[JPT]

Impossible. Fixed lens camera that somewhat fits your description is Leica X Vario, and that is chunk of a camera and a lens.
To keep it pocketable, GR must be small fixed lens camera. And that's it.
But the X Vario is a very good camera, with optics far better than what any other manufacturer offers for less than $1000 for a lens alone. And the quality of the X Vario camera body is top notch too. The quality of X Vario images may blow midrange DSLR setup out of water. (For a mid range DSLR plus comparable quality zoom lens, total price isn't far from the price for X-Vario, and I'd still vote for Leica's lens). Also look at the BH Photo web store; it received only highest praises.

Actually, I'd love to see a side-by-side comparison of the X-Vario and the GXR's APS-C zoom unit. They are very similar in size, are both fixed-lens, and both are said to be way better than the average ILC kit lens. The problem is they are both so rare that it would be a miracle to find one within a thousand miles of the other.

[aurele]

You guys know about lenses... tell me, is it impossible to have a mild fast telephoto, like 24-70mm with f/2.8 at 24mm ... on a GR with that APS-C sensor? And still have it fit in a man's shirt pocket, with better dust sealing this time around!

To make it simple : a zoom need space to move many pieces of glass to be able to ... zoom. Hence zoom are bigger than prime when in use.

The Pentax 18-50 collapsible is about the smallest size you can hope for a collapsible zoom.

If you prefer small over sensor size there is some alternative like the MX-1 or Canon S100-110-120, (i bet Nikon do have some) with fast zoom that collapse, but with a smaller sensor (1/1.7 AFAIR).

Ricoh's typical 24 month release cycle means you can expect a GR II announcement some time around late March to mid April 2015 with actual shipping some weeks later.

I hope we will see lots of GRIV appear on the market at that moment

[Uluru]

Actually, I'd love to see a side-by-side comparison of the X-Vario and the GXR's APS-C zoom unit. They are very similar in size, are both fixed-lens, and both are said to be way better than the average ILC kit lens. The problem is they are both so rare that it would be a miracle to find one within a thousand miles of the other.

Yes, that would be interesting.
But Leica X Vario is a beautifully crafted and beautifully performing camera, trimmed down to essence.
Despite all efforts they put into them, Ricoh's cameras were in many ways .. a bit cluttered with options and pedestrian.

[Bophoto]

Maybe that photo is a sign that it will be monochrome
(100% speculation)

Perhaps GR2 comes as two, one with ekvi. 28mm and one with 35mm. but if Richo come with a GRm, with a B/W sensor, I think I buy that model. A B/W sensor can be very sesitive, perhaps iso103400
An EVF for hotshoe to GR and Q would be nice.

---

Last edited by Bophoto; 03-07-2015 at 07:07 AM.

[IchabodCrane]

To make it simple : a zoom need space to move many pieces of glass to be able to ... zoom. Hence zoom are bigger than prime when in use.

The Pentax 18-50 collapsible is about the smallest size you can hope for a collapsible zoom.

If you prefer small over sensor size there is some alternative like the MX-1 or Canon S100-110-120, (i bet Nikon do have some) with fast zoom that collapse, but with a smaller sensor (1/1.7 AFAIR).



I hope we will see lots of GRIV appear on the market at that moment

For a pocket size zoom, it's tough to beat the Panny LX-7. My wife has one and it captures excellent pictures. Smaller than the MX-1 or Oly alternative but every bit as good a lens and sensor.

[LFLee]

Yikes that photo looks nasty ! Looks like the male model dipped the camera and his hand into a tub of axle grease !

Looks like one of the marketing guys at Pentax transferred to Ricoh ! Nooooooooo !

The GR's pretty cool, but I really wish they'd turn it into an interchangeable lens camera.

you probably didn't know about GR history, that's why you would say that.

The B&W picture is very much like the style of Daido Moriyama, the famous street photographer who uses GR (from film era).
Daido Moriyama and the Ricoh GR Series | Ledesma

No, GR is always fix lens, 28mm, high customizable (digital ver), and pocket-able.

