After a pre-announcement that they were going to make an announcement, Ricoh
finally made an announcement. They released details of their GR Digital camera.
It's being marketed as a high end, fixed lens, P&S, much like the GR-1 film
camera was. The idea is to have an excellent fixed focal length lens in a small
camera with lots of user control.
Well, they've sort of done that, but the "fly in the ointment" is that the
digital sensor is the same tiny size that is used by most consumer digicams. It's
a 1/1.8" sensor which means that the actual size is about 7.2mm x 5.3mm. The
problem with this is it means that high ISO images will be noisy and it will be
impossible to get shallow DOF. The lens is a 5.9mm f2.4 (which gives the same
angle of view as a 28mm lens on a full frame 35mm camera). Another problem is
that there isn't any sort of optical viewfinder. You have to hold the camera at
arms length and use the LCD on the back! You can buy and accessory optical
viewfinder that mounts on the camera, but it's a bit like buying a car and
finding out it's extra if you want headlights! It's also not very fast, taking
1.7 seconds between shots. so let's hope things happen slowly when you're using
the GR Digital.
The lens seems to have an impressive MTF, so should produce high quality
images (on the tiny sensor of course) and there is an "add on" wide converter for
a 21mm equivalent view.
I'm not sure what the US street price is expected to be, but it's listed at
£400 in the UK and 580 Euros in Europe. That probably means a US price in
the $500 region.
Overall it's sort of an interesting camera, but I don't think it quite lives
up to being a digital version of the old GR-1. It will be interesting to see
sample images when someone finally gets a production sample to review.
Here's a copy of the Ricoh Press Release:
Tokyo, Japan - September 13 - Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO:
Masamitsu Sakurai) announced today the October 21 launch of the GR Digital, a
newly developed professional-grade high-resolution compact digital camera. In
addition to a CCD with 8,130,000 effective pixels, the new digital camera boasts
superb resolution through a newly developed high-performance lens,
image-processing algorithms, and other innovations, as well as low noise and low
chromatic aberration.
The new GR Digital inherits the superb image quality that made the award winning
GR Series (first launched in 1996) of 35mm compact film cameras so popular, as
well as the depictive performance to satisfy professional photographers,
distilled into a compact 25mm thin body.
With a high-quality feel and superb expandability, this is the perfect tool for
professional photographers and advanced amateurs.
When planning the GR Digital, Ricoh’s engineers began by identifying the
elements that provide the high picture quality demanded by discerning
photographers. After much study, Ricoh placed special emphasis on resolution,
noise level, color aberration correction, color reproduction, tone, and
distortion characteristics. In order to achieve extremely high levels in each of
these areas, Ricoh gave the GR Digital a CCD with 8,130,000 effective pixels, and
also developed two key components: (1) a F2.4 fixed focal length GR lens with f =
5.9 mm (28 mm converted to 35 mm format camera) having high resolution and
depictive power; and (2) a new GR Engine image-processing system featuring
natural composition and rich, fine gradations while further lowering noise in all
images.
These key components in turn translate into a high Modulation Transfer Function
(MTF) rating for the central area of the image as well as the edges. MTF is a
measure of contrast and resolution, and one of the most widely used standards for
evaluating image quality. The GR Digital has the descriptive power to show each
hair on a person's head, with superb reproductive capability all the way into the
corners of the picture. The GR Digital’s images also reduce noise, giving
greater continuity in dark areas, reproduces natural tones and gradations, and
reduces blurring and distortion.
|
MTF Curve of GR F 2.4 Lens
with f = 5.9 mm
|
| Notes:
|
| *
|
The closer the 50/mm and 150/mm curves are to
100%, the higher the contrast and resolution.
|
| *
|
50 lines/mm and 150 lines/mm are equivalent
to 10 lines/mm and 30 lines/mm, respectively, when converted to a 35mm format
camera. In general, if a 10 line/mm 35mm format camera has an MTF of 80% or
higher, it is considered to have excellent image quality, and at 60% or higher is
considered to have satisfactory image quality.
|
| *
|
The alignment of the R and T characteristics
is vital for blurring and other depictive characteristics.
|
Ten years have passed since Ricoh launched the Ricoh DC-1, the first Ricoh
digital camera, in 1995. The Ricoh DC-1 was the world's first digital camera to
support video.
During that time Ricoh have remained at the forefront of digital camera
technology. Ricoh’s leading edge technologies have seen many breakthroughs
with such outstanding features as: 1cm macro, wide-angle high quality optical
zoom lenses, ultra fast response times (start-up and shutter release lag) and
unique linking of communications and GPS support functions.
Main Features of the GR Digital
Newly Developed GR Lens Provides High Resolution and resolving power
- A retro-focus lens using a concave lens toward the subject and a convex lens
toward the CCD, widely used in wide-angle SLRs and the like, is used. In addition
to this two glass-molded aspheric lenses and one special low dispersion lens are
used. These are optimally laid out in a configuration that fully corrects and
reduces distortion, frame aberration, color aberration, using fewer lens element.
It also improves the light transmissivity of the lens, producing clear
images.
- A retracting lens system is employed, allowing part of the lens groupings
(rear group) to be stowed inside the camera body.
- This shortens the distance between the second and third lenses when stowed.
This not only helps to improve the image quality it also helps to reduce the
camera size.
- A dedicated system can adjust the optical axis of the outer lens group and
CCD-side lens group at the micron level. This enables uniform image quality from
edge to edge.
- Equipped with a generous seven- blade aperture and neutral density (ND)
filter.
- These features enable high resolution, high image quality from edge to edge,
low noise in dark areas, natural tone and gradations, and good background
blurring upon aperture release. The ND filter uniformly absorbs each base color:
R, G, and B, allowing larger apertures to be utilized.
- Boasting 8,130,000 effective pixels, the camera delivers the high image
quality that professionals demand.
Image Processing via GR Engine Maximizes Lens Performance
- Supplemental processing on adjacent pixels creates smooth, natural
curves.
- Noise is reduced even further by including top-of-the-line components with
superb characteristics in the analog circuit. During long-term exposures, heat
and light sources – which can cause noise – are kept down to a
minimum, enabling long 3minute exposure times for great pictures of the night sky
and similar subjects.
- Through image-pattern analysis, variations in auto exposure (AE) and auto
white balance (AWB) are suppressed. As a result, Whites look White and Blacks
look Black.
- Improved AF precision in macro mode.
- Images are simultaneously stored in uncompressed RAW and JPEG formats.
Thin, Compact Design
- The thin, compact design – 107.0 x 25.0 x 58.0 mm (WxDxH) achieves both
portability and ease of use as a photographic tool. Now you can enjoy the
high-quality photography of the GR Digital any time, anywhere.
Functionally Aesthetic Design Delivers High Quality and Easy
Operability
- The lens is placed near the center of the camera, in a design that provides
the photographer maximum balance for greater stability.
- The camera uses a magnesium-alloy case combining a stylish design with
durability for maximum strength.
- Offers the first twin dial in a compact digital camera. You adjust the
aperture in the front, and the shutter in the back. This allows a high degree of
operability and flexibility when shooting in manual mode.
- The built-in strobe uses a pop-up system, preventing vignetting (gradual
fading of the image at the edges)
The Camera Itself is Simple, And Highly Expandable to Meet a Wide Range of
Needs.
- We (Ricoh) intentionally did not make an optical viewfinder standard,
offering a high-performance externally attached optional viewfinder instead. It
fits on a hot shoe almost directly above the lens to help achieve more accurate
framing.
- The wide converter optional lens features an ultra wide-angle 21 mm (when
converted to 35 mm format camera).
- An optional external strobe, cable release, hood and filters are also
available.
Short Photo Interval of 1.7 Seconds
- Even with 8,130,000 effective pixels, the shooting interval is just 1.7
seconds. When shooting continuously, you can shoot at this interval until the
memory is full.
Built-in Large, High Resolution LCD with 100% View
- The camera is equipped with a bright, high-definition, large 2.5-inch/210,000
pixel LCD. The field of view is 100%, enabling accurate framing.
Multiple Image Formats
- Images can be captured in various combinations of resolution and compression.
RAW compression and RAW with JPEG can be selected for ultimate quality.
35mm Aspect Ratio
- An aspect ratio of 3:2 can be selected, the same aspect ratio as 35mm and
most digital SLR’s that allows images to be printed in standard sizes
without cropping.
Multiple Shooting Modes
- Manual, Program, Program shift AE and Aperture Priority modes allow for
greater flexibility and freedom of expression.
Multiple Metering Modes
- Three metering modes are available: 256 multipoint, spot metering and centre
weighted average metering giving the photographer the freedom to compose shots as
they please under various lighting conditions.
Sophisticated AF
- A sophisticated 9-point AF system assures fast and accurate focus from just
30cm and 1.5cm in Macro.
Where to buy
The following vendors support photo.net when purchases are made via these
links:
Bob Atkins (www.bobatkins.com)
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