Ricoh GRX - "Superspennende"

I gamle dager var ting lettere. Kjøpte du deg et skikkelig kamera kunne du beholde dette i årevis og nyte godt av utviklingen på filmfronten. Anderledes i dag, hvor det kommer nye sensorer på løpende bånd, men hvor disse bokstavelig talt er låst fast til kamerahuset. I en ideell verden skulle vi hatt kamerahus hvor vi kunne bytte ut sensoren.

Ideelt sett ville jeg sett for meg et fullstendig modularisert system med utbyttbar opptikk, og en egen, utbyttbar sensormodul. tanken på å gå med en knippe forskjellige sensorer i lomma tiltaler meg...

Ricoh GRX kommer oss litt i møte på dette området:

Konseptet betår i at kamerahuset, med grep, knapper, skjerm, blits, batteri og minnekort, er skilt fra andre enheter som innholder objektiv, bildebrikke og prosessor.
Dermed kan en bytte til en annen bildebrikke (riktignok med påfølgende objektiv) når behovene endrer seg. Eksempelvis kan en liten bildebrikke gi stor dybdeskarphet og stor televirkning, mens en større bildebrikke kan benyttes dersom en vil arbeide med uskarpe bakgrunner, eller der hvor en skal fotografere i dårlig lys.

I første omgang kommer Ricoh GXR med to objektiver, en 50 mm f/2,5 Macro med en 12,3 Mp CMOS bildebrikke i APS-C størrelse og en GR ENGINE III prosessor. Objektivet har både autofokus og manuell fokus. Den andre objektivmodulen er en 24-72 mm f/2,5-4,4 VC, med bevegelig bildebrikke for bildestabilisering. Sensoren i denne modulen er atskillig mindre, en 1/1,7" CCD og en Smooth Imaging Engine IV prosessor.



GXR kan gjøre videoopptak, men oppløsningen vil avhenge av objektivmodulen som er montert. Med 50 mm objektivet kan en oppnå inntil 1280x720 med 24 b/s, mens 24-72 mm objektivet bare gir 640x480 med 30 b/s. Dette har sammenheng med at sensorene er av forskjellig type, som forklart i videoen ovenfor.

Fra den engelske pressemeldingen:

Even greater power of expression

• The automatic exposure modes include program shift mode, shutter priority mode, and aperture priority mode.
• Picture settings can be customized with nine setting levels for easy creation of a diverse range of images.
• ISO3200 facilitates shooting in low light conditions.

Enhanced rapid shooting capabilities help capture fleeting shutter chances

• The Pre-AF function accelerates focusing speed by adjusting the focus to match subject movement.
• The full press snap function shoots at a preset distance for a one-push full-press of the shutter-release button.
• When shooting subjects up close, the camera automatically switches to macro mode so macro photography can now be enjoyed without having to worry about switching modes.(Auto macro setting)

High-definition 3.0-inch 920,000-dot VGA LCD picture display

• 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.
• With 100% sRGB coverage for color reproduction, the picture display vividly reproduces image colors.

Wide range of functions

• Tilt indicator utilizing an acceleration sensor.
• Three grid guides useful for framing images while shooting.
• Image flag function to enable the quick display of specific images from among those in the camera. Up to 20 images can be flagged.
• The new DIRECT screen enabling current settings to be displayed and changed.

Features of the GR LENS A12 50 mm** F2.5 MACRO camera unit

• This camera unit uses a 23.6 mm×15.7 mm (APS-C size) CMOS sensor with approximately 12.30 megapixels. In combination with image processing engine GR ENGINE III, it achieves high-image-quality photography with high definition, low noise, and smooth tonal gradations.
• A newly developed GR LENS with an 8-group, 9-element configuration (aspherical lens: 1 element, two surfaces) is featured. Representing a further advancement in the GR tradition of high image quality, the lens thoroughly corrects for various types of aberrations. Despite the compact size, it is also a full-fledged macro lens with a floating lens structure. At shooting distances from infinity down to the 1/2x maximum magnification macro range, it achieves strong imaging power all the way to the edge of the frame. In addition, the low level of vignetting means that the photographer can enjoy rich and genuine bokeh effects.
• The manual focus ring is perfect for use in macro photography as it makes highly precise focusing possible. It can also be used to make fine manual adjustments to the focus after autofocus is done.

Features of the RICOH LENS S10 24-72 mm** F2.5-4.4 VC camera unit

• This camera unit uses a 10.00 megapixel 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor boasting high-sensitivity capabilities enhanced through the adoption of an new process. In combination with advanced image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine IV, it achieves high-image-quality photography with high definition and low noise.
• The lens is a 24 mm to 72 mm high-performance 3x wide-angle zoom with superior usability. Utilizing a 7-group, 11-element configuration (aspherical lens: 4 elements, 4 surfaces) that includes special low-dispersion lenses, this lens achieves high dimensions of both compactness and imaging power.
• A camera shake correction function (image-sensor-shift type) is used to reduce hand- motion blur.
• The self-retaining lens cap has been a popular GX series option, and a GXR version is available as option LC-2.
• New options enhance series expandability
• Two soft cases, one for each camera unit.
• The GXR can use the GR DIGITAL III external flash (GF-1), which can do TTL flash using auxiliary flash.
• Convenient for shooting in bright outdoor situations, the newly developed 920,000-dot- equivalent high-definition LCD viewfinder is removable and can be tilted up to 90 degrees. With a 100% field of view, it displays information in the same way as the picture display, thus enabling the photographer to shoot in a film camera style.

Functions expanded using firmware

* Function-enhancing firmware releases for the GR DIGITAL series have proved very popular, and this practice will be continued for the GXR. By updating their firmware, GXR owners will be able to use the latest functions.

*Internal flash, interchangeable lens digital cameras with lens attached.
As of November 10, 2009, Ricoh research.
**All of the focal lengths in this release are converted to the equivalent values for a 35 mm film camera.