There is a huge cult following with this series. It is probably the most famous camera in Ricoh brand. Ricoh won't mess with the legendary status the GR series always has.

[thibs]

Not always 28mm. 21mm once

[kenspo]

Not always 28mm. 21mm once

Im shure it will come with same solution as today. 28mm with 21mm as optional. This is guessing from me. Not info. I dont know anything about a new GR yet

[thibs]

A 35mm "EuroGR" still would be very welcome IMO : )

[LFLee]

Not always 28mm. 21mm once

Haha. Yeah. The GR21, pretty legendary... that wide. But that one the lens can't fully retract. I remember Mijonju said that 21mm is so good it was adapted to Leica mount.

[Uluru]

I think now they include 21mm converter for the 28mm standard GR, which is quite good.

I never understood why they never introduced a 40mm or a 50mm converter? Wouldn't THAT be welcome too?

Ricoh .. all quirkiness. They are fathers of the K-01, K-S1, GXR ‚ and many other bloopers.

[JPT]

The GR Digital 1&2 did have a tele converter lens available. I think it was 40mm. GR Digital 3&4 had a different lens so required new converter lenses, but they only ever made the wide one. I don't know why, but my guess is that they intended the GXR to be the solution if you wanted longer focal lengths. One of the two units launched with the GXR was the 50mm equivalent macro.

Another curiosity is that the GXR is still not listed as discontinued on Ricoh's Japan site, even though the body isn't available anywhere. That list is updated pretty regularly and much more recent cameras, like the K-5 IIs, are listed as discontinued, while still being widely available.

[thibs]

I think now they include 21mm converter for the 28mm standard GR, which is quite good.

I never understood why they never introduced a 40mm or a 50mm converter? Wouldn't THAT be welcome too?

Ricoh .. all quirkiness. They are fathers of the K-01, K-S1, GXR ‚ and many other bloopers.

No. IMO this is logical, a crop is more pertinent in this case.

[ogl]

I think now they include 21mm converter for the 28mm standard GR, which is quite good.

I never understood why they never introduced a 40mm or a 50mm converter? Wouldn't THAT be welcome too?

There are 35 mm and 47 mm crop-modes in GR.
35 and 47 mm crops are done both in raw and jpeg and have 10 and 5.5 MP.

4:3 Ratio
28mm 4:3 ratio the RAW image is 4368 x 3280 pixels
35mm 4:3 ratio the RAW image is 3504 x 2624 pixels

3:2 Ratio
28mm 3:2 ratio the RAW image is 4944 x 3280 pixels
35mm 3:2 ratio the RAW image is 3952 x 2624 pixels

1:1 Ratio (square)
28mm 1:1 ratio the RAW image is 3280 x 3280 pixels
35mm 1:1 ratio the RAW image is 2624 x 2624 pixels

The 47mm crop size is: 2912 x 1936


If new GR will have more than 20 MP, the crop modes would have more MP.

[Uluru]

There are 35 mm and 47 mm crop-modes in GR.
35 and 47 mm crops are done both in raw and jpeg and have 10 and 5.5 MP.

4:3 Ratio
28mm 4:3 ratio the RAW image is 4368 x 3280 pixels
35mm 4:3 ratio the RAW image is 3504 x 2624 pixels

3:2 Ratio
28mm 3:2 ratio the RAW image is 4944 x 3280 pixels
35mm 3:2 ratio the RAW image is 3952 x 2624 pixels

1:1 Ratio (square)
28mm 1:1 ratio the RAW image is 3280 x 3280 pixels
35mm 1:1 ratio the RAW image is 2624 x 2624 pixels

The 47mm crop size is: 2912 x 1936


If new GR will have more than 20 MP, the crop modes would have more MP.

I know. Thanks for that.
But I was writing about dedicated optics, not crop inside the camera.
Crop is an afterthought. It is easy and is not a solution but hindrance — only so much cropping is possible.

Same would be that Pentax comes with 3 lenses, one wide, one normal, one tele — for its entire DSLR line — and leaves you then to "crop" other focal lengths.

Real dedication and vision are properly designed lenses and adapters, which can utilise entire sensor area.