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GXR A12 28mm + extension lenses (DW6, GW2, GT1, TC1)

odklizec

odklizec

PK
Here is a quick test of usability of the A12 28mm with mounted Ricoh wide/tele extension lenses. Of course, none combination matches the original image quality and corner sharpness of the 28mm lens. However, there are some surprises ;)

The best combination seems to be the A12 28mm + GW2. It was a bit of surprise to me because from my previous test with GRDIII, the GW2 appeared to be slightly less sharp than DW6. With A12 28mm it looks very usable in case one needs something wider than 28mm? The DW6 makes the A12 28mm smaller and lighter, but at pixel level you can clearly see the corner degradation.

The second surprise to me was the GT1. Previous GRDIII test proved that the GT1 is unfortunately useless with GRDIII because of heavy corner unsharpness. And with A12 50mm it turned the very fine GR lens into a lensbaby kind of glass, good only for special occasions. However, with A12 28mm it appears to be way better than with GRDIII. True, there is still some unsharpness visible in corners. But it's not that bad and can be further improved by shooting in 4:3 mode.

The TC1, as I expected, is in my opinion a waste of time. It shows heavy corner vignetting even in 1:1 mode. True, the central sharpness is not bad, but I see no good reason to use this lens with A12 28mm? ;)

Here you can see how the A12 28mm look with attached lenses. If viewed on 1440x900 or equivalent resolution on 15" LCD, you can get an impression of nearly 100% size of the camera with attached lens.





And here are the views (starting from the most wide):
Full sized photo can be seen here
Full sized photo can be seen here
Full sized photo can be seen here
Full sized photo can be seen here
Full sized photo can be seen here
 

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Hi Pavel!
You did it again! Thank you for your new converter experiments! I did some hand-held test tests, too, last week, but they were not very convincing. So I ordered a step-up ring (will arrive this week...). But now you answered already all my questions!

Earlier this year, I did some hand-held tests with DW6 and TC1, which were also not convincing. Perhaps I will be able to take some lensbaby-type shots with the TC1 -- e.g. self portraits ;) .

As you write, the TC1 does not make any sense at the A12-28, resulting in a focal length of about 52mm... It would make more sense, however, when attached at the A12-50, providing a focal length of 90-100mm -- that's close to the portrait lens some people are asking for.

Thus, with a little re-work on its converters, Ricoh could tease the waiting crowd a little bit and offer them extensions at the wide and at the tele end ;) .

Best regards, Gerd
 
Very interesting test, Pavel! :)
It would seem an excelent idea for me to try the DW6 I use with the GX 100 on the A12 28mm. Would you confirm what I need to adapt one to the other? Any particular product you would recommend would also be useful...
Many thanks,
Andy
 
I just bough a HAMA stepup ring (40,5 to 43mm) at Foto Öhling (via Amazon). But looking at my recent test photos that still need to be looked at more closely and published here and on my Website, it look as if it were not really worth the 10 Euros...
Best regards, Gerd
 
Thanks for your advice, Gerd.
I think I will therefore 'watch this space' before I spend by €!
Andy
 
Hi Gerd,
I'm sorry to hear about your unsatisfactory results! I bought a no-name 40.5-43 ring for just $2.96 on ebay. True, cheap Chinese rings have mixed quality. I have one 40.5 to 46mm that works fine with A12 50, but not with A12 28. And I don't think there is a problem with A12 28mm filter thread, because other 40.5 rings work fine. I look forward for your results.
 
Thanks for your test Gerd! I think a part of the difference between your and mine sample lies in different aperture. I shoot all my samples with F8, which should be noticeably sharper than f2.8 or f3.2 used in your samples. And this is probably why your A12+DW6 photos look softer with more degraded corners? I'm curious what's the height of your 40.5-43 ring? Different distance between the A12 lens and DW6 could play a bit of role too?
 
Hi Pavel!
I think that's exactly the point! I made also DW-6 tests with A12-28 (and 50 I think...), but did not find the time to have a closer look at them -- and to publish them...
Best regards, Gerd
PS: The comment about the 10 EUR was about the results, not the step-up ring. But it is indeed a little bit difficult to start screwing, that is, find the correct starting point for screwing...
 
Hi all,
I am not sure whether everything is already correct, but I added a second page to my A12 converter experiments on which I show samples with different aperture values: http://www.waloszek.de/gxr_conv_a12-2_e.php
These samples also explain the different conclusions that Pavel and I arrived at (at about f8, we are in line...).
Best regards, Gerd
P. S.: I am not sure whether I will find the time to publish samples here (for easier access...)
 
Thanks for even detailed test Gerd! Closing the aperture down definitely helped. However, the DW6 still does not appear to be as usable as GW2. Even the GW2 needs to be stopped down for best performance. It may be usable for street shooting and in certain extent also for landscapes. I tried it inside with limited light and the results are too soft at f2.5. I will give it a more try at f4.
 
Hi Pavel!
This is the stepup ring that I bought via Amazon from Foto Oehling:
http://www.amazon.de/Hama-Spezial-Adapt ... 872&sr=1-1
I still have to measure it... Anyway, you are definitely right in stating that the distance also plays a role.

I agree that the DW-6 is not a real option. But I do not think that I will by a GW-2...
Let's see what your tests at f4 will bring!

Best regards, Gerd
 
Sure thing, buying GW2 just for A12 28mm is meaningless. The results are probably not worth such investment? But I think it's very good option for people who already own such extension lens?
 
Hello Pavel

Thank you for the posting. 40mm FOV is my favorite focal length. Can you tell me if the image you posted had been sharpened at post processing. and is it an image in 4;3 or 3;2 ratio . It looks like in between ?
what do you think is the largest aperture to get decent , printable results with that GT1 extension ?

Thank you
:p

H
 
Hi Harold,

You are welcome! All these pictures are unprocessed (previews are just scaled down). Except the TC1 shot, all were taken in 3:2 mode. Sharpest aperture appears to be f8. Anything above/beyond this value starts to look softer, with pretty soft corners at f2.5 and overall soft photos at f22. However, I think you can get reasonable (printable) results even at f2.5. Just make sure the corners are a part of out of focus area and don't print larger than album sized photos ;)
 
So the GW2 is still better to be used on the GRD 3/4? I have the GW2 and tried to find the step-up ring but cannot find it here in Singapore. Read somewhere that using the GW2 on the 28mm A12 will stress the AF motor and is not really recommended.
 
Yes, the GW2 is still best to use with the GRD. However, it can produce some decent results also with the A12 28mm. All you need to do is to use higher aperture numbers to improve the corners. As for the effect on AF motor, I wouldn't worry much about this. The weight of the GW2 is not that significant to have any noticeable impact on the AF motor. At least I did not notice any problem. Of course, while it's not officially supported and recommended GXR extension, it's your call and responsibility ;) The only extension lens I was worry to use with the A12 module was the gigantic Olympus TCON tele converter. But its weight was like the weight of GXR body + module together ;)
 
I was tempted by a GXR + A12, and I am surprised and seduced all the more as the accessories (GW-2) of my GRD III would go above.
 
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