GRD4 functions the GXR should have

[Blow-in]

I'm warming to my GXR A12 50 - the IQ is great, I love the lens (some love there then) and I like the manual focus ring (despite being fly-by-wire). But there are some really useful functions and options that the GRD4 has that I miss on the GXR. Is it too late for a FW update? Probably, but if there is any truth in the rumour that there may be a GXR2 then perhaps there is hope.

I'll start with 3 functions that I think should appeal to all GXR users:

#1 - whole page scrolling of the menu. On the GRD4 you can scroll up or down a whole page at a time using the zoom rocker.

#2 - a 5th user definable quick access icon via the adjust button. On the GRD4 I have exposure metering, white balance, ISO, focus mode & image settings (as well as the steerable target hairs). On the GXR I've had to drop off ISO which I control via the 'MY' functions instead

#3 - switch on the camera for replay by holding down the replay button. This is a great GRD4 feature that allows you to review your work without powering-up the lens.

Perhaps with less wide appeal, I'd like to have:

#4 - the WB options that the GRD4 FW 2.30 delivers

#5 - the image settings such as positive film, beach bypass & cross processing found on the GRD4 (OK this won't appeal to RAW shooters and could be considered a bit toy like)

#6 - some dynamic range compensation options....the GXR has a much better dynamic range than the GRD4 but DRC would still be useful at times (I think the GR has this despite its APS-C sized sensor?).

If any of these functions are available already on the GXR I'd be delighted to be corrected!

What do other users think?

Richard

 

[Ripbab]

Hi Richard.
#2. The A16 also only has 4 quick access on the adjust
#3. The A16 can turn on and off replay holding down replay
#5. Yes I would like bleach bypass and positive
#6. The A16 has weak medium and strong DRC

 

[Blow-in]

Hi Richard.
#2. The A16 also only has 4 quick access on the adjust
#3. The A16 can turn on and off replay holding down replay
#5. Yes I would like bleach bypass and positive
#6. The A16 has weak medium and strong DRC

Garry,

Thanks - the A16 is a bit more advanced then than the A12 (50).

Richard

 

[Tom Caldwell]

I'm warming to my GXR A12 50 - the IQ is great, I love the lens (some love there then) and I like the manual focus ring (despite being fly-by-wire). But there are some really useful functions and options that the GRD4 has that I miss on the GXR. Is it too late for a FW update? Probably, but if there is any truth in the rumour that there may be a GXR2 then perhaps there is hope.

I'll start with 3 functions that I think should appeal to all GXR users:

#1 - whole page scrolling of the menu. On the GRD4 you can scroll up or down a whole page at a time using the zoom rocker.

Hold down the direct button and use the + or - button (up down arrow)

#2 - a 5th user definable quick access icon via the adjust button. On the GRD4 I have exposure metering, white balance, ISO, focus mode & image settings (as well as the steerable target hairs). On the GXR I've had to drop off ISO which I control via the 'MY' functions instead

[Update FW gives 5 slots] Try the direct screen it has a lot of usefulness, gan be set at various levels of opaque to nearly translucent, in my book it near as dammit replaces the adj lever. Wish there was a direct screen on the GRD and GR.

#3 - switch on the camera for replay by holding down the replay button. This is a great GRD4 feature that allows you to review your work without powering-up the lens.

Already answered, just hold the playback button down for a second or so - most cameras now seem to do this. On the GR the lens does not extend.

Perhaps with less wide appeal, I'd like to have:

#4 - the WB options that the GRD4 FW 2.30 delivers

There has been no FWupdate for a while on th GXR. If you don't have it then get it - the GXR has some pretty good enhancements already. [includes more WB settings]

#5 - the image settings such as positive film, beach bypass & cross processing found on the GRD4 (OK this won't appeal to RAW shooters and could be considered a bit toy like)

There are some modes in "Scene Mode" (miniturise, high contrast b&w, soft focus, cross process, toy camera) [update fw necessary] but also in the general image settings there are quite configurable Setting1 and Setting2 that you can adjust to user preference.

#6 - some dynamic range compensation options....the GXR has a much better dynamic range than the GRD4 but DRC would still be useful at times (I think the GR has this despite its APS-C sized sensor?).

I thought there was something on DR bu I cannot find it - must be confused

If any of these functions are available already on the GXR I'd be delighted to be corrected!

What do other users think?

Richard

I think the iPad is not up to fixing the quotes - bear with me ...

Tom

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Richard

I am only into the m mount module but the 50mm at least as push macro and use focus ring to speed up focus movement. Also FW upgrade.

Tom

 

[streetshooter]

Richard, all valid request. The one that gets me on all Ricohs is.... the ADJ lever. Why only 4-5? There's room for a few more at least. This would be a good way to fight the menu war.

 

[Blow-in]

Tom,

Thanks for your email. I believe I'm on the latest FW with the GXR body & A12 50.

I've worked through your comments and:

#1 - solved! As you say when in menu mode holding down 'direct' and scrolling with the '+ -' page does give whole page scrolling.

#2 - I probably didn't express myself too well. I have 5 icons with the adjust but one of them is the cross hairs which is not changeable - I'd like a 6th (or more as Don suggests).

#3 - solved! I wasn't pressing the replay for long enough...the focus light green comes on a bit before the image is displayed.

2 out of 6 is a good start - thank you.

I also agree that 'direct' is a strong GXR feature for menu navigation.

Richard

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Richard, all valid request. The one that gets me on all Ricohs is.... the ADJ lever. Why only 4-5? There's room for a few more at least. This would be a good way to fight the menu war.

Don,

Have you seen the Direct Screen on the GXR? Something that could easily be replicated on the GR if the effects button had an option to be used as a "Direct" button. In fact the direct screen does a lot of things that the adj lever does.

Tom

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Tom,

Thanks for your email. I believe I'm on the latest FW with the GXR body & A12 50.

I've worked through your comments and:

#1 - solved! As you say when in menu mode holding down 'direct' and scrolling with the '+ -' page does give whole page scrolling.

#2 - I probably didn't express myself too well. I have 5 icons with the adjust but one of them is the cross hairs which is not changeable - I'd like a 6th (or more as Don suggests).

#3 - solved! I wasn't pressing the replay for long enough...the focus light green comes on a bit before the image is displayed.

2 out of 6 is a good start - thank you.

I also agree that 'direct' is a strong GXR feature for menu navigation.

Richard

Richard,

I take it that you have not had "the pleasure" of using the "cross hairs" with the mount module. Not one of the GXR "good looks". The whole part magnified screen and moving the cross hairs about is not very elegant when they merely strip out the bits not applicable to manual focus and leave a firmwares shell full of unused stubs and blind alleys.

Not sure how a lens module would work but I have Fn1 set to magnify full screen, and Fn2 the toggle focus peaking assist off/on. Like most hardened mount module users I use Mode2. The one that must give those that like a big bright ovf a bout of indigestion (grin). There is no doubt that mode2 focus peaking is the very antithesis of what you see is what you get but (boy oh boy) it works well for manual focus confirm.

A nice touch that the Sony NEX doesn't have is that if you are magnifying a screen to get a precise point of focus then a soft press of the shutter will remove any focus peaking and give a full capture framing image view. On releasing the soft press the image will revert to the previous magnified/focus-peaked view to re-check focus. Therefore the soft press acts as a useful intuitive final-setting toggle.

You might not immeditely notice that when in magnified view a press-hold of the delete button will pop up a scollable menu to select a magnification ratio.

The GXR with mount module opens up a whole new photographic experience. There are so many good old MF lenses out there "winking" at us.

Tom

 

[Blow-in]

Tom,

Thanks for your email. I believe I'm on the latest FW with the GXR body & A12 50.

I've worked through your comments and:

#1 - solved! As you say when in menu mode holding down 'direct' and scrolling with the '+ -' page does give whole page scrolling.

#2 - I probably didn't express myself too well. I have 5 icons with the adjust but one of them is the cross hairs which is not changeable - I'd like a 6th (or more as Don suggests).

#3 - solved! I wasn't pressing the replay for long enough...the focus light green comes on a bit before the image is displayed.

2 out of 6 is a good start - thank you.

I also agree that 'direct' is a strong GXR feature for menu navigation.

Richard

Richard,

I take it that you have not had "the pleasure" of using the "cross hairs" with the mount module. Not one of the GXR "good looks". The whole part magnified screen and moving the cross hairs about is not very elegant when they merely strip out the bits not applicable to manual focus and leave a firmwares shell full of unused stubs and blind alleys.

Not sure how a lens module would work but I have Fn1 set to magnify full screen, and Fn2 the toggle focus peaking assist off/on. Like most hardened mount module users I use Mode2. The one that must give those that like a big bright ovf a bout of indigestion (grin). There is no doubt that mode2 focus peaking is the very antithesis of what you see is what you get but (boy oh boy) it works well for manual focus confirm.

