Amateur Photographer Magazine

 Ricoh GXR camera: Interview, pictures and first look (update) - Future system development

Tuesday 10th November 2009

Damien Demolder

The camera system is in itself interesting enough, but the potential for add-on elements and more developments make GXR very exciting. There is no lens mount obviously, but on questioning Mr Kazunobu Saiki, general manager for Ricoh's global camera division, seemed to acknowledge that a sensor unit fitted with a mount receptive to M and L rangefinder lenses would be a positive addition to the system. Those with good memories will recall that Ricoh had the 28mm f/2.8 and 21mm f/3.5 lenses from its film GR series of compact cameras launched as limited-edition screw-thread L models many years ago. I don't suppose the possibility of making its new system directly attractive to Leica and Voigtländer users has passed the company by. Neither Saiki nor Katagiri would be drawn on when this type of unit might become available, but in previous talks Saiki has agreed that an important element in the success of the Micro Four Thirds system is its ability to tap into existing lens systems via adapters. This type of strategy ensures a new system does not require a complete reinvestment for photographer to take it up.
There will be more lens/sensor units released in the second quarter of 2010.

More than just a camera



Saiki spent some time demonstrating that there is potential for the camera body to be used to host units other than those containing lenses and sensors. The slot in the body could be used to mount a storage device, for example, to transfer image files from a memory card and even to view them on a larger screen. The connectors could also be used to send images to a slot-in projector unit, or a mini printer, among any number of other add-ons.
The GXR modular system is an extremely interesting idea and it really is full of potential.
We'll have to wait and see how it pans out. I suspect though the success of the system as a whole will depend quite heavily on how Ricoh goes about explaining it and also on how accessible and desirable the system is made early on by the order in which products are launched.
The company needs to put the aspiration element into the minds of users at the earliest opportunity, to ensure that the initial desire is met by a credible range of options that will satisfy at least the general needs of demanding photographers.
Fantastic as GXR is, the AP reader will probably like a little more encouragement to invest in such a new system.

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