Opinions on the GV-2 viewfinder?

[Jarbi]

Hi,
I've just bought a GRD IV and joined the forum. My first impressions are that it is neat and unobtrusive. I do various genres of photography, including street for which I usually use a M6. I am not sure whether I will get on with just the screen as I am used to viewfinders. But the GV-2 is expensive. What are your experiences and opinions?

Thanks.

 

[Blow-in]

Hi,

I have the GV-2 on my GRD IV and frame most on my pictures with it - I regard it now as an integral part of the camera. I also have the GC-4 case and the whole combination works well (I use a ST-1 strap on the case + a wrist strap so that I can sling it around my neck or use it around my wrist).

I'm sorry to sound like a Ricoh catalogue and must point out that all this kit was bought 2nd hand on Ebay.

Bottom line is I expect you would like the GV-2 and the challenge is to find one at a sensible price.

Richard

 

[Jarbi]

Richard,

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm sure I will go for one. So far, the cheapest I have found is £99.

John

 

[TheChefs]

I can't comment on GV2, but I got GV1 at the time I purchased my GRD IV. I like it and it's great, especially for framing shots in the dark, it's very bright.
Also the good thing about view finder is that I can stabilise the shots better and the image stabilisation works better. I can pretty much get the shutter speed down to 1/5s
and get sharp photo. I even got couple 1s photos with decent sharpness, but those are harder to achieve.

The downside of GV2 is that it's bigger... also I've decided on this one over GV2 over GV1, since the former only covers around 80% of the frame.

http://ricohforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=1227

Saying that, I highly recommend viewfinder if you shoot in the dark and want to stretch your shutter speed a bit more.

 

[33dollars]

Hi,
I have the GV-2 on my GRD IV and frame most on my pictures with it - I regard it now as an integral part of the camera. I also have the GC-4 case and the whole combination works well (I use a ST-1 strap on the case + a wrist strap so that I can sling it around my neck or use it around my wrist).
Richard

I'm with Richard on this also. By getting the GV-2 it will team well with the GC-4 case.
Save, Lay-away or swap what ever it takes.
Non Ricoh viewfinders may yield the wrong frames.

 

[Jarbi]

Thanks for the further responses. I have ordered a GV-2, which should be with me in a couple of days. I already have a 21mm viewfinder for a CV lens on my M6. I've tried it and it frames rather too much. I prefer to err on the side of caution.

John