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Ricoh GXR

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tai

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I kind of think the GXR system is insane. Coupling the 2 most expensive components of a camera system together means it'll be expensive to upgrade, and you don't get the benefit of seeing new life from all your lenses by updating the camera body like you do with DSLRs. What do you all think?

Would you like Nikon to come out with a system like this with lens/sensor combined? Or would you want a more traditional micro 4/3 type approach to it?

edit: here's an introductory video to the GXR if you haven't seen it yet

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edit2: since the video's gone, here's the DPreview thread for some more info
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1013&message=33644509

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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At those prices I can't see how this is going to be viable.

Good point about the coupling, too, tai. One great thing about Nikon is the high-end bodies are still compatible with lenses made decades ago. This looks like a step in the wrong direction for the interchangeable lens camera.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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So in the future I'll end up with a collection of a 12mp 50mm lens, 18mp 50mm lens, and a 32mp 50mm lens?! Or imagine if this system came out 5 years ago. You'd have a 4mp 50mm lens, 5mp 50mm lens and a 10mp 50mm lens, but now you'll have to buy the new 12mp 50mm lens!

This is just crazy. They must be super confident in it's image quality. The only benefit I like is that photojournalist in a desert war zone don't have to worry about dust when changing lenses.

Posted 3 years ago #
tai

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Yeah, Niko, that was my first thought, too. A lot of people on the DPreview forums seemed quite excited and not puzzled like I was, so I wanted to see how everyone here felt. Luckily for me Nikon's EVIL patents don't suggest anything like this.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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So they're planning a future projector for this thing? I might consider buying one if they offer a snap on beer dispenser?

The video has been taken down already :^(

If you didn't get to see it don't worry. This camera will be officially official tomorrow night.

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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The video's gone. Is there any way you can repost it?

WTF???

Horrible system! The lens and the sensor is together? And how reliable is the system? Can my sensor and lens suddenly drop out of it if it gets loose?

No thanks, Ricoh. Your quirkyness is not winning me over. Maybe if the lenses were cheap. But I doubt it.

On a side note- this could be the best system for photographers, because each lens in theory could calibrated to the sensor.

But not for me.

Posted 3 years ago #
tai

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I've been looking for another copy of the video, but no luck so far. I put a link to the dpreview thread which has some of the info. If I see the video again I'll post it, but otherwise we'll have to wait until tomorrow for the official announcement

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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That video wasn't suppose to be up until Wednesday I think. The lens/sensor locks into place so you don't have to worry about it falling out on you NSX :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
ted2001

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I agree Niko, the only real advantage is that you can seal the lens and sensor and avoid dust. Desert war zone, or other hostile environment doesn't seem worth it.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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We'll have to wait and see what the image quality is like. Having each lens and sensor tailor made for each other could provide unmatched edge to edge image quality in a very compact package. If IQ is only as good as what Olympus and others offer then it'll be a collectors item soon :^(

Posted 3 years ago #
tai

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You're right niko, the tailoring could help, but I just can't see these couple positives outweighing all the cost negatives.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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What cost negatives?

Maybe just get one with a 50mm lens and you're all set. Or a 24mm lens. Or a 105mm lens. Just get one with a lens that suits your most important needs.

Posted 3 years ago #
tai

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That's a way I hadn't thought about it, alphanikonrex. Since it's interchangeable I was focused on buying a whole system of lenses like one does with DSLRs, but if you look at it from a standpoint of being able to choose lens/sensor and body separately, if you're not planning on buying a big kit it might be worthwhile, you're right.

Posted 3 years ago #
[NR] admin

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The youtube video is removed, but I took some screenshots before:
http://photorumors.com/2009/11/09/ricoh-gxr/

This is the craziest camera of the year! I am not sure what to think of it yet, but this may be the future (RED is also into modular cameras). There was a rumor few months ago that Nikon will be doing one too.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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So what do we call this new camera system? It's not a compact or micro 4/3rds, so?
The Ricoh Modcam? If Nikon brings out a Modcam I don't know... It's such a different way of looking at the whole lens, sensor way of doing things. It's so crazy that it might just work?!

Wouldn't it be easy to share this kind of lens system among different camera company's? I mean more so than a lens mount? It's just like a USB or HDMI input connection between the lens and body.

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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NikoDoby said:
Wouldn't it be easy to share this kind of lens system among different camera company's? I mean more so than a lens mount? It's just like a USB or HDMI input connection between the lens and body.

Niko, are you kidding? Different camera companies can't even agree on a universal raw format even with Adobe handing DNG to them on a silver plate (with a few exceptions, like Ricoh, actually). Good luck getting them to agree on a universal interface for these babies.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Yes I am being serious but wouldn't it be easier to "copy" a USB or HDMI interface? I mean I couldn't get a good look at the interface on the GXR in the video but it kinda looked like an eSATA port or something "computer" like and not an entirely new connection.

Posted 3 years ago #
tai

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From a technical standpoint it's not far fetched. However, if there's any sort of encryption over the connection between body and sensor/lens, reverse engineering that would go against the DMCA in the US and possibly equivalent laws in other countries. Third party companies do make lenses on canon/nikon mounts, so it's maybe not out of the question for them to force this into a de facto standard.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Sigma pays Nikon to allow it to make lenses with it's mount. Nikon makes money and so does Sigma otherwise why should Nikon let Sigma make money off it's lens mount? Same with this new modcam. If they use, lets say an esata port to connect the lens and body, then Nikon can develop the lens (glass)and Sony the sensor. This could be a very convenient way for Nikon and Sony to make money off of other manufacturers body designs. It's already done all the time with point & shoot compacts. Of course the software side of it would make the Ricoh a Ricoh and a Sony a Sony etc.

This is a very interesting concept. A good sign that a completely modular and open source like camera system is possible.

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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Niko, I wasn't trying to offend. You may be right about this, but I still think it's crazy.

Posted 3 years ago #
QuadraPixel

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A micro 4/3rds approach would be a better way to go in most cases. Plus, think of how slow that body would be in 5 years, compared to what would be new.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Oh I didn't mean nothing Jonny. I wasn't offended. I'm just excited and yet completely baffled by what this GXR brings to the table.

True QuadraPixel but you just buy an updated "base/body" and you still have various sensors to go along with your collection of lenses. You get to have a APS-C 12mp CMOS sensor with HD video for high ISO shots or a compact zoom lens with a small CCD sensor for long (35mm equiv)range zoom in compact package. All with the same camera!

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Dpreview has the GXR and sample pictures up NOW! Well they promise to have sample pics show up later today. It has a magnesium metal base/body and a 3inch 920,000 pixel TFT screen.

I was right about the lens base/body connection. It's just a 68 pin connector and they admit to not minding if other manufacturers were to join into the "system". Though they also admit that none have... yet. This seems like it's going to be a fun camera to "hack". Perhaps a future hotrod-able open source camera?

This is a very interesting modcam!

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Apparently Minolta had a "Modcam" way back in 1999?! Really?! Where was I and how did I miss that party?

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/minolta1500/

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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I am almost 100% sure that this new Ricoh camera system will do just a well as the Minolta system did, !>)

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #