Ricoh GR Digital: Resurrecting a pioneering camera from 2005
Delving into the depths of my digital archive, I unearthed a slew of largely forgotten images. A few had been taken with the pioneering Ricoh GR Digital camera, often now referred to as the GRD, which I bought in 2007. After a little more searching, I found the original box with instructions and the charger. But no camera, until much later when it appeared not in the case I was expecting.
Is this 17-year-old compact camera just a museum piece, or can it still perform? It certainly did perform in its day.
The box bore three interesting labels, or accolades, which revealed the technical accomplishments that the little camera had achieved following its launch in 2004 and its arrival on the market the following year.
First was the Technical Image Press Association 2006 award for the Best Prestige Camera. The second was a Special prize from the Camera Press Club in 2006. And finally, the Ricoh GR Digital won the iF Product Design Award.
These were relatively early days in the digital photography era. Yet, derivatives of this camera are still made today in 2022. The GR III and GR IIIx, fitted with bigger APS-C sensors, have a cult following and look very little different to my digital relic. In between, there have been at least one or two variants with a zoom lens, which I also owned and then sold when they had served their purpose. But the little Ricoh GR Digital somehow survived.
During the picture library research, I discovered a legacy of several hundred retained images, of which at least sixteen had been published worldwide through a picture library. The image quality was certainly not found to be wanting commercially. But by 2009, new competition had appeared. Images from my new Leica X1 and M8 clearly were superior, leading to the retirement of my GRD for serious work. The brand was sidelined until now.
The light magnesium alloy body of the Ricoh GR Digital is diminutive, making it a superior and pocketable little camera like no other digicam of its time. Smartphones had yet to be invented. The GRD possesses a modest 8.1MP CCD sensor but can capture RAW files, as an alternative to JPEGs, in two levels of compression to meet the limitations of expensive but low-capacity memory cards. The GRD is limited to 2GB cards, which are difficult to find nowadays.
The Ricoh GR Digital has an excellent fixed 5.9mm (28mm equivalent) GR optic with a maximum aperture of f/2.4, which performs impeccably. The GRD proved to be enduringly popular with street and travel photographers by virtue of its small size, low weight (less than 200 grams), silent operation and excellent results. It is inconspicuous.
Mục lục bài viết
From the archives
Searching the internet, I discovered that the original model outlined in this article is nowadays much sought after for its ‘film-like’ treatment of the pictures it produces. In addition, users like the rendering of black-and-white photographs. So it appeals to those seeking to portray the modern world like ‘yesteryear’, where its propensity for showing noise at its higher ISO settings passes convincingly for grain. Until its resurrection in my hands this year, the camera had rarely been used in this way.
How times have changed. However, Ricoh GR Digital lacks a built-in viewfinder, relying on a fixed LCD monitor on the back of the camera (as do, incidentally, the current iterations of the GR). There is a hot shoe for attaching a small viewfinder, or more powerful flash, although the camera already has a tiny inbuilt electronic flash unit, missing from later models.
So, the question arose, is the original GRD still usable today? Let’s find out.
Back to the present
Batteries, neglected for more than ten years, were put on charge. Much to my relief and pleasure, they did recharge and were able to power the camera. They do need replacing, however, and new ones are on the way.
Since writing Raw files to memory takes a relatively long time (up to ten seconds), I could not envisage using it that way today unless waiting time is not an issue. So I reset the camera to produce top-quality JPEGs in normal black and white. Being already winter, I set the ISO to 400 and ventured out to see what I could find.
Surprisingly, I did not miss having any form of viewfinder. I put this down to Ricoh GR Digital’s slender size and ease of composing on the rear monitor. In very bright conditions, it’s easy to brighten the LCD screen. Compositions form in the mind and are confirmed in the preview.
Unlike a rangefinder camera, there is no compulsion to raise the camera to eye level. It is easy to place the camera at differing heights, away from the face, thus concealing any intentions of picture taking. I believe this is the reason why the little Ricoh GR is so popular with street photographers, who are quickly disregarded by passers-by.
As to my flirtation with monochrome photography, I became quite enthusiastic, helped by generally indifferent weather conditions. My enjoyment is ongoing, reflected in the images shown here. I also include some of my earlier work.
Despite its small size, I quickly appreciated the Ricoh GR Digital’s fine ergonomic features and easy handling. It is the only camera I own that I can operate comfortably with one hand. I missed the ability to store my personal settings conveniently, a feature which soon appeared in later Ricoh models.
But that did not prevent me from obtaining remarkably satisfying results. In fact, very soon, I was watching YouTube videos extolling the virtues of later and current models. One video showed a challenge in London and revealed spectacular A2-size printed results.
Watch this space
Will I be upgrading my GRD? Well, I have to confess that the reunion with the old original Ricoh GR Digital, together with the consistent technical advances made by Ricoh during the ensuing interval, has tempted me to buy the Ricoh IIIx. This new derivative model has a more useful focal length of 40mm (in full-frame equivalence). I should have it by the time this article is published. So watch this space!
Share this:
Like this:
Like
Loading…
