New to Ricoh

[pr1uk]

Hello all,
well i have done it all walked around with cameras lens and every extra man could want and loved it. Now days i still wanted to take photos but without the baggage so i thought i would try a compact but one that gives me a little control and if possible full manual. I had a chance of a secondhand Ricoh CX3 so gave it a try but being old fashioned i just cannot take photos holding a camera up and looking at a screen so the CX3 was no good for me so went. Have to say i was impressed with the quality results and the general feel of the camera so thought i would give Ricoh another chance then after some more research and reading my choice was down to the Sigma DP2 with the add on viewfinder but reading all the reviews they are slow and sluggish and a GX200. Well i ended up with a secondhand Ricoh GX200 with viewfinder, auto lens cover and leather case and so far i have been impressed with the camera the way it feels the photos it produces. The motor is noisy but i can live with that its certainly small enough to carry 24/7 and in a emergency i could slip it put and use the screen but normally i place the viewfinder on top and away i go. It must be an old fashioned thing but using a screen to take photos just seems wrong yet my son cannot use a viewfinder all i know is the add on viewfinder makes my GX200 the camera it is without it i would not own one.

Peter

 

[33dollars]

Hi Peter & welcome to the Ricoh forum.
Glad to have you aboard Peter at the Ricoh Forum. The GX200 is still a great camera as is the GX100 with a view finder.
Your views on looking through a view finder are just. I have embraced the old Ricoh cameras just for that same feeling.
That reminds me, must crack open the GX200 & give it a belt for some more fireworks. Little bugger has been sitting there
since last new years.
Anyho, try to take your GX200 everywhere for a week & you will find its so good for any photographer. One week
Enjoy your GX200 Peter & hope you share your shots with us soon.

 

[odklizec]

Hi Peter and welcome on the board! GX200 is maybe noisy, but at low ISO it produces very nice and detailed files with great degree of freedom for postprocessing. There are many GX200 photographers amongst the ricohforum members and many of them produce very nice photos, especially in B&W. What's our preferred area of photography? Please don't hesitate to share some of your photos with us!

 

[Wiener]

It must be an old fashioned thing but using a screen to take photos just seems wrong yet my son cannot use a viewfinder all i know is the add on viewfinder makes my GX200 the camera it is without it i would not own one.

Peter

Hi Peter,
I was interested in your comment regarding viewfinder v's screen, which provoked some thoughts of my own.
I use both, but had not really thought long and hard as to what changes (if anything) in my photographs when I do.
I would say that using the screen brings a more 'artistic' feel to my photographs...I feel part of the environment in which I am standing, and use the camera more as an artist would use a paint-brush...if you wave it around, hold it high/low, hang it over the bridge/cliff, hold it above my head, over the wall, up the chimney, or whatever...
When I put on the viewfinder, I feel more detached from the world, rather more calculating and technical in my approach...perhaps secure in the uniformity that standing with the camera tight to the eye-level eye does bring. This is, of course, a big asset in low light I would say...
So, thanks for promoting a little rumination! And have great fun with your new baby...
Best regards,
Andy

 

[pr1uk]

Oh please dont get me wrong i use the screen for macro, over the edge, head and in many cases that it just makes taking the shot easier. In normal usage it just does not feel right for me to stand somewhere with my hands out using a camera but it feels so much more natural holding a camera up to my face and framing through a viewfinder. When i hold the camera to my face and use the viewfinder i am only seeing the composition of the shot nothing distracts me even with both eyes open i am only in that little space. Its not only a young this i see a lot of older people holding cameras out at arms reach an taking photos but not for me its just not right.
The Ricoh GX200 i have found is a cracking camera i do miss a good zoom and did look at the Ricoh GXR P10 Kit 28-300mm but that was a bigger camera and anyway i could not find one with a viewfinder in the deal at the right price.
I do post on Flickr in the groups
Ricoh GX200
Ricoh GX200 users group
Ricoh Projects
Serious Compacts com
Under the name of ' fatherandson ' i got my son into photography and started a joint page to keep him interested and it as worked he uses a Nikon P80 and loves it and funny enough always uses the screen to take shots never the viewfinder, said he cant use it ?