Hi, the GRD1 isn't hard to use. Personally i use it with B&W filter set to contrast +2 and sharpen to default, jpeg quality fine with aspect ratio of 3:2. I set the iso to 400, snap focus and i just point & shoot, simple. It's a killer machine for b&w grain shots.
I'm sorry but I do not know a beginners guide to using the GRD1 apart from the original manual https://www.ricoh.com/r_dc/support/manual/grd.html
Ah so, when i do something with photoshop cs6 + silver efex pro i set the camera to contrast and sharpen to default (0). Without post processing i set contrast +2 and sharpen +1 on camera
Thank you With a sunny day (near the beach) i prefer to shoot "M" mode (ussualy 1/2000, f5.6 not more with iso 100/200) because the light is almost the same.. 1/2000 is a very high time, i know. But the pictures were made by bicycle, so 1/2000 was fine for me
For the other things i shoot "P" mode with iso 400
It's a great camera! Don't sell it, never :!:
Hope it helps