution LCD picture display provides a wide viewing angle and high contrast. The screen has a fluorine coat to prevent soiling, a hard coat to prevent scratches, and an anti-reflection coat to give excellent visibility even outdoors in bright sunshine.
Specifications:
Camera
* LCD display size: 3 inch
General
* Camera Type: Digital compact
* Dimensions (H x W x D): 70.2 x 113.9 x 28.9 mm
* Weight: 160 g
Still images
* Still image format: JPEG, RAW
Storage
* Storage type(s): Secure Digital Card, Secure Digital High Capacity
* Internal memory: MB
The compact and versatile interchangeable unit camera system. In order to make the best use of the inherent power of the lens and the image sensor, the ideal solution is to combine both in a single unit. Consider, for example, the low-pass filter covering the surface of the image sensor. The dilemma faced is that while the filter helps prevent color noise and color moiré, increasing this benefit results in an ever greater sacrifice in lens resolution. Traditional interchangeable lens systems use a single low-pass filter for all lenses so they are unable to avoid situations where the filter effect is excessive or inadequate. With the GXR, on the other hand, we can design a filter optimized for the resolution of the specific lens. In this way, Ricoh has succeeded in effectively preventing color noise while suppressing filter influence on lens resolution.
The ease with which dust can adhere to image sensors has been a system problem for interchangeable lens digital cameras up to now. In the case of GXR camera units, however, the lens and the image sensor are integrated into a single unit. This structure makes it difficult for dust to get in since it is not necessary to expose the inside of the camera when changing lenses. In addition, the inside of the units are highly airtight with light-shielded walls. Even in highly dusty shooting environments, camera units can be changed without hesitation.
In a relationship similar to that of an SLR and its lens mount, the guide rail is a defining characteristic of the GXR system. In order to create a highly reliable slide mechanism, stainless steel with superior strength and corrosion resistance was adopted for the rails. Surface hardness and wear resistance were further enhanced with a soft-nitriding process, the end result being a high-precision slide that enables secure attachment and removal. The combination of the slide, the resin components, and the pressure-welded springs give an appropriate sliding feel and quietness. In the development, high-stress attachment/removal testing was done to verify the reliability of both mechanical and electrical connections.
Both the body and the camera units utilize a magnesium alloy exterior. Light, strong, and exhibiting superior precision-molding, heat-dissipation, and magnetic-shielding characteristics, magnesium alloy is an ideal material for digital cameras. With a non-slip “pear-skin” baked finish for both corrosion resistance and a high-class feel, the GXR exterior achieves durability, reliability, and high-class impression.