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On the need for lcd protectors

T

Tom Caldwell

New Member
I have never felt that I needed a lcd screen protector cover on my Ricoh cameras. My aging GRD, R4 and somewhat lesser used GX100 have had their lcd screens unblemished in normal use over a good period of time. No after market screen covers were fitted and I have not found them necessary.

I now have a GRDIII and GXR body. The GRDIII showed an apparent scratch some time ago which I put down to my own stupid carelessness. Then it got a few more. My GXR seemed fine for a while but then I started to notice a surface "crazing" consisting of very fine lines and scratches in multiple directions. It has become very ugly to look at. It might take 18-24 months of fairly regular use for this problem to become so endemic as to be easily noticed, but once noticable it soon starts to drive you crazy as you get it "in your face" every time you use the camera.

Others have noted that the anti-glare film covering is a softer film and is easily scratched but I had been lulled into a false sense of security by my earlier trouble free experiences. Now I have two camera bodies with lcd surfaces that look somewhat tawdry and unprofessional. All the more so that they perform most excellently (including the lcd screens themself) and have every indication of lasting a long time and giving great enjoyment.

Obviously I now know that an lcd covering is very essential but it is a bit too late to be considering covering over the mess that has developed. Of course the screens underneath are perfect as already noted, it is just the anti-glare surface covering that has been damaged.

A couple of problems that are not going to go away by themself.

My advice is that Ricoh should not distribute any camera with this type of anti-glare covering without a hard over-covering that will withstand the rigours of normal use. Or at the very least noting that fitting an lcd screen protector is mandatory.

Furthermore - does anyone know if the GRDIV lcd screen is properly protected ex-works? Or are owners simply waiting for the problem to re-surface?

Tom
 
I have never seen a Ricoh GRD for sale second hand in Hong Kong that did not have a third party protector on. 100%. And I see quite a few. If people wore condoms as often, there would be no such thing as HIV.
 
Right at the moment the lcd screens on my two afflicted cameras are on hold. I have ordered ACCMAX covers which have had good reports and are precisely tailored to screen sizes. However I have no interntion of sticking these over a crazed surface. The word "crazed" (like crazed glass) is a better description han simply scratched although probably made up of multiple fine scratches (in every which direction). It covers the main part of the screen almost entirely with the only excepted part just the extreme outer edges near the bezel. It does look like a general surface breakdown of the anti-reflective covering, presumably the next stage is for it to start flaking off in fine slivers.

Despite my comments I am philosophical and my object is to find the extent of the problem - is it me? Have I done something wrong? What is the best course towards rectification? How can I prevent it happening again?

And of course, although the lcd screens look unsightly, the cameras continue to work just fine.

It is too easy to turn this sort of thing into some apparent rage looking for punishment and retribution. The peeling grip on the original GRD was an issue bandied around with some angst but an easily self-fixed problem on the kitchen table with a small piece of double sided tape. A quick five minute exercise and pretty well permanent.

In the meantime if it is widespread then hopefully it will get back to Ricoh and something will be done about it before it becomes a buying issue. The cameras are simply too good to have a silly little cosmetic problem become a dead weight.

Noteworthy is my lack of problems with earlier models and the fact that this lcd screen surface crazing issue has only developed 18+ months into ownership and with regular use. If i is an endemic late developing problem then Ricoh might not have been able to predict it arising and also many of those not yet experiencing the problem still have time to cover their lcd screens.

If we are all happy and willing to buy all sorts of screen protectors, half cases, special bags, etc to protect our cameras then surely buying and fitting replacement screens if they only cost $25-$40 is not such an ask - especially if they prove easy and foolproof to fit.

Working out whether this fool is capable of it is my greatest worry. Has anyone else done it? Certainly the one person that has reported on doing so seems to think the process quite easy.

Tom
 
I have owned quite a few Ricohs and they've all has screen protectors on as soon as possible - this after experiencing the crazy paving effect on a GRD3. As a mentioned in a previous post, it's a pity camera manufacturers can't emulate the tough and bright screens found on some modern phones. Particularly as with some ( GRD/CX) there's no other way to use the camera.
Ricohs seem paricularly bad in this respect, which spoils what are otherwise excellent cameras!
Have just acquired CX6, which has a fantastically bright and clear screen. On with the screen protector...I hope it lasts.....
 
i have a ricoh grd IV and i don't know if i should buy a screen protector and if yes which type of screen protector.....

i would like that the camera has a harder screen.... but i don't like so much screens protectors.....
 
Sergio, any universal 3" protector should work just fine. I recently installed (on GRDIV) the 3" protector I previously used with the R10 and it works without a problem.
We previously discussed them here:
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=7772
or here:
viewtopic.php?f=66&t=7997

If you don't want to invest much in the LCD protector, try for example this cheap one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-GGS-Digital ... 23061db720

or this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GGS-3-0-Inch- ... 33738e7675

or maybe this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Matin-3-0-Rig ... 20bf62d974

I don't have any experience with the above protectors, but I'm (almost) sure they will work OK with the GRDIV. The only problem I would expect with their anti-glare coating, which may not be of the best quality (considering the price of these protectors). Hope this helps? ;)
 
Is the GRDIV the same size screen as the GRDIII? (3")

I think it is just another jump in screen resolution. Therefore same-size but different product.

My information has been that Ricoh improved their lcd coating either themself or more likely Sony their supplier lifted their game.

But of course there is nothing to rely on there and if you don't know then you play for safety.

Tom
 
Tom Caldwell":1py3jc45 said:
Is the GRDIV the same size screen as the GRDIII? (3")

I think it is just another jump in screen resolution. Therefore same-size but different product.

My information has been that Ricoh improved their lcd coating either themself or more likely Sony their supplier lifted their game.

But of course there is nothing to rely on there and if you don't know then you play for safety.

Tom
Click to expand...

Yes, the screen sizes for both the GRD III & IV are 3 inch....I had wondered if the corner shape may have been different but the III protector I ordered seems a perfect fit on the IV.

Yes, the resolution/pixel density is up again with the IV but it goes a bit further than just that with some inserted white pixels which makes it brighter (I think that's the explanation). Whatever, it is a great monitor but as others have said, the icons are rather small.

Could be that the coating is better...not a risk I want to take though.

Richard
 
Fair comment, it might be a while before we can relax and be assured that the lcd coatings will be rugged enough to take reasonable wear.

In fact it might be necessary for Ricoh to put an obvious protective cover over the lcd before we can rest assured.

As previously mentioned I have found the ac-maxx cover both aesthetic and suitable - I can recommend them from my own personal use . I don't think they have a monopoly on hard lcd covers and I have sent for some much cheaper Chinese covers to compare quality. For one cover it is hardly worth arguing over but for a number the difference in cost adds up quite quickly.

Tom
 
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