Ricoh GR-D/GR-D11

[Iloca]

I curently use an E-3 and 14-54 when I'm out on the hill but really I'd like something (much) smaller and lighter. I'm used to SLR's, never having been a fan of compacts mainly due to the control layout. I had a play with a GR-D in a camera shop (no longer there ) some time ago and really liked the handling (apart from no OVF and the typical compact remote manual focus) I saw a few A4 prints and they looked very nice IMO.

Anyone here using a GR-D or GR-D 11, what do you think about it, how good is noise control up to ISO400, is the LCD good in bright sunshine, does the LCD display a live histogram, is the EVF worth buying (it's pretty expensive) has anyone used a Turret finder designed for a 35mm rangefinder on their GR-D?, are the lens adapters or whatever you call them any good?

Oh, almost forgot, does Lightroom handle GR-D/GR-D11 raw files?

Apart from all that what is your general opinion of the GR-D/GR-D11, is it worth the money?

Thanks in advance, any comments will be appreciated.

[Fen]

Best ask Tanya (Seven)

She got one and got rid of it as soon as she could.

Noise BAD at anything past ISO 200, even at ISO 200 was bad in some circumstances

[Iloca]

Hmmm, yeah I've been over at the Ricohforum.com and I've gone off the idea. They seem a bit fragile, don't like getting wet and the rear command dial on the GR-D11 is no longer a wheel, it's a kind of jog dial like the other Ricoh compacts.

I always liked the idea of one too

[Benchista]

Best ask Tanya (Seven)

She got one and got rid of it as soon as she could.

Noise BAD at anything past ISO 200, even at ISO 200 was bad in some circumstances

Nope. That was the GX100.

[Benchista]

I think lots of us like the idea of one, it's the execution we're not so keen on. Which goes a long way to explain the keen interest in Micro 4/3.

[Iloca]

I know what you mean, the devil is in the detail.

You know for all the digital cameras on the market there seems to be less choice or more compromise than there used to be with film cameras, at least with film you didn't need to compromise on the 'Sensor' size, you could have a small or large SLR, Manual or AF, a fixed lens R/F, an Interchangeable lens R/F a point & shoot compact or an advanced compact, all that without even mentioning different film formats. Everything is so similar now that it almost boils down to what name you prefer on the body. Maybe they should just make one of each style and suppply a box of decals.

I can understand the interest in m4/3rds (well could have if Olympus hadn't said what they did about the target user)but I'm scared to get excited about it as I think I'll be dissapointed.

I'm really ****** off because much of this comes down to having to please people who can't be bothered to learn to use a ******* camera in the first place so we end up with ******* point & shoot and 'Manual' control thrown in as an afterthought. Really, would you actually be bothered trying to manually focus something that doesn't have a focus ring and requires you to look at a highly magnified, pixellated LCD (at arms length in bright sunlight when you can't even see the ******* screen)

Just for good measure,

[OneTen]

You would have thought the market would be large enough to make an ethusiasts pocket digital a viable option. Maybe we should petition the manufacturers.

[Iloca]

Probably a waste of time, they're too busy supplying cameras to 'Soccer Moms' who can't decide if they want a camera or jewellery.

[mike_j]

Easy answer - just miss off the D

I'm still using my GR1, its had a hard life, clocked up many sea miles (and a few air ones), superb lens and near ideal handling and controls for a compact. In my view one of the best three or four compacts ever made.

[Spo]

I have a GRII, my mate has had the GR for a while before me. The GR was very very noisy and not great. The GRII while still a bit on the noisy side, up and beyond 400, is a great camera. I shoot RAW and convert it in Lightroom with good results. I'd recommend it, some interesting features including square shooting which I love for portraits.