06.02.06

Neko Tech – Ricoh’s GR1.

Posted in Technical, Articles at 1:27 pm by filmwast

While the Canonet is my classic 35 from the 1970s, the GR1 is my classic 35 from the 1990s. Released in 1996, it is a Point-and-Shoot designed from scratch to embody a number of semi-professional attributes. Auto-focus (with some manual options), full-auto exposure (with aperture priority override) and exposure compensation, it was made with a magnesium chassis, and magnesium body covers.

1996 Ricoh GR1.

The camera feels really good in the hand as a result. It is extremely thin (25mm), and the cool metal covers and metal shutter release have a glorious tactile feel. Metal parts abound. Overall size vs function continues to amaze me. This camera is tiny, motor-wound and really quiet, it is simply a little joy to use. The auto-loading function pre-winds a whole film; accidental back opening damage is minimized as a result.

From its first introduction, it morphed from the plain-Jane GR1, through the GR1 Date, GR1s, GR1v and finally the neato GR21. None of which are built any more.

While the GR1 series all had a 28mm f2.8 lens and aperture priority, they also had a few manual options to assist the Point-and-Shoot crowd who wanted a bit more control. With the GR21, Ricoh introduced a 21mm lens to the already excellent GR chassis.

The GR1v matched the GR1s’ date capability with a few extra programming highlights, including the ability to override the base DX functionality. The GR21 too has DX-override, and also gets an external flash-socket. I think GR21s were made in Japan too, whereas most GR1s were made in Taiwan.

Aperture Control. Ricoh GR1.

All GRs have an exposure compensation dial to allow additional control in either P-mode, or in aperture priority mode (+/- 2 stops). The aperture priority / P dial is easily tweaked with the thumb when shooting, making manual control a one-handed breeze.

Blued Steel Exposure Compensation. Ricoh GR1.

Shutter release lag is nil in all modes (after auto-focus). Auto-focus lag is measurable, but not an issue – a simple ‘whrr’ and its locked on. If auto-focus lag is an issue, a number of manual override settings are available.

The non-s/v version lacks the green backlit LCD, but you can still see the display well in low-light conditions. The viewfinder however is often a source of complaint. I find no major problems with it, knowing its size and functions have been designed down to support the overall small camera’s size.

The viewfinder’s functions are backlit with a green LED in the dark, and some complaints probably stem from its intermediate- to low-light performance before the LED is tripped on.

Filters, hoods, and special cases are also available. For those concerned about such matters the hood is considered by some necessary, as flaring is supposedly apparent in the short lens/body combo. Flare? Bring it on I say…

Picture quality is excellent, with sharpness far in excess of that expected from a regular Point-and-Shoot. The manual override functions are almost always used to exert a level of control over my results, and I am very happy with the outcome.

Nihonbashi Gray Mouse. Ilford XP2.

Light vignetting is sometimes visible at f2.8. The small built-in flash is effective for those close night shots (<3m), and it slow-syncs in aperture priority mode. Nice.

Shibuya Gungero. Ilford XP2.

The GR line has recently been supplemented with a GR Digital. While the camera looks essentially the same, apart from the magnesium body, it is a different camera entirely. While Ricoh claim the GR lens has been duplicated for the GR Digital, I cannot imagine this is true as the optical qualities of a lens engineered for a digital sensor should be different to a conventional film lens. Still, it makes for a nice story, and carries the GR name into the future; perhaps making a few question its origins and take the step to find out what the fuss was about (as I have).

I bought this one as my surrogate digital camera. Small, fast, battery efficient, I can carry it loaded with ISO400 C41 XP2 and get a 45-minute turn-around onto CD. Not quite a routine PaS, and a little secret for street photographers here in Japan – Moriyama Daido amongst others…

GR1s range in price from USD200 to USD500, and GR21s are around USD1500.

Moriyami and Araki in Shinjuku (and GR21).

Maintenance Note: Some GR users have complained of either shutter lag, or a small delay in the auto-focus function. This camera too had a similar problem, and it appears to be caused by a slight degradation of conductivity in the electric shutter release button. A small squirt of electrical contact cleaner and a blow of puffer air into the shutter button fixed this immediately.

Next: The Submarine. Have fun.

Permalink