GXR cashback program (currently only for Japanese buyers)

[odklizec]

Ricoh Japan just today announced the availability of GXR cashback program for purchases made between the March 12, 2010 and May 9, 2010. At the moment, this cashback program is available only for Japanese users. Let's hope it will extend to the international Ricoh community?

The amount of cashback depends of the purchased items:
GXR body + two modules = 15000yen
GXR Body + one module = 10000yen
just one module = 5000yen

You can read some more details about the cashback program here (google translation):
http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... html&twu=1

I'm not quite sure what such early cashback program means? It may be a sign of weaker GXR sales even in Japan, which is traditional Ricoh market. But the reason can be something completely different? I think Ricoh should quickly develop and introduce the GXR module based of APSC module and with lens mount for manual lenses (Leica M mount + adapters for K, C or M42 mounts). Such module could boost the GXR sales beyond their expectations.

 

[socket]

What sort of a discount does that translate to, in $US?

It's very competitive out there, especially with the success of m4/3s and other 'serious' compacts, so it's not a surprise.

As far as new modules are concerned, how hard technically are they to do?

All the complains about slow AF seem justified, but there again, apart from some tweaks, what can they do technically to improve matters?

I think everyone is forgetting that small APSC modules are cutting edge and that no one can snap their fingers and voila it's there.

 

[odklizec]

Google says 15000YEN is around 165USD, 10000YEN = 110USD and 5000YEN = 55USD. Typical GXR + A12 price in Japan is around 100000YEN, which is about 1100USD. This is slightly less than Popflash price. With cashback program, the price of GXR+A12 gets under 1000USD. I think this is very acceptable price for camera of A12 quality?

I think the only thing Ricoh can do about GXR AF speed is to bring back the phase detection sensor This should make the AF speed very usable. But there is probably no chance Ricoh will ever bring the phase detection back. And I don't think Ricoh can make the A12 AF much faster with just FW optimizations. Maybe a bit faster, but most probably not dramatically improved. If they were not able to make it faster during the n-months of GXR development, how should they be able to make it faster now? No chance without the magic wand or some kind of voodoo mambo jumbo.

 

[socket]

I think the only thing Ricoh can do about GXR AF speed is to bring back the phase detection sensor This should make the AF speed very usable. But there is probably no chance Ricoh will ever bring the phase detection back.

Maybe the call should go out for all us GX100/GRD users to donate our phase detection sensors! :lol: