NEW GXR FW 1.18 on the way!

[odklizec]

Ricoh Japan released new version of GXR FW improving various things in all three available modules.

You can download it here:
http://ricoh.com/r_dc/download/firmware/gxr/

Modified the following phenomena.
1) (A12, S10, P10) In case of attaching the cable switch (CA-1), when half-pressing the shutter release button of the CA-1, it may turn off the camera.
2) (A12) Macro AF Distance Limit option (On) may be disabled (Off) in some conditions like; replacing a camera unit from the A12 to the other one.
3) (S10) Even if a shutter speed is changed, the aperture value will not vary in case of the conditions below; S mode, AE locked.
4) (P10) Noise sound may be recorded into movies when the electrical viewfinder (VF-2) is attached.

Revised or corrected the following.
5) (A12, S10, P10) Revised the ISO sensitivity range conditions when shooting with the combination below; S mode, Shutter speed Auto Shift On, and ISO Auto/ISO Auto-Hi.
6) (S10) Corrected the display of focus distance as 19mm when the conversion lens (DW-6) is attached.
7) (P10) Revised the upper limit of the ISO sensitivity range as ISO 3200 when shooting in S mode.

 

[CHICHORNIO]

Any clue on when Ricoh will release a GXR with a pancake fast lens? Let´s say a 35 or 40 mm 1.7? (like the Lumix for the GF-1?)

 

[odklizec]

Sorry, I don't have the faintest idea But I don't think there will be such module announced this year (if ever).

 

[barjohn]

I'm not sure what is driving Ricoh and there thinking but there are so many things they should have and could have addressed in the new firmware release that I am at a loss as to why they deemed these things critical enough to fix and ignored so many other things.

They should have addressed and fixed the following or made the following improvements:

1. On quick AF (still slow) the image framing jumps as it snaps into focus. No other CAF system I have used does this and it is annoying as hell to have to reframe.
2. It still doesn't turn on the AF assist light when it should and hence can't find focus in situations that it would if the light came on.
3. The image magnification in MF is inadequate. If my eyes were that good I wouldn't need it at all.
4. The f-stop needs to stay were set in manual mode. I don't know what other vendors do to keep the LCD display correct but with a manual lens on the Sony NEX I can adjust shutter speed separate from f-stop and not over power the LCD thus allowing me to have the lens wide open for shallow depth of field when focusing.
5. Find a way to allow the lens to be used wide open with faster shutter speed
6. If reviewing an image (playback), a full press of the shutter takes it out of playback but does not fire a shot in auto focus or manual mode (the GF1 will focus and fire the shutter)
7. When auto flash mode is selected the TTL feature does not seem to function properly and images either over or under expose
8. Screen leaves live view after shutter release for about 1.9sec. This results in a blank screen for the 2 seconds or if image review is on and set to less than 2 seconds, the image is frozen for the period of review less than the blank time

Finally, the lack of other APS-C modules, especially one to use legacy lenses just leaves it uncompetitive to the Sony NEX