The RICOH GXR is a unique system because of the interchangeable sensor/lens units. And with the lowpass-less GXR MOUNT A12, it becomes the smallest and handiest M mount body.
This isn't a rangefinder body, so requires different shooting style. Unlike a rangefinder, it lets you compose carefully on the LCD. This way you can check the bokeh and focus, and it's a little surprise to Leica M camera users.
The picture quality is formidable. The lowpass-less sensor generates extremely sharp and realistic images. This is the handiest package for those who want to enjoy countless Leica lenses including L mount lenses. With shorter flange back distance and simple construction, all Leica lenses are small. Depending on lenses, this camera becomes a high-end compact camera with a fast lens or a snapshooter with a ultra wide angle lens. If you think this is an interchangeable lens high performance compact camera, the joy with this camera is infinite.
This lens world is so deep and amusing that it is sometimes called "a lens swamp." Why don't you to get this GXR MOUNT A12 and take a peek at the abyss of the swamp.
( Photo : M.Ito / Text : M.Ishizuka )
Since the body is small, it doesn't have the sure feeling of shooting, but I'm amazed at the picture quality once the images are shown on the PC screen. This may also because of the smaller APS-C sensor which only uses the best part of lenses.
The tonality is nice from the highlight to the shadow. With a 21mm lens and an external viewfinder, it becomes a handy and pan-focusing snapshooting camera that allows a shooter to concentrate on the composition and the timing.
Because of the unique bokeh, the Nokton Classic 40mm is a great starter lens if you want to start using a M-mount system. Normally, if you start using old lenses, you have to worry about the rangefinder matching between the lens and the body. But, you'll be free from such worry if you get the GXR because you can check the focus directly on the LCD. You can also close up further by unscrewing a L-mount lens (but please do it at your own risk).
The colors are austere, but this is just like I saw. Color reproduction is neutral, but if you worry about corner brightness, color shifts, and distortion, you can adjust them according to the lenses of your choice (old and wide lenses, especially) and register the settings.
There's no other smaller M-mount digital camera than this one. And the cost performance is amazing. Actually, the price is similar to one good lens and this is undoubtedly reasonable. If you don't care much about rangefinder mechanism, feel of operation, and shooting style, this is the best camera for those who want to use M-mount lenses.
Of course, the GXR is an interesting camera body for those who have digital or film rangefinder cameras. The live-view shooting is impossible for rangefinders and the body is much more handier. This camera will become a super-sub camera accompanying full-size rangefinders including the M9, and this way a single lens can be used on a full-size and an APS-C sensors. Actually, using telephoto lenses can be easier with the GXR. If you have a 90mm lens, you can crop the scene that you had given up shooting with a rangefinder. Don't miss this body because it can play a variety of roles according to the needs.
＊Don't forget to check sample images shot by the following lenses!
Carl Zeiss Hologon T* 8/16
LEITZ SUPER-ANGULON 3.4/21
LEITZ ELMARIT 2.8/28
LEITZ NOCTILUX 1:1/50
Voightlander ULTRA WIDE-HELIAR 12mm F5.6 ASPHERICAL
Voightlander SUPER WIDE-HELIAR 15mm F4.5 ASPHERICAL
Voightlander COLOR-SKOPAR 25mm F4P
Voightlander NOKTON Classic 35mm F1.4 SC.
Voightlander NOKTON Classic 40mm F1.4 SC.
RICOH GXR MOUNT A12
23.6 mm × 15.7 mm CMOS sensor (total pixels: approx. 12.90 million pixels)
4288×2848(3:2), 4288×2416(16:9), 3776×2832(4:3), 2848×2848(1:1)
SD and SDHC cards up to 32 GByte.
Manual (+4.0 to -4.0 EV in increments of 1/3 EV or 1/2 EV), auto bracketing (-2 EV to +2 EV in increments of 1/3 EV or 1/2 EV)
Auto, Auto-Hi, ISO-Lo, ISO 200, ISO 250, ISO 320, ISO 400, ISO 500, ISO 640, ISO 800, ISO 1000, ISO 1250, ISO 1600, ISO 2000, ISO 2500, ISO 3200
1/4000 - 180 s, bulb, time (upper and lower limits vary according to shooting and flash modes)
Maximum flash sync shutter speed: 1/180 s
