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Ricoh releases 4th function-enhancing FW update for GXR

Tokyo, Japan, August 30, 2011—Ricoh Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Shiro Kondo) today announced the August 31, 2011 (Wed.) release of the fourth function-enhancing firmware update for the GXR, a high-image-quality compact digital camera launched in December 2009.

The GXR is a revolutionary interchangeable unit camera system in which lenses are changed by using a slide-in mount system to attach camera units to the body. The lens, image sensor, and image processing engine are integrated into the camera units so the body itself does not contain an image sensor.

Function-enhancing firmware updates are developed in response to opinions and requests received from a large number of customers via surveys submitted at customer registration time and other channels. These updates enable customers who already own a GXR to update it to include the latest functions.

This fourth firmware release expands photo-expression possibilities and enhances usability by adding new functions.

The function-enhancing firmware and instructions for using these functions can be downloaded free of charge from the Ricoh website.


Enhanced functions for all camera units

1. Greater focusing precision now possible.
・In order to increase the precision of manual focusing, the focus assist function has been added. Two modes can be selected, with the focus being checked by strengthening outlines or contrast.
・It is possible to magnify the image while shooting to make it easier to focus. In addition to magnifying the central part of the image, it is possible to display the magnified area across the entire screen. The image quality for 4x and 8x magnification has also been further enhanced, and the area to be magnified can be moved with the directional pad.
・A setting can be made to automatically eliminate the display magnification after the picture is taken.

2. Aspect ratio choices added for auto resize zoom.
Auto resize zoom can now be used with aspect ratios 1:1, 3:2, and 16:9.

3. Flash firing now possible when making the white balance manual setting.
When setting the white balance manually in the actual shooting environment, it is now possible to make the setting while firing the flash.

4. When making ISO AUTO-HI settings, it is now possible to define the shutter speed for changing ISO sensitivity at the same time as specifying the ISO maximum sensitivity.

5. The electronic level can now be displayed when shooting with the self-timer.

6. For the vignetting setting for shooting with the cross process and toy camera options, it is now possible to select from the weak, strong, and off settings. When the firmware update is done, the vignetting setting is initialized as shown below.
Cross process: Off
Toy camera: Weak

7. ISO sensitivity settings are now more detailed.
In addition to the previous settings, it is now possible to select ISO-LO*, ISO 250, ISO 320, ISO 500, ISO 640, ISO 1000, ISO 1250, ISO 2000, and ISO 2500.
*This added setting is only for the GR LENS A12 28mm and GR LENS A12 50mm camera units


Enhanced functions only for the GR LENS A12 28mm and GR LENS A12 50mm camera units

8. Bulb and time can now be selected.
B (bulb) and T (time) can now be selected as the shutter speed in manual exposure mode. With “B,” the exposure continues while the shutter release button is pressed, and with “T,” the shutter release button is pressed to start and end the exposure. For both, the exposure is forcibly ended when 180 seconds have elapsed.
 
What do you think guys? Happy? I guess so ;) This new FW addresses some wishes people asked for since the GXR release and I guess we will see some of them also in the upcoming GRDIV, which is really great. As for me, no. 1, 4 and 7 are the biggest enhancements that would make the photographers life a hell lot of easier and funnier ;)
 
Looks sensible. I've not owned the GXR yet and what matters to me is how the package will be when it has the M-module on it. BTW, does anyone know what the module will be called officially?
 
Agreed with Pavel - 1,4 and 7 are huge enhancements.... also means that I can practice manual focus onmy A12 28mm to be ready when I get the GXR Mount ! ;)
 
Great, all current GXR users, now we can have a look at the new MF assist before buying a M mount module. :D
 
The option to test the MF assist feature with existing modules is of course great. Just remember one important thing! The M mount module MF will be much easier and much more user friendly than the MF with both existing A12 modules.

The focus-by-wire implementation of the A12 MF is simply far from pure MF experience. So basically, if you will like the A12 MF, you will most probably love it with the M module. Or better said, even if you don't like the MF mode with A12 modules (just because of rather slow focus-by-wire operation), you will most probably like it with pure manual lens with mechanical focus ring and with much shorter radius required to move the focus from one end to another.
 
My first impressions using fosus assist are exellent. Very intuitive and quick to focus. It will be interesting to see how consistent I can be using manual focus the next few days.
 
Great update.

The image quality for 4x and 8x magnificationstrengthening outlines or contrast is really much better!

The new focus modus is very impressive. But the best is: It really works in a light version in the AF modus of the camera too (if you like, you can deactivate it).

Nice is the feature that you can switch from the full zoom view to whole view by tipping the trigger!

Great job Ricoh!
 
4 and 5 are nice additions for me. Let's see if I can upgrade this weekend.

@Genster: upgrading is easy, just follow the steps Ricoh describes in their upgrade manual.
 
Remko":tn6zcu7x said:
4 and 5 are nice additions for me. Let's see if I can upgrade this weekend.

@Genster: upgrading is easy, just follow the steps Ricoh describes in their upgrade manual.

Maybe I will try it someday????? (I have now v1.37)
Thanks for the reply Remko

Do I have to upgrade 3 times (body and 2 modules)?
 
Only two times. Body and modules are always updated together. Simply run the update for the first time (with first attached module), then replace the module with the not-yet-updated one and run the procedure one more time. It should tell you that the body is already updated and suggest to update the module.
 
odklizec":4hgaumu5 said:
Only two times. Body and modules are always updated together. Simply run the update for the first time (with first attached module), then replace the module with the not-yet-updated one and run the procedure one more time. It should tell you that the body is already updated and suggest to update the module.

Thanks Pavel !
 
Can anyone comment on the new firmware? I've read several users on the other forum report freezing on the GXR after the update.

I want to update badly coz I've been having focus problems on my A12 28mm module. Thanks!

-Ace-
 
I did not experience such mentioned problem yet. At least not with FW 1.40. But I'm nearly sure it's nothing new introduced with this new FW. I rather think it's an old problem I reported to Ricoh some long time ago and that happens in case of MF. It's unfortunately very hard to reproduce problem that happens very infrequently. From what I saw, it happens only if the MF ring is used (with A12 modules). I guess the current reappearance of the problem is because people now use the MF much more frequently than before. So there is a big chance someone will find the reproducible steps of this issue ;)
 
Updated to the 1.4 yesterday. Works like a charm.

The ISO-Lo setting is an improvement I'd overlooked. But this is a nice addition for shallow DoF in bright daylight and also nice for just a thad extra slower shutter speed when trying to shoot waterfalls etc.

The focus assist is quite ingenious.

I do like the regular firmware updates from Ricoh. Evertime it's like getting a bit of a new camera for free. When exploring the new features.

Remko
 
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