Who is buying a GH-3?

[thelps]

I was pleasantly surprised at what appears to be a shorter distance that the GR lens extends to compared to its earlier brothers.
While mine will largely ride in my pocket with occasions on a belt in the GC-5 for carry I am considering a GH-3 with filter as lens protection but no hood.

What I was thinking is if there could be a FW option to leave the lens extended while this tube is in place you'd have a sort of X100 style lens setup in place, with the option to remove and go fully compact. I think there are electronics to sense if the GH3 is in place.
Sure startup is pretty quick but it would shorten it a tad more.
I think the GR with GH3 looks more compact than the GRD IV equivalent.
Just an idea.

 

[paulyrichard]

I have one on order already from Japan, soon to be in my hands. I have also ordered the half-case. It's another week and a half before the UK has this in stock anywhere. I know because I have phoned around...I have also ordered filters and a pinch lens cap. I don't care about fitting into my pocket, that's where you will have *hitloads of dust occurring...that's not my 'bag'.
Anyway, I already have a little Lowepro camera bag that this fits snugly in...

I think this item is well worth buying because it will give some protection to the lens unit by way of a filter and dust...

 

[jsrockit]

Not interested at all. I bought this camera because it fits in my front pocket. Anything that takes that away from the camera makes it useless to me. I have other cameras for when I want to be more versatile.

 

[sonsw87]

not interested.. since biggest reason for buying ricoh for me was the size.

 

[thelps]

The beauty of such devices is they can be removed. My GR will be without it most of the time.
I have some ideas where there could be long exposures and I'd prefer the lens protection as an option.

 

[cidereye]

I did have one for my GRD III but found I never really used it so doubt I'll get the new one for the GR.

 

[Tom Caldwell]

I had one on my GRD(?) - was it that long ago? I liked the idea of the internally moving lens in a fixed no-nonsense tube, but it did make the camera more bulky and it fell out of use. I also tried the Panasonic FZ20 the same way and it's extension stayed and it suited the camera well. So it ends up a horse for courses. I don't have a belt bag of the right dimensions for the GR as yet and I am not a camera-in-the-pocket man. So I am carrying it at the moment but that can end up being as rough on the camera as being pocketed.

So I am on the cross benches, do I see it as being everywhere on the hip or being carried which is a little more restricting? Not sure.

Meanwhile the GR gets carried and the GRDIV goes in one of the old oem GRD cases on my belt.

Interesting that I went on one of my theatre support gigs recently and took my NEX6+Speed Booster+Canon 50mm f1.2 instead of my Canon dslr with same lens to no obvious detriment. Tried the GR on some of the rehearsal shots and was quite impressed. Processed the GR raw files and adjusted them on the spot ...

Times are a-changing.

PS Tim, I notice a depressable pin under the dress ring that the tube may use to signal the camera but it probably does not fully recognise the wide lens adapter until this is confirmed in camera by menu. Probably needs both items ticked before the camera compensates. Therefore a tube alone probably does not upset he regular lens function.

Tom