GRD V - discussion, what may it bring?

[streetshooter]

Mike, I just would like to be able to use my Luigi straps. They mostly use rings. No added weight just some off my shoulder.....same for my GXR's also....

[MikePenn]

I've always used the factory wrist strap.

[streetshooter]

I like the factory straps also, especially the one with my white GRD4. I have Luigi's in different styles from my Leica's that I can't use.

[t3hh]

My only wish list item at this point is for a B&W only model, although I doubt any sensor manufacturer is unwilling to produce a B&W sensor in that sensor size. But I'll keep my hopes up. I think a B&W GRD would be killer. Most of my GRD work is B&W anyway.

Ricoh GRD Monochrom? This is brilliant idea! Can I have one right now? Pleas?! Seriously, this is excellent marketing idea for GRD product line and for Ricoh cameras. And it could work on its weird way as like Leica also Ricoh has lens(es) that are outperforming compact digital sensors.Why not remove the bayer filter and use the most of the optical technology. It also makes sense from economical point of view as it will be a different from typical GRD and people who already own GRD are willing to make this investment again. If I could go crazy and wish anything possible I would add also collapsible tri-elmarit type of lens with three focal length: 21mm, 28mm and 40mm. I know that there are people who will hate me for that idea but just think about it! Wouldn't that be absolutely killer camera?

After returning from never-never-land I have to say that the biggest challenge for GRD V would be to survive in competition not between only compact cameras but also camera phones AND mirrorless APSC bodies (with fixed lens). It's crazy competition. Only hope here what I see is from one hand to offer to consumers something unique that is not possible to achieve with camera phones or cheap compact zooms and from another hand - highly portable form factor. This challenge is not about megapixels or camera specs, it's about user experience and performance quality.

My suggestion is to keep the form factor and user interface (best in market). Design brighter lens. Why? You have to hit where it hurts most and the low light performance of camera phones / compact zooms is crap. F/1.9 is good but there are already several lenses for m3/4 and MILC cameras brighter then that. New, larger sensor is mandatory but not the bigger amount of pixels (in that case the lens could stay to f/1.9?). Add GXR type of focus peaking to the functionality to improve the manual process. Improve video performance (not so much the frame rate but the overall quality to match it with the excellent picture quality of GRD cameras) and add manual settings also to audio/video. Redesign also the adapter and conversion lenses so that they actually could fit into the pocket (it could be great if one could attach the conversion lenses, filters and the hood directly to the camera skipping the adapter OR designing a collapsible adapter) same way the camera is fitting. Saying all that if anything would harm the picture quality already provided or the form factor just pleas ignore my suggestions.

Rereading my suggestions I realized that many of these are about "megapixels and camera specs". Well one should still follow my words not ma actions.

[thelps]

After returning from never-never-land I have to say that the biggest challenge for GRD V would be to survive in competition not between only compact cameras but also camera phones AND mirrorless APSC bodies (with fixed lens). It's crazy competition.

Hi and welcome to the forum, your comment here is one I agree very much on, the GRD survival over camera phones is a concern. Not sure what the answer is but perhaps the cult following will keep the GRD going, its survival is probably mostly about decent sales.

[t3hh]

Thank you for warm welcome! I also hope that GRD still finds its place on the market and in hands (and particularly in pockets) of photographers also in future.

Is there any expectation for GRD V for the Photokina 2012 in mid September? If you look at the product timeline (2005-2007-2009-2011-201?) then we could hope it for the end of this year or the start of the next one. Of course its pure speculation from my side - I don't have any information about it what so ever. But I will start to collect money for the next model.

[MikePenn]

We are only half way through the normal 2 year cycle.

[Wouter]

Realistically I think Ricoh will use the recently announced 1.1/7 CMOS sensor instead of the new 1 inch sensor. That way it will keep development costs low. I do however hope that a new GRD will at some day look identical to the GR1 including the OVF.

[streetshooter]

Realistically I think Ricoh will use the recently announced 1.1/7 CMOS sensor instead of the new 1 inch sensor. That way it will keep development costs low. I do however hope that a new GRD will at some day look identical to the GR1 including the OVF.

Wouter, This I find very interesting. Do you feel the need for any kind of viewfinder in the GRD5? What do you feel a viewfinder will add to your experience with the process of making images?
Thanks in advance...Don

[Wouter]

It ia how I have used my GR1 for more than 10 years. It is not that I don't use the LCD, but I prefer an OVF. Reason too why i use the solid Voigtländer finder now. I do however prefer an incorporated finder since the external finders almost always have a rather loose fit.

As a previous M4 and M6 photographer you now prefer the LCD screen, Don?