Image credit: Ricoh GR Digital IV by matsuyuki
PetaPixel just published an info we also got from our sources last week. Ricoh will launch a new GR Digital V camera with large APS-C sensor and fixed lens. The camera is rumored to arrive the second half of this year. I am still not sure about the lens but a source told me it’s definitely one of the two patented 23mm f/2.5 and 27mm f/1.9 designs (Source: RiceHigh).
The high end compact camera marked is the last profitable business on fixed lens cameras. All the low end stuff is being eaten up by smartphones.
53 Responses
Now that’s a news.
They are all totally crazy, the only reason to have such a camera ist to impress people around.
The only camera to buy for this reason is a LEICA!!!
Save this money and give it poor people around you, you will enjoy it more!
They are not crazy. They are doing the right thing. Sony did it, Fuji did it. Then why not Ricoh? Not everyone can afford Leica and also not everyone is happy with manual focus. Think broad. 🙂
You are crazy, crazy to think this highend pos will effect market share. No market share, means discontinued products. discontinued products means youll be the one holding on to gear you cant sell and no one wants. Sony dslrs to dslt to whatever..one stupid gimmick after the next, leaving a trail of abandoned crap along the way..while every one who has logic has already left their boat.
Inside Japan, Ricoh is known as a high-end brand, and people often buy them to show off.
But their cameras are made to be photographers’ cameras, and they have a well-deserved reputation for that. They don’t rely on gimmicks, nor on pumping out tons of mass-market cameras for Best Buy. They have a targeted niche that they serve well. Their approach is quite comparable to Leica’s in that respect.
Maybe for you.
For me, Ricoh is the best manufacturer of fixed-lens cameras. Period. They make cameras for photographers.
I will look out for this camera! They most likely use Pentax sensor technology including without AA-filter. Lens will be HQ. If also performance is OK, then it will really be a (street)photographers camera.
SECOND half of this year ? are you sure. This seems not only a long time from now but it does not correspond to the RICOH dna which usually has products available soon after press release. Let’ s hope you are wrong and that product will ship this spring
Harold
So I have been told.
By the way, why don’t we have more news about Ricoh here ?
Because Ricoh has been slow to release (or leak) any news at all over the past two years.
Everyone already makes APS-C mirrorless now. Leica x1/x2, Canon EOS-M, Fuji x100s/xpro, Sony NEX, Samsung NX, Pentax K01. That’s a lot of competition.
And none of the fixed-lens APS-C cameras are up to Ricoh’s standards of build quality and UI design.
Richo may be a bigger name in aprts of Sia such as Japan but in the west, ask anyone what Richo means to them, and if they can even think of anything, they will surely say” maker of cheap electronic goods”. I cant even rememebr any richo products here except the low end crap ps film cameras of the 90’s. and ive even seen more leica m9’s on the poor streets of western countries more than Ive seen a Richo gr whatever..in fact I never evebn seen ONE Richo gr gx whatever camera here. Releasing so called higend stuff aint gonna do diddly when you havent got clout or a name ppl know of.
Many, if not you know that Ricoh has a great tradition in “edel-compacts” as the Germans say. Lens quality, build quality, UI and IQ – all excellent. They also made a film RF camera with a couple of lenses.
Many pro and art photographers have Ricoh GRD as second camera.
This is what I wrote Ricoh should have done already with the GR Digital IV which at the time of introduction was already outdated:
http://photorumors.com/2011/09/13/ricoh-gr-digital-3-vs-ricoh-gr-digital-4/
Ricoh-Pentax i late to the party again.
Meh.. Another APS-C. Can’t someone jump over to FF already?
I’d buy the Leica system, but I’d have to sell my car first. ;/
oh nice same size as the film GR or a bit smaller, no viewfinder (maybe clip on option, I don’t care), sony sensor (with high dr) and the 27/1.9 I’d be very very tempted.
Trolls aside, this is news I’ve been waiting for for a long time. Very, very exciting.
Is your spelling “Ricoh” as “Richo” part of the act, or…?
Is your fanboysim part of your act…?
Can’t wait for this camera. I love using my GXR and GR IV.
Admin, please remove Crazyman as he is either a troll or utterly incompetent. He brings nothing to the discussion.
Removed! Thanks for focusing the attention on him!
Admin, please remove jack , he is a fanboy troll and there is no sense in people who believe in fantasies here. We need ppl of logic and common sesne, not fantasy driven fanboys who troll on this site and spread bs and propaganda.
Two things I hope Ricoh will present in the new GRD. Should it be APS-c sensor then it must be compared to GXR A12 28 combination. Using 23mm or 27mm (EQV 35 FF ) would be mistake. Stick to excellent 18mm 2,5. Put a ring around lens on the body which should act as a power on-of, lens telescoping device. The same ring could have manual distance function with clic stops. Say inf, 5m, 3m,2m,1,5m,1m,0,7m,0,5m, 0,3m. Put exposure compensation dial on top of body Fuji style. Articulated LCD screen, weatherproofing, wireless remote control. Anyway I wonder how much smaller they can a camera with GXR A12 28 specifications. The best succesor of GRD IV would be near same size body with 1″ sensor with improved high ISO, articulated LCD screen, weatherproofing, wireless remote control and of course excellent 28mm FF EQV. lens
You mad bro?
“The brand MUST not be crappy, purely becuase I don’t see it NEAR WHERE I AM. FACT”
This camera is a street photography camera that you dont see.
unless you shoot like this—>
http://xcb.xanga.com/caa8514b51150281034520/z148076853.jpg
Should have just expand their GXR A units.