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Advantages of the M (manual) mount solution

odklizec

odklizec

PK
Soon after the official announcement of the M mount module, there started some heated discussions (mainly at the dpreview forum) about the "unhappy" choice of the mount, especially because of the manual nature of the mount. A lot of negatives were told, but nobody seemed to point on the positive aspects of that choice. I personally see at least three advantages of the manual nature of the mount that could great enhance the photographic experience. But I understand they may not be satisfactory enough for all consumers?

1) Manual focus with manual focus ring is much faster (and precise) than with any focus by wire solution. I know this because I owned and actively used several manual lenses. Even with quick MF mode, the A12 MF experience is not on par with MF on pure manual lens.

2) No artificial limitation of used aperture/shutter speed. At the moment, the usability of the A12 modules is somewhat crippled by the limited shutter speeds for certain apertures. For example, the highest selectable shutter speed for wide open A12 (both 28/50) is 1/1000. This rules out the usage of the wide open aperture in the bright light conditions. This limitation should be gone with the manual lenses as the aperture could be set on the lens and there is no info about it transferred to the body.

3) There should be now possible to use the manual focus in the video mode! Not that I care much about the video mode, but it could be useful from time to time? Especially with 50mm (and longer lenses), where the focus could be quickly off because of much higher DoF.

Feel free to add your positives of the manual mount (if you see any).
 
Pavel, I think you've nailed it. What I'd like to add is detractors miss the whole rationale behind the GXR system.

The GXR is not the poor man's Leica M8; it is a totally modular system that includes AF primes and zoom lenses.

GXR is not micro four thirds without AF. The GXR system's AF lenses are a sealed unit. You can shoot M-lenses without adapters. Flange tolerance is extremely tight; remember all the hoo-hah over the Hexar RF flange spec (which was a misunderstanding). The tolerance on most adapters isn't great. When you stack adapters, there are multiple tolerances combined.

GXR is not an ugly NEX. It has great user control systems, unlike the sucky touch screen and consumer-oriented stitch pan gizmo that is the Nex. A GXR-M looks a lot less mis-matched than a Nex with a Leica lens coupled onto it.

There really is no equivalent to the GXR out there.

I think that Ricoh should make M-lenses. They should make m4/3 lenses too, even if they don't make a m4/3 mount. If they can get the great GR AF lenses to work in m4/3 standard, people will realise they are better than even the best of the current crop, the Lumix 20/1.7 and the Ricoh name get better recognition. Not that Ricoh cares about recognition and Ricoh users are used to people not understanding their choise of camera brand. I say leave them to their mainstream brands!
 
Thanks!

That bulge on the side is interesting. It's strange that a module with supposedly just a bayonet mount and an APS-C sensor inside should be bigger than an A12 unit. I wonder what's in there.

I am also gagging to hear the price. Ricoh, you are such a tease! ;)
 
This 'bulge' is the housing of the focal plane shutter I believe. The other modules of Ricoh have leaf shutters I guess and they are implemented in the lens itself. Not so for Leica M and R lenses where there must be a shutter just in front of the sensor. It's easy to estimate when the differences in camera construction and design is on a certain level..... :mrgreen:
Since 5 years I'm using manual M lenses in analogue photography on Bessas and Leicas and it's hard to describe the smooth feedback and resistance of the focusring when the lens isn't too old with hardened grease in the throw. These lenses are very fast to focus and with the appropriate technic and on the street sometimes faster than AF lenses when the target is in dim light or has low contrast. ( Set focus to max. distance and turn the ring or in case of the most lenses feel the little hub with your finger and know the distance) and and.....

I don't know why there is a discussion about this M-mount because I didn't read the DPreview article but it's strange because there are only manual focus lenses for the M-mount..... :?: There is no disadvantage regarding this manual operation because all these lenses are MF and nobody is obliged to buy them and feel uncomfortable....... :lol:
 
odklizec":33rbulnm said:
Feel free to add your positives of the manual mount (if you see any).
Click to expand...

1. The fact that this is a module means if/when better sensor technology comes along Ricoh can release another M module, maybe it will be full frame and you still have familiarity with the GRX OS.

2. If a GRX2 body upgrade comes along you can move your M module to the new body - fantastic.

3. Perhaps later a Mk II module may come along with improved method of focus - you still have your lenses and body.

I can't see any negative to this module. If it takes development resources from other modules being delivered faster is maybe the only argument against it, but I'd rather this M module than m43.
 
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