A convert

[Jeaunse23]

After progressing through a series of Canon compacts on to Canon DSLRs I found myself wanting the convenience of a compact again and so started to look at the options. I considered Panasonic and Canon, got so far as handling thier various offerings but remained unconvinced. Then one day, out of the blue I saw a GRD1 for sale secondhand and liked the look of it. This prompted me to research the brand and I suddenly discovered 'Ricohworld'! Within a week I had a GRD3 and have never looked back. 70% of my photography is now done with this camera: Landscape, macro, street in paticular. I'm amazed that more 'serious' photographers don't know about this amazing little camera and I am sure some of my photographer friends think I've gone mad as I often dont even bother to bring my DSLR kit along when we go out. And I love the fact that the lens is fixed, an opinion that my frinds think is me being deliberately perverse! I have had the camera now for getting on for a year and it still amazes me with the shear quality of the photographs it captures, it is an undiscovered and underappreciated gem and I am an absolute convert. Its monsoon at the moment where I live and the dark grey skies and inky puddles just cry out for high iso, square format monochrome!

 

[streetcandid]

quite right ... nothing to add ... that's why I am and a lot of photographers here love the GR D's

 

[thelps]

And I love the fact that the lens is fixed, an opinion that my frinds think is me being deliberately perverse!

Hi Jeaunse23 and welcome to the forum,

There are some advantages to a fixed focal length lens. Consider lens size, fixed focal length are nearly always much brighter in max aperture. Look at a 28mm f1.9 in any other make or brand, most of the alternative lenses with that spec are as big as the whole GRD III if not larger. Distortion - the GRD III lens is very distortion free, again considering its size its surprising. Sure there are drawbacks to a fixed 28mm but its more a choice than anything wrong with it. I like the fact that it frees me from having to zoom about framing images. I just use what I have and grab an image. Its quicker.

PS: don't forget to post some images here !

 

[odklizec]

Hi Jeaunse23 and welcome to the board! I fully understand your excitement about GRD. When I first saw it, I immediately fall in love and I still consider it the best camera Ricoh ever did. GXR is of course great too, but does not meet the power of GRD yet. The size and feature set of GRD is simply astounding. The things may change a bit when Ricoh release the 28/2.5 ASPC module for GXR. We will see

Enjoy the forum and don't forget to post some photos!