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[WTB] WTB Half-case for Ricoh GR (also finder, Clearviewfinder...)

Want to buy

dysmedia

New Member
I've bought a Ricoh GR, which is in the mail. (Latest model.) If anyone has a half-case they're not using -- Gariz, ideally; but also Ricoh, whatever -- I'd be interested. Looking for a Clearviewer too. Might also want a 28mm hot-shoe finder, if it's not a fortune. In fact, I'll consider anything that might come in useful; I have no accessories whatsoever.

Might be up for trading Nikon DSLR equipment (Lenses, flash.)

You can check my feedback at fredmiranda and ebay -- both as username: visigoth.
 
I don't use half cases - just personal as I find them a clutter, but they do dress up a camera and provide protection against bumps and knocks. Perhaps this is because I gave up neck straps years ago and just use simple wrist straps and then use a camera bag the camera when not in use. In which case I have found old Canon soft leather drawstring lens bag is useful in that way.

I do use the oem Ricoh heavy leather case for the GR. It is designed to be worn on the belt and is not a complete protective cover as it leaves part of the camera exposed (easy access) which could get a direct knock if passing close to an obstruction - even a chair. But apart from needing that extra bit of care when passing obstructions it is a great case.

I use the Clearviewer regularly. I am a fan, but only on the GXR and the Pentax Q where I am doing regular manual focus. I find it an indispensable tool on those cameras. I bought one for the GRDIV which also fits reasonably well on the GR but find that I don't feel any necessity to use it on those cameras - perhaps it is because I rarely use MF on them?

The Clearviewer does work quite well in bright light situations. It is not as good as a built in dedicated EVF but certainly easier to see the lcd on a bright day than without it. On the GXR I use it in conjuction with Mode 2 focus peaking and find precise MF possible in heavy glare even when the lcd has been somewhat washed out and lesser focus peaking assist types would have disappeared.

Tom
 
Tom,

I'm curious about the Clearviewer - are you using the hot shoe version on your GXR and have you the standard or premium lens?

Richard
 
Richard

I use the hotshoe variety and the premium lens. Also I use the lcd default start in focus peaking mode 2.

I see the Clearviewer as a temporary help for two purposes 1) to reduce glare reflections off the lcd and make it more useable in bright light conditions (it works quite well in this regard); 2) to enable the more comfortable use of larger lenses on the GXR - as a user of large lenses from time to time I can heartily endorse the fact that large lenses can be used very effectively with a Clearviewer.

When not needed there is no need to leave the Clearviewer attached - this swung me to the idea of the push/pull hotshoe version.

Reasoning:

The hotshoe folds up out of the way of the screen but protrudes. I simply remove it when not in use and when it is not needed due to shooting conditions. The hotshoe Clearviewer folds flat into a light slim package when off camera and is easily carried. I think the tripod mount Clearviewer would also be a small package off camera. The hotshoe version also does provide a sort of minimal "overhead" light shield by by virtue of its protruding stalk.

The tripod version takes up the tripod mount and would need a screw removed to dismount, fractionally more bothersome than push/pull hotshoe version. But it does fold up flat when on camera and therefore provide a neater package on the camera when not being used. It also hogs the tripod mount if left permanently on and would need an adapter fastening if the camera was used in conjunction with a tripod or monopod. Furthermore folded up it obscures the lcd and therefore dictates 100% being used if left on camera - that is probably not necessary.

I am now playing with a Panasonic GM1 which I see as a sort of micro-mini GXR-M. It does not have a hotshoe so I have a tripod mount version in transit right at the moment - I will soon better see the advantages/disadvantages of each type. As a rule I like to keep my cameras unadorned as far as possible - see earlier post: wrist straps only, out of case when in use, no external flash, no evf, ovf, and only have the Clearviewer attached when necessary. But I often do attach a very small monopod as a support handle and temporary rest.

I have always bought the premium lens so I don't know what the other lens might work like. The lens sits about 50mm from the lcd. When you use it you take your eye right up to it like it was a sort of hybrid ovf/evf. This makes you hold the camera in the traditional slr manner with left hand supporting lens and right hand on the grip. Therefore the GXR-M is comfortable with telephoto lenses on board. I could never get really comfortable with a telephoto when using the evf by contrast.

Looking through the premium lens it has magnified the lcd slightly more than your field of vision to the extent that you need to shift your vision slightly to see the extreme edges - this has not worried me. There is a slight focus adjustment effect by moving the Clearviewer in and out of the hotshoe slightly - but again this has not bothered me. There is a small amount of barrel distortion towards the edges of the lcd.

Using the Clearviewer does not give a 100% perfect image in bright light but it is certainly much better than the bare lcd and the mode 2 focus peaking can be easily seen to help precise focus. You can shade the Clearviewer with a hand if the light is truly overwhelming, but I have not really found this necessary. The lcd screen direct reflections become minimal.

Whilst waiting for the new Clearviewer to arrive I have made myself a "lash up" version which I have called the "Long Tom" using a standard little Chinese made folding jewellery magnifier as host. The strength of the magnifying element is obviously different as this arrangement gives me a perfectly clear image of the lcd (and the whole camera back!) from a distance of roughly 350mm (5 1/4" on the old scale). Nor does it fold. But it works and I might try it in public to amuse passers by - best take a buskers bucket, might make some money ....I have not tried it in bright light but suggest that the distance from the lcd will nullify any reflected glare advantage.

This is obviously not a premium lens but the image is as clear as a bell, maybe a lesser magnification level would work better.

Noteworthy that Gary at Clearviewer does a lot of custom modifications in his shop to make the devices fit individual types of cameras and work well. He deserves some success.

As noted my new tripod mount Clearviewer is in transit.

Tom
 
Tom,

Thank you for your comprehensive reply about the Clearview - food for thought. Like you I prefer my cameras largely unadorned and having had the EVF for a while on the GXR, I sold it back to its original owner. With the GRD4 I use a wrist strap and the GC4 case which protects the camera well in a large pocket - I have the GV2 OVF mounted as it fits in the case and I use it infrequently in bright light or on moving objects (dogs!).

I've taken a slightly different route recently with the GXR having succumbed to tempatation and bought the ST65 case in a sale. At present I'm using it as a half case with the neck strap and keeping the camera in a small bag - hopefully in drier weather I'll be able to use the full case around my neck. The ST65 is very retro and nicely made. However, I may have strayed here from the straight & narrow and may revert to a wrist strap and no case.

Richard
 
The tripod mounted Clearviewer arrived. It works quite well but demands the full use of the tripod screw in its standard form and is attached/detatched by the usual screw type mounting. It folds up against the screen with a small amount of clearance and has a little soft felt button to prevent rubbing in case of an accident. It works fine but I prefer the hot shoe mount with its simple push/pull action and store away in a corner when off camera. I like my gear un-adorned.

Being a bit of an inventor myself I made up what I call the "Down Under Cold Shoe" or "DUCS" for short. Which is a spare shoe mount on a short extension bar attached to the tripod mount. It is not unduly offensive when left on and a double male/female adapter allows the continued use of the tripod mount via this extension created. I made up my own plug-in shoe mounted viewer. Unfortunately I don't have the "special lens" and the view lens has to be 105mm from the lcd instead of 50mm. This makes for a longer contraption. But the lens in use shows the entire screen and surround in a clear undistorted manner. The Clearviewer on the other hand sits much closer but even with the premium lens the lcd view has some distortion and the edges of the lcd need some eye-scrolling to take into account.

The thing about the Clearviewer and my personal adaption is that it is quite amazing how much difference it makes to framing and focus and its help in glare situations. I think it is simply the fact that bringing the lens to the eye regularises the distance from the screen as much as it does with an ovf or evf. In use the lcd provides the 100% feedback to the camera user and focus details become more obvious. There is no "grand awakening" with this sort of device as much as the "oh-wow" moment but I do notice the difference immediately if I am not using it.

Also the uses of the viewer is not mandatory for all imaging, this is why I chafed a bit on having the folding device in place and having to constantly fold it down to see the lcd. For quick and dirty good light shots the lcd is good enough, but for precision with longer lenses and in brighter light conditions plugging in a viewer is most useful.

Tom
 
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