No more love for the GRD IV?

[Spode]

Folks

We've expended enough energy in hoping and fearing for the GR. We'll know - one way or the other - soon enough.

Can we get back to taking and sharing pics instead ...with the wonderful GRD IV of recent memory?

 

[thelps]

thanks for the post Spode. I had intended to pose this question, thanks for starting this thread.

The GRD IV has been my rock - pun intended! :lol:
I'll be keeping mine.

 

[Blow-in]

Well I still love mine too. The IQ is still great for A4 prints and more than great (!) for website posts at reduced file size.

A rock it is.



Richard

 

[silverbullet]

Last week I printed (for the first time) some files from the GRD3 up to DIN A 3+.
Unbelievable how crisp the prints came out of my old Epson 2400. Despite the very small ink cartridges the printer is now my best friend..... with 3rd party inks and injection needles.
Therefor no need at the moment to upgrade.

 

[thelps]

Last week I printed (for the first time) some files from the GRD3 up to DIN A 3+.
Unbelievable how crisp the prints came out of my old Epson 2400.

:geek: Thumbs up! :geek:

 

[Spode]

Tim and Richard, thanks for the pics.

Silverbullet, my apologies for not including the GRD III (I owned one briefly, but had a chance to upgrade to he IV as the latter was announced within 48 hours of my purchasing the III). Please post some pics as well.

I intend to walk about this evening and test my camera. Not sure the AF is working, but will try anyway.

 

[quester]

A rock it is.

Hey, the PX ain't exactly no pebble either!


Yes, there have been less photos since the news of the GR - I find myself already contemplating all the multiple exposures and panning shots I'm going to do when I get mine...
I checked taxes and shipping costs - for me it comes out to about 140$ US. Too much for me (it's only a new toy, right?). So I'll have to wait until my sister will be in the States in August.
Who knows, maybe by then Ricoh will have turned out a "rugged" GR just for me....

 

[Tom Caldwell]

I saw no need for a GRDIV whilst I had a GRDIII and a GRDV was possible. Now that "it" is the GR I have bought a GRDIV simply because it is the end of the line for a classic of it's type. I have no problem with my GRDIII, but it is missing those last little "flourishes". GR? Yes I have it in my sights as well, it has to be the start of a new era.

I do have a problem with duplication of type of camera but the circumstances overule common sense.

Tom

 

[thelps]

I do have a problem with duplication of type of camera but the circumstances overule common sense.

Tom

I have more cameras than I need, but not as many as I want!

 

[Tom Caldwell]

The GRDIV has arrived. I am assured that the lcd screens are "ok" now. Anyone have any feedback on the longevity of the unprotected lcd coating the GRDIV? I would really like to be able to use the "IV" with confidence and no stick-on covering.

I have never had any problems with: R4, GX100, GRD, CX1. I did have similar problems with the GRDIII and GXR lcd screens - the coating crazed after a while and became unsightly. Ricoh kindly replaced the screens for me and I have had no further trouble but I am running Accmaxx covers on the GXR and I have a JJC LCD Hood LCH-3.0B on the GRDIII. This is a combination extra glass llcd cover plus a flip out hood with side baffles. It seems to work well and provide shade for the lcd but I have hardly tried it in really extreme bright conditions as the GXR has been my much more constant companion recently. However the downside of this hood is that it adds about 7mm thickness depth to the camera which makes it just a trifle thick for a regular camera bag and it certainly will not fit in the oem Ricoh case. The "hood part" normally extends upwards which can be limiting in use, but it has a very convenient and quick click-in-out mounting which means that it can easily be fitted in reverse and opening downwards. This makes it much more versatile. Removed, the glass lcd cover stays in place as a protection and the camera is much slimmer in this format (now only ~2mm thicker). Not sure just how strong the glass might be to impact but I guess it might be as strong as the lcd screen itself.

I must really find a glaring light spot and see if the flip out shades work as they are meant to do.

