Compact & lightweight with a VERY durable metal body. Sharp, fast 28mm lens. Aperture priority option is a godsend.

Who the #%$$ designed this on/off button? I often open the case to find that the camera is already on!

This camera is just plain FUN. After a day of lugging two Maxxum 700si bodies around with lenses, flash, etc.. it's nice to have a small, light and VERY competent camera that slips into your pocket. A small number of VERY useful features, rugged construction and the ability to take tack-sharp photos make this my favorite camera to carry when I don't want to be "weighted down" by carrying a camera.

Customer Service

Haven't needed any (so far!).

Similar Products Used:

Yashica T4 Super, Minolta TC-1, Olympus XA, others.

small size and portable, good lens, overides. handholdability in poor light (!)

-lens vignettes and distorts significantly toward edges of film
- flash is worse than useless mine (GR1s) seem s centrally 'hot' and to emphasise vignetting.
- on/off switch needs re-thinking.
motor is TOO NOISY to allow close-ish candids (mine sounds like the robot 'Kryton' in the BBC TV *Red Dwarf* comedy series trying to say 'smeghead' but only managing the 'smerh' screeching sound.
- is treated too much as a cult by photo romaticisers

a very usefully portable p&s capable of providing convincing picture quality in the right situations where vignetting &/or distortion are less critical. For family P&S (parties et. al.) situations,really try to ignore the hype surrounding this camera and look objectively at alternatives.

Similar Products Used:

Yashica T4 (not T4 super/T5) (genuinely good, perhaps better allrounder than the ricoh)
Olympus trip (original 60's type (surprisingly good pictures)
Minolta P&S (crap)
OM 28,f2.8 better than ricoh
Nikon f90/28/f2.8 better than ricoh

Full metal camera. 28mm, f2.8 lens. User control: aperture priority, exposure compensation, different focus modes. Simple easy-set, easy-read controls for exp' comp', flash on/off/auto, aperture. Small size/weight, understated appearance. Uniquely good value considering lens type & quality & camera's functionality. LENS = SHARP! Viewfinder feedback on shutter speed (some) and focus distance (by symbol). Pre-wind of film, followed by rewind of each frame after exposure.

Lens hood attachment none too secure. Lens hood (and even lens without hood on) intrudes significantly into bottom left of viewfinder frame, making precise composition difficult! Parallax frames not as accurate as they might be. 'Brightline' type viewfinder difficult to read against light/light background. On/off button easily tripped accidentally in bag. Manual less than illuminating on whether camera (GR1S) actually has spot meter or not! 'T' mode will require solid tripod.

I bought this for the lens, which is indeed very sharp (sharper than the Fuji's, and possibly as sharp as SLR's), with good edge definition. I haven't noticed any vignetting, but it is perhaps more prone to distortion than SLR lens. Is also more prone to flare, even with lens hood on. Found some useful tips on web: slip eg. credit card into case behind camera to stop it being turned on accidentally; 'snap' mode is hyperfocal at f13 (yes, does 1/2 stops); if viewfinder unreadable in bright light, cover central frosted window with finger tip. First roll of film I put through was Fuji Provia 100 - this proved lens's sharpness and that metering is generally pretty good. When metering does let you down, it's in generally predictable situations, and is easily second-guessed and fixed with exposure compensation (yes, even on trannie film!). Viewfinder info on shutter speed (down to 1/30) very welcome. To make direct comparison with the Fuji: Ricoh lens sharper & better edge-edge, Ricoh is a bit bigger, operation of Ricoh easier and quicker (i.e. not so many fuctions changed by tiny buttons, and once set, stay set), exposure comp and aperture priority major plus points of Ricoh, but I do miss Fuji's panoramic mode. As for lens focal length, my favourite 35mm lenses are 17mm and 400mm, so I find 28mm a bit dull, but still the widest (good quality) lens on a compact until Ricoh bring out the GR with a 21mm next year at an outrageous price!

Customer Service

None needed yet.

Similar Products Used:

Fuji DL Super-mini (28mm, f2.8 lens)

Small, leightweight, beautiful lens with very nice image tone and gives good detail.
Great controls: a "real" on/off switch for flash, aperture control and over under exposure knob.

Sometimes the autofocus is slow indeed or is unable to focus at all.
The pre focussing extra's are bit difficult to get used to.(but once you know how and when to use them they are great for certain situations e.g. streetfotography)

I was looking for an everyday point and shoot to use beside the Leica m6, and I did some serious research before I decided. Other candidates on my list were Leica minilux and Contax T2. I choose the Ricoh because of the 28mm(which is a fine lens indeed) and because of the great way in which I'm able to dial the controls, no nerve wrecking pushbuttons but "real" dials.
The total "feel" of the camera is fine to me. And the results so far are awesome!
In general it really is a point and shoot, apart from difficult lighting conditions, but this is where the photographer comes in, no matter what camera you use!!!!

Customer Service

so far no problems.

Similar Products Used:

Rollei 35LED
Olympus 35sp

Great lens, slim design, strong metal body

none

Initially bought to use for parties and situations where you wouldnt want to lug around a whole camera kit, but the results are pretty amazing!, you will be in for a surprise! Go and buy one now!

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

Contax T2

The reason to buy this camera is the lens. It is pin sharp all the way to the corners. The fact that it is beautiful, well made, metal, slim, light, quiet, manually adjustable, program or aperture priority, half the price of the nearest competition, and has a number of subtle, clever features that nerdier reviews than this can tell you about, is just a bonus.

It turns on too easily, and I wish it wasn't a painted finish.

Buy 2 and keep one in the box.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

The usual snazzier, ritzier brands.

Great Lens. Lightweight. +/- correction. A-priority. T pause...

Turns on too easily. Paint rubs off. Wish it was easier to lock the AF and that there was a distance indicator.

A great camera for outdoor pics, always with me. It's in your shirt pocket while your SLR is inside your backpack. I love the T pause for night shots (not even on 2000$ SLRs).

Customer Service

I WANT TO KILL THEM !!!
My sister dropped the camera and broke it (the day of my wedding). I sent it for repairs and it came back just as I left for Himalaya to climb the 5th highest mountain in the world. The flash and the AF didn't work. But, much worse, the obturator didn't work !!! I lost all my pictures. And since I used only this camera above 7000m, I lost all my films; no summit pictures. I was photographer of the expedition.
They repaired it (properly) the 2nd time, but didn't as much as repay for the lost films. Bitter, bitter, bitter...

Similar Products Used:

Bigger SLRs.

Lens, +/- Exposure compensation in 1/2 stops, aperture priority, B setting for timer

Turns on too easily, have found flash to be insufficient for indoor night photography, viewfinder sucks in bright light, noisy cricket.

Very sharp lens and the filter ring allows you to use filters (if you can find them in the size). I like to use a polarizer and have obtained some AMAZING photographs using the camera. The camera is also very good for existing light photography, but you need to know what you are doing. The wide angle lens makes for a different kind of paradigm.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Leica Minilux.

Lens quality, metering, modes,weight.

Finish, fixed focal length

Just what I