New GRDII firmware 2.04 released!

[odklizec]

Re: New GRDII firmware 2.0 to be released!

Hello Max and welcome here! You are not alone in your FW enhancement requests Feel free to express your opinion in this GRDII FW poll...
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=639

 

[Habeascorpus]

Re: New FW 2.04 released!

I don't even have 2.01 in my GRDII and there is another (just yeasterday) released FW 2.04. Maybe it's the time to update my GRDII?

What's new?

• - Improved the focus accuracy of the displayed picture in the LCD at the power on.

Improved the focus accuracy of the displayed picture in the LCD at the power on ?

How to suggest Mr Ricoh to read our GRDII firmware wishes ? Or will they keep our suggestions for development of GRDIII ?

:evil: :evil: :evil:

 

[Habeascorpus]

Re: New GRDII firmware 2.0 to be released!

Sorry for my English language .

1) An option to DNG shot without the corresponding JPEG.

Hello, Max !

(I feel your english language is not worse than mine...)

Concerning your idea about DNG shot without the corresponding JPEG, what is the purpose of it ? To save space on the memory card ? If so, you can set the corresponding JPEG to "640" only.

Because, if my understanding is correct, the image displayed on the camera screen when we switch to "play" mode for review our last shoot, is the JPEG file.
It means without this JPEG, we cannot be able to judge immediately the result. (But, somewhere, what will be the difference with the time we were shooting with argentic cameras ?)



Cheers,
Stephane

 

[odklizec]

Re: New GRDII firmware 2.0 to be released!

Stephane, the possibility to save RAW without coresponding JPEG should give us a bit faster writing to card. In this case, setting JPEG to "640" mode will not help at all, becasue what you save with transfer of smaller file is lost during resizing 10MP file to 640x480 file. It would not make huge difference, but it should give us about 1 secs required for processing and transfer of 3.5MB JPEG. As for preview, each DNG file already contains thumbnail file, which could be used for preview. Sure, it;s small, but it's also in hand of Ricoh programmers. They can make it a bit larger (let's say 640x480).

However, in view of latest GX200 developments, I don't think we will ever see any of these requests implemented. Especially not the DNG-JPEG. If the GX200 is really so fast and capable of store multiple DNG files in a row, there is no longer need of such feature. I mean not in future GRDIII, which will surely adopt all these new GX200 enhancements. The NR OFF in JPEG is another story. But as our major argument for true NR OFF was an inabiity to use DNG in continous and bracketing mode, there is no longer "push" on Ricoh to allow us true NR OFF. They will rather release new GRD.

I fully understand your frustation about all these minor feature updates. Last three FW updates were only bug fixes. But hey! Heads up! They do something insted of pretending there are no problems And I'm quite sure they will release another major FW update with some of GX200 features.

 

[Habeascorpus]

Re: New GRDII firmware 2.0 to be released!

Last three FW updates were only bug fixes. But hey! Heads up! They do something insted of pretending there are no problems And I'm quite sure they will release another major FW update with some of GX200 features.

Odklizec, I agree 100% with you!

My "frustration" is probably since I can see the improvements made on the GX200.
It seems there will be nothing more than minor updates to expect for our GRDII, until Ricoh lauch the GRDIII...

The improvements on the GX200 are coming from hardware, when what you listed as firmware wishes are mainly software, and could be done on GRDII, is that right ?

But, everything considered, is there another manufacturer who take care so much on its customers, by making so many updates (even minor) ?
Probably no. Once other camera makers than Ricoh are happy to sell their product, they pass to next model without consideration on updating the existing production !

So, as you said: heads up ! We should be happy with what Ricoh is offering us !

 

[odklizec]

Re: New GRDII firmware 2.0 to be released!

I thought about all these new GX200 improvements and additions and I now really think that Ricoh is working on something big! See, the GX200 adopted most (if not all) important GRD2 features and even adds few more. And next, GRD2 brings slightly less enhancements than most GRD users expected after 2 years of silence. So let's assume the GRDII is just a transition model before next major GRD? And since the GRD system is the Ricoh's flag ship, they will have to add a "bit" more than just large RAW buffer and all GX200 features into next GRD. I tend to believe we will face GRD will larger sensor and I mean big..not just 1/1.6 or 2/3. But don't take me seriously I may be completely wrong. However, what else could make the GRD system again number one in Ricoh's production? Only two things..large sensor and different (brighter) lens. Almost everything else is now in GX200 and all this will surely be added in next GRD.

 

[VladimirV]

Re: New GRDII firmware 2.0 to be released!

However, what else could make the GRD system again number one in Ricoh's production? Only two things..large sensor and different (brighter) lens. Almost everything else is now in GX200 and all this will surely be added in next GRD.

That's exactly it Pavel. Since Ricoh still considers the GR series to be their flagship cameras the GRD III needs to be something really big since as it stands now the GRD II is surpassed by the GX200 and aside from the size and build it has nothing going for it that the GX200 does not have. Would I be in the market now I would not get the GRD II but the GX200 since it's a better camera.
They also need to respond to the DP1 and while the GX200 is a big step in the right direction it can not match it's IQ at low ISO.
Considering how popular the GRD I is amongst b&w only users they could go for a purely b&w sensor, now this would be cool .