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Ricoh GR - missing lens ring

Frankoz

Frankoz

New Member
Hi all,

Went out tonight and took some shots but came home without the lens ring!

Have been searching Google and eBay for a replacement but no luck. Does anyone know where I can purchase one?

Be grateful for any suggestions. It's a bit of a design flaw; I'll probably use a little blu-tac or similar to secure the replacement, but hope Ricoh take note.

Thanks,
John

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Hi John,

In the past, PopFlash Photo sold the GRD rings but not anymore as it seems. But you can't lose anything contacting them with a question regarding the GR rings availability? I would also try to contact Ricoh support with a question about the replacement ring availability. Who knows? Maybe they will send you one? I remember reports from people who lost their ring and to whom Ricoh kindly sent a replacement for free.
 
Ricoh Australia distributor forecast a 2month wait for stock - great. Have emailed Ricoh Japan - will see what happens.


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Hi All,

Just an update on the lens ring issue.

Disappointingly, Ricoh Japan have used a standard call centre response and redirected me back CR Kennedy, the Australian distributor, notwithstanding I had already told them that Kennedys are waiting on them.

Given I'm showing interested photographer friends a camera with a build flaw and the item concerned is small, light and easy to post, I would have hoped for a more proactive and supportive response.

Oh well.....

Rgds.
John

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odklizec":1ottjinc said:
Hi John,

I've contacted my contact in Ricoh and he suggests to contact Convar (http://www.convar.de/contact.htm?po=6&language=1). It's a bit long-distant solution but it may work? He is also going to ask his colleague if there is a chance to bring you the ring from a bit nearer distance. Stay tuned! ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks Pavel, I just saw your message.

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John

I don't know if any of the early owners of the GR in Oz wish to sell off their original black ring or simply don't like their free accessory red one.

I want both unfortunately and the black one stays on the camera and the red one when I "need" to be seen and make a splash. But at least I have a spare. The red ring came as an additional accessory in the box.

I don't think the "extra red ring and strap" was a world wide "special deal" and might only have been on the first-order Australian delivery. Finding a Ricoh dealer who hung on to one of the duplicate rings would be an exercise in patience.

The original GRD had only the simple twist to remove mounting and was easily displaced. Ricoh have continued to use this too easy to remove/lose front ring attachment. When they made the GX100 they introduced a separate lock button like a mount release catch) just for the dress ring. Must have been cheaper for them to simply replace the lost rings when it happened. I would second Pavel's remark that if asked nicely Ricoh might replace the ring via their distributor.

Tom
 
How common is this lens ring problem?

If I'm buying the GR should I buy a replacement ring right away?

Thx
Tony
 
Take due care, shouldn't be a problem. You have to be unlucky. Easier to lose/mislay one in you are mounting the adapter tube with or without the converter lens. Same sort of things as with hotshoe covers. If you tend to lose them then you are sure to lose your lens ring. Maybe a few, so stock up.

Ie: it is a deliberate action to remove it, it does not easily fall off by itself if correctly fitted over the retaining detente.

Tom
 
Tom Caldwell":2idg3p15 said:
Take due care, shouldn't be a problem. You have to be unlucky. Easier to lose/mislay one in you are mounting the adapter tube with or without the converter lens. Same sort of things as with hotshoe covers. If you tend to lose them then you are sure to lose your lens ring. Maybe a few, so stock up.

Ie: it is a deliberate action to remove it, it does not easily fall off by itself if correctly fitted over the retaining detente.

Tom
Click to expand...

Hey Tom, how are you? good to hear from you, haven't seen you about much!

I think the feel of the ring as you rotate it on the GR is a bit different to its predecessors. Not sure why. Its not as smooth
 
thelps":33eow7ap said:
Tom Caldwell":33eow7ap said:
Take due care, shouldn't be a problem. You have to be unlucky. Easier to lose/mislay one in you are mounting the adapter tube with or without the converter lens. Same sort of things as with hotshoe covers. If you tend to lose them then you are sure to lose your lens ring. Maybe a few, so stock up.

Ie: it is a deliberate action to remove it, it does not easily fall off by itself if correctly fitted over the retaining detente.

Tom
Click to expand...

Hey Tom, how are you? good to hear from you, haven't seen you about much!

I think the feel of the ring as you rotate it on the GR is a bit different to its predecessors. Not sure why. Its not as smooth
Click to expand...

Tim, you should try dpreview Ricoh Forum I think they are about to give me a gold watch just to get rid of me (grin)

I just re-tried the GR front ring - there is a definite detente as you roll it off and on. The GX model had a dummy press button that only served as a lens dress ring lock and nothing more. But the GRD version was as easy-lost as could be. Luckily I always was able to find mine to put it back on again. It might just be possible to lose it accidentally off camera, but I have not suffered from this. But I think the main problem is that it has to be removed to put the adapter tube on. Then where do you put it? I tried the ring on the GRDIV - it has a much more gritty action to my tactile feel than the GR but there is hardly any difference in principle in any of the GRD/GR iterations.

Perhaps it could be re-designed in such a way that when it came off the camera it then could be mounted in some way on the end of the newly affixed adapter. Would take some design-thought but surely it could be done. In this way the dress ring would stay attached to the camera rather than disappear into a pocket or bag, or simply be left on a table wherever its owner just happened to be at the time.

The same goes for that other culprit: the hot shoe cover. I have become a fan to the Clearviewer device mounted in the hot shoe - it is a flip up/ flip down lens on a stick that allows you to use the contraption as a make do evf using the lcd screen- it is crude and simple but surprisingly effective. It has become a required prop in my outside photography. Even in bright light I can still see enough of the Mode2 focus peaking to make good focus. Recently I had three GXR-M cameras going each with a different lens at the same time - in the end I just pulled all the hot shoe covers and packed them away and easily swapped the Clearviewer from camera to camera as required. I remembered where I had put the hot shoe covers and replaced them as soon as I had finished - a day later and I would have been struggling. These are more necessary on the GXR as there is an electronic port exposed as well when they are removed.

Tom
 
Hi.

Be wary that they can come loose.

If you carry in a tight pocket for example, it seems that removing it from the pocket can move the bayonet connection and if it's dark as in my case; it can later drop off without you noticing.

20/20 hindsight I know, but a bit of blutac or something similar behind the ring would probably hold it more firmly.

Don't let it put you off a brilliant camera though.


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There are quite a good number of Japanese stores that sell Ricoh products openly. It might be worth a contact and seeing if they can supply/source the ring. They tend to be expensive but the service is very quick.

Tom
 
Thanks Tom,

I'll give it a go. I did try a few stores around Australia and eBay for a stray red ring but no luck. I'll keep an eye open and see; hopefully they'll become available soon.

rgds
John
 
Unfortunately Stewart Pickersgill who lived and breathed Ricoh products has left CR Kennedy. Stewart new all the dealers well and I am sure would have been a good bet to have helped source that ring.

I have a standing verbal pre-order for an adapter tube for my GR but was told that they would not be in stock until September (last). Presumably stock arrived but nobody has contacted me, no follow up - it seems that I have to be "desperate" enought to keep chasing one myself. I could have had one direct from Japan in "five minutes" some months ago if I had paid the price. Sometimes service gets more important than price.

Tom
 
Hi All,

Just a quick vote of thanks to Australian Ricoh/Pentax distributor CR Kennedy. Its taken about 6 weeks, but they have today delivered as promised with a new lens ring, free of charge.

If anyone else in Aust or elsewhere has the same problem, apparently CR Kennedy now have a small supply, so give Kennedy's or your local dealer a call and they should be able to help.

Rgds,
John
 
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