A nice touch that the Sony NEX doesn't have is that if you are magnifying a screen to get a precise point of focus then a soft press of the shutter will remove any focus peaking and give a full capture framing image view. On releasing the soft press the image will revert to the previous magnified/focus-peaked view to re-check focus. Therefore the soft press acts as a useful intuitive final-setting toggle.

You might not immeditely notice that when in magnified view a press-hold of the delete button will pop up a scollable menu to select a magnification ratio.

The GXR with mount module opens up a whole new photographic experience. There are so many good old MF lenses out there "winking" at us.

Tom

Tom,

Thanks again. I don't have the M module, just the A12 50. I have Fn1 set to AF/MF and Fn2 set to FA. I'll try mode 2 FA - I had been using mode 1. Mode 2 certainly seems easier to use sitting here at my desk. I press and hold the menu button to access the magnified screen (it cycles through a small centre panel to a whole screen then off). I had noticed the self timer/delete button option and have now tried it...I use 4x as a default and will stick with that for most of the time. There is certainly a lot to explore with the GXR.

When the GXR fist came out most reviewers commentated that it was expensive and only made sense if you bought in to several lens units. I guess the M module changed that for those who are happy with a manual camera and and have a collection of 'old' lenses or who like to bargain hunt. I've resisted the M module (so far!) and was lucky to be able to buy a brand new GXR with the A12 50 for less than half the full price as part of the GXR run out. This alters the cost dynamic and makes a single lens unit good value. I paid £349 and if I wanted a GR at the moment (I do fo course but it's not happening) I have to pay £599. While zoom lenses seem attractive, I know from my film days that they stayed in the bag and I preferred to use a 'prime'. I like the 50mm of the A12 50 and it is a great lens. For wide angle I have the trusty GRD4. Occasionally I would like a short telephoto (around 85mm) but despite my preference from primes, the A16 at £249 in the UK makes more sense than the M module at £299 + lens + adapter. So I'm probably talking myself in to a A16.

Anyway, thanks again for your GXR tips - very helpful.

Richard

 

[Ricohfanboy]

What I do for ISO is the direct ISO control by the Adj wheel. That way I have all the settings I need on dedicated dials/ buttons:

- exposure comp on up/down
- ISO on Adj (and without going in the menu at all!)
- Aperture on the front wheel (since I almost always use aperture priority)
- and Fn1/2 control lensor-specific things...

So direct ISO should free up one of the five Adj selections...

 

[Blow-in]

What I do for ISO is the direct ISO control by the Adj wheel. That way I have all the settings I need on dedicated dials/ buttons:

- exposure comp on up/down
- ISO on Adj (and without going in the menu at all!)
- Aperture on the front wheel (since I almost always use aperture priority)
- and Fn1/2 control lensor-specific things...

So direct ISO should free up one of the five Adj selections...

That's another great tip - thanks. I'd not used the direct ISO option but am doing now.

Richard

 

[Blow-in]

So one week on....

#1 - whole page scrolling of the menu. On the GRD4 you can scroll up or down a whole page at a time using the zoom rocker. Solved by Tom - hold down direct and use = -

#2 - a 5th user definable quick access icon via the adjust button. On the GRD4 I have exposure metering, white balance, ISO, focus mode & image settings (as well as the steerable target hairs). On the GXR I've had to drop off ISO which I control via the 'MY' functions instead Solved by Ricohfanboy - enable direct ISO on adjust button

#3 - switch on the camera for replay by holding down the replay button. This is a great GRD4 feature that allows you to review your work without powering-up the lens. Solved by Tom - just press the replay button for a bit longer than on the GRD4

Perhaps with less wide appeal, I'd like to have:

#4 - the WB options that the GRD4 FW 2.30 delivers still open although with FW1.51 there are more options - probably sufficient - than originally

#5 - the image settings such as positive film, beach bypass & cross processing found on the GRD4 (OK this won't appeal to RAW shooters and could be considered a bit toy like) partially solved by Tom as some of these options are available in Scene - would still like to have them in the image settings menu

#6 - some dynamic range compensation options....the GXR has a much better dynamic range than the GRD4 but DRC would still be useful at times (I think the GR has this despite its APS-C sized sensor?). not available on the A12 50 but available on the A16

Thanks for the help - # 1 to 3 were my main gripes and they are all sorted now.

Richard