Tom

 

[Blow-in]

Tom,

I took the Accmaxx cover off my GRD4 six months ago as it was trapping specks of dust behind it and annoying me - so far so good. A top tip is turn-up the brightness of the GRD4 screen to max to really see what is going on and carry a spare battery.

Richard

 

[Spode]

Still testing.

 

[jsrockit]

F the GRD IV!!! No, sorry. Joking. If it works for you, just use it... why worry about the GR?

 

[NickLarsson]

The GRDIV has arrived. I am assured that the lcd screens are "ok" now. Anyone have any feedback on the longevity of the unprotected lcd coating the GRDIV? I would really like to be able to use the "IV" with confidence and no stick-on covering.

Coming from Pentax, I had the impression that the screen of my brand new GRD 4 could be way more easily scratched than, for example, my Pentax Q. Especially knowing that I would put the GRD in pockets pretty often.

So I bought a cheap GGS thin rigid glass and it does the job

 

[NickLarsson]

Still testing.

Spode I like your first shot!

 

[Spode]

Thanks Nick. Will post some "Signs of Spring" shortly.

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Spode, the GR is going to be something to behold.

 

[Tom Caldwell]

The GRDIV has arrived. I am assured that the lcd screens are "ok" now. Anyone have any feedback on the longevity of the unprotected lcd coating the GRDIV? I would really like to be able to use the "IV" with confidence and no stick-on covering.

Coming from Pentax, I had the impression that the screen of my brand new GRD 4 could be way more easily scratched than, for example, my Pentax Q. Especially knowing that I would put the GRD in pockets pretty often.

So I bought a cheap GGS thin rigid glass and it does the job

Nick, as noted I had no problems with other Ricoh cameras with lcd screens fitted this way. Including a very old, very well worn R4 and my original GRD.

This coating problem was a Sony lcd problem and was also a problem with early NEX cameras. It seems to have been resticted to those early model GXR and GRDIII cameras fittd with the same screen. I am reliably advised that the coating problem is fixed and I also know that the GRDIV has a different higher resolution screen fitted.

By the same token I have a Sony NEX6 and it is fitted oem ex-factory with a built in hard polycarbonate cover.

I have fitted accmaxx polycarbonate covers to my GXR bodies as "insurance" and I would like to leave my brand new last of the GRD kind GRDIV unadorned if possible. The fact that nobody has poppped up and reported a problem with coating disintegration is re-assuring.

Note that there was never a problem with scratching the screen itself in normal use circumstances - the problem has been in the anti-glare coating which was crazing and disintegrating after some time, but seemingly only on early release lcd screens. A tougher anti-glare coating was substituted apparently. The lcd screens themself had been no problem.

The GR is reported as having a hard cover of some sort.

Tom

 

[streetshooter]

It is testament to the Grd4 that there is no Grd5. Ricoh knows as we do that it's difficult to improve upon perfection. I will get a GR later in the Summer but would never sell the GRD4.

I hope the GR comes in White.......

 

[thelps]

It is testament to the Grd4 that there is no Grd5. Ricoh knows as we do that it's difficult to improve upon perfection. I will get a GR later in the Summer but would never sell the GRD4.

I hope the GR comes in White.......

Everyone is bored here with the number of times I've said I'll keep my GRD IV , but just to mix it up - I have also kept my GRD III. I may even go back to the III for a while, a week or two, reason is, I got an unusually high number of good keepers from the III. Perhaps I was in a better mindset while using it, perhaps its nothing to do with III, IV or whatever, just the way it was back then. The only other camera to come close for keepers for me is my Contax T3.

I am keen to get a GR though. No amount of reading test reports and watching others use it on Youtube account for how it works in your/our hands.
The ultimate test is our own use and experience. The GR seems a "different" camera.

PS: I wish someone would offer discounted White GRD IVs. :?

PPS: there is White and there is White/White. Check out this "limited" - http://pursuitist.com/limited-edition-white-ricoh-gr-digital-iv-by-studious/