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is still ricoh gr1 a good buy?

P

pappa

New Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2012
Messages
128
Hi all

in these days i was thinking that i'd like to try more film and maybe keep it for certain projects, so an idea comes up in my mind about buying a ricoh gr1/s/v
I didn't really found differences in my shooting style switching back from a grd4 to a grd1 so for math transitive relation i shouldn't have problems even with a gr1?!?!? ahaha
The major the downsides that stop me to buy a gr1 is that Ricoh from next year will not fix film cameras anymore and more time passes more news comes from companies that stop to produce some types of roll, films exc... like fuji that discontinued the neopan 1600
These 2 things scare me because i won't buy something that could be really limited in time or i have the fear that every day could leave me alnoe :( , even if my main camera atm is the grd4 and will be till i'll buy the gr

so i have few questions,
in your opinion a ricoh gr1 is still a good buy?
for the owners or who owned one, would you buy another one?
or do you think other type of cameras, like relfex nowdays are good too?
in few words what is or has been your experience with a gr1?

(sorry for my english)
Thanks Tommaso
 
Hi Tommaso,
Film will be around for a long time still, and it is surprising how much can still be bought, Ilford is still making investments for the future as well.
So choices will go, others will stay. I can still buy Scala in large quantities after it was called 'dead', and some new BW films have come along too.

Film cameras are the same: not only the 'headquarters' do repairs, also smaller professionals all over.
There are sources for that in Japan as well as the USA: Japan camera specialists.

However, that being said, a fully mechanical camera can always be repaired, but the Ricoh's may reach a point where a LCD or circuit is really no longer available.
I suspect that if you find a good Ricoh film camera of any sort and have it serviced right away, before the deadline, you will probably be able to use it for a long time.
Maybe not for 20 years, but certainly long enough to make some wonderful shots I think ;-0) !

Ciao
Sumolux
 
uhmm i suppose i should buy more than one and store the unused in a dust free place so i'll have the change when the used will be broken.
 
I think it is better to buy one and first see how much you like it :mrgreen:
If you fall in love with it, then buy a backup. That is what I do....

These cameras have their own chips inside, micro-motors for advancing the film, all kinds of bits and pieces that are not standard anymore and very specific.
Specialist repairers might have a bundle of these parts, but no-one knows for sure.

The problem is that when you end up getting two of these cameras, and deal with the issues, you could probably also get an old Leica user body and a cheap lens for the same money 8-)
Personally I would love to have a nice GR21, but when I see what they cost in the market, I have to scratch my head.....And be very happy with my new GR.
Sumolux
 
Thanks

for now that i'm still shooting ditigal and it's better to wait untill i have clear ideas in how much will be important film in my photography style.
Meanwhile i have a nikon af600 that please me for what i paid (about 20€), i received the first roll last week
 
I enjoyed my time with my GR1, but am not sure I would purchase another. For me, when I shoot film every now and then, its for the full manual experience generally. The GR1's are great little cameras, but cannot offer me that, so I largely stick with rangefinder or SLR for my film use now days. Also, they do generally fetch a premium price for the ones I see down here. The lcd's are a known issue - although I read an article on repairing these yourself somewhere on the net. Didn't look too hard. Just loading my Ricoh TLS up as I type for this week actually.
 
Personally I would love to have a nice GR21, but when I see what they cost in the market, I have to scratch my head.....
 
I have 3 GR1's (one is a parts camera) and I use them quite often along side the GR.
Best of both worlds in my opinion. I shoot a lot of digital but I am not ready to give up film. Not sure I ever will until its no longer available :lol:
 
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