Anyone with Experience: DA 15 Ltd or Ricoh GW-3 21mm?

Shamwow · 03-27-2015, 04:22 PM

Has anyone done a direct comparison of the DA15 and the Ricoh GR with GW-3 21mm wide angle converter?

I used to keep an old Fuji f31 on my harness while climbing, but the old outdated camera finally died. My idea was to replace the Fuji with a Ricoh GR for climbing and add the GW-3 21mm wide angle converter for backpacking.
This would replace my current backpacking kit which consists of a K-01 and the DA15 and DA40.

Unfortunately, I would probably need to sell the DA15mm to partially fund these purchases.
Would my results with the Ricoh be equal to or better than results with the DA15?

One of my goals is to lighten my load, but not at the cost of image quality. Climbing/backpacking photos are my most cherished, so I would rather not compromise IQ.

Thanks!

npc · 03-27-2015, 06:12 PM

No personal experience with GR, but check this thread over at dpreview:
Richoh GW-3 versus Pentax 15mm Ltd HD: Ricoh Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

jayman_1975 · 03-27-2015, 06:29 PM

I had a gr and it was fantastic. I sold it and kick myself every day. I can't say I compared it to a 21 though. But for lanscapes it was superb and even worked great for portraits

officiousbystander · 03-27-2015, 11:09 PM

Originally posted by jayman_1975

I sold it and kick myself every day.

If you ever sold the 15mm this is also how you'd feel. Don't do anything crazy.

carrrlangas · 03-28-2015, 10:29 AM

Hi, I never got a GR allthough I considered it before buying DA21 lens. But I am a backpacker and trekker myself so here´s my input:
DA21 has a very special rendering wide open and I like it very very much. Starbursts are great too and size, hood are amazing.
GR lens is known to be better at edges and in technical stuff but I don´t think it´s as good with starbursts or flare control.
DA15, I´ve never seen other lens like it, it`s really special.
Now, for climbing I`ll totally go with the GR! But how much does the 21mm adapter weighs? With the adapter installed, doens´t it gets similar dimensions, handling as K-01 + DA21 ?

One more point, I like to differenciate between "hand weight" and "system weight" as in, how much equipment you carry, how much is in your hand at any given moment and how much equipment is really accesible while on the move.

Originally posted by Shamwow

One of my goals is to lighten my load, but not at the cost of image quality. Climbing/backpacking photos are my most cherished, so I would rather not compromise IQ.

With any of these choices, the IQ compromise is inexistent! It´s a matter of tast and options: system or fixed lens, size, weight, battery life?, handling...

Shamwow · 03-28-2015, 07:40 PM

Thanks for the helpful replies.

Though I believe the IQ would be good, I can't help but think it would be a bad investment. The GW-3 might not be compatible with the next GR, so it might have a low resale value. The DA15mm will probably hold it's value for a while.
Though I would be sorry to see the DA15 go, I also have the DA14 which I would still use as a general wide angle lens.

03-27-2015, 04:22 PM	#1
Shamwow Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LA Posts: 90	Anyone with Experience: DA 15 Ltd or Ricoh GW-3 21mm? Has anyone done a direct comparison of the DA15 and the Ricoh GR with GW-3 21mm wide angle converter? I used to keep an old Fuji f31 on my harness while climbing, but the old outdated camera finally died. My idea was to replace the Fuji with a Ricoh GR for climbing and add the GW-3 21mm wide angle converter for backpacking. This would replace my current backpacking kit which consists of a K-01 and the DA15 and DA40. Unfortunately, I would probably need to sell the DA15mm to partially fund these purchases. Would my results with the Ricoh be equal to or better than results with the DA15? One of my goals is to lighten my load, but not at the cost of image quality. Climbing/backpacking photos are my most cherished, so I would rather not compromise IQ. Thanks!

03-27-2015, 06:12 PM	#2
npc Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 313	No personal experience with GR, but check this thread over at dpreview: Richoh GW-3 versus Pentax 15mm Ltd HD: Ricoh Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review Last edited by npc; 03-28-2015 at 01:56 AM.

03-28-2015, 10:29 AM	#5
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	Hi, I never got a GR allthough I considered it before buying DA21 lens. But I am a backpacker and trekker myself so here´s my input: DA21 has a very special rendering wide open and I like it very very much. Starbursts are great too and size, hood are amazing. GR lens is known to be better at edges and in technical stuff but I don´t think it´s as good with starbursts or flare control. DA15, I´ve never seen other lens like it, it`s really special. Now, for climbing I`ll totally go with the GR! But how much does the 21mm adapter weighs? With the adapter installed, doens´t it gets similar dimensions, handling as K-01 + DA21 ? One more point, I like to differenciate between "hand weight" and "system weight" as in, how much equipment you carry, how much is in your hand at any given moment and how much equipment is really accesible while on the move. Originally posted by Shamwow One of my goals is to lighten my load, but not at the cost of image quality. Climbing/backpacking photos are my most cherished, so I would rather not compromise IQ. With any of these choices, the IQ compromise is inexistent! It´s a matter of tast and options: system or fixed lens, size, weight, battery life?, handling... Last edited by carrrlangas; 03-28-2015 at 10:43 AM.

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03-27-2015, 06:29 PM	#3
jayman_1975 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 385	I had a gr and it was fantastic. I sold it and kick myself every day. I can't say I compared it to a 21 though. But for lanscapes it was superb and even worked great for portraits

03-27-2015, 11:09 PM	#4
officiousbystander Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 916	Originally posted by jayman_1975 I sold it and kick myself every day. If you ever sold the 15mm this is also how you'd feel. Don't do anything crazy.

03-28-2015, 07:40 PM	#6
Shamwow Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LA Posts: 90 Original Poster	Thanks for the helpful replies. Though I believe the IQ would be good, I can't help but think it would be a bad investment. The GW-3 might not be compatible with the next GR, so it might have a low resale value. The DA15mm will probably hold it's value for a while. Though I would be sorry to see the DA15 go, I also have the DA14 which I would still use as a general wide angle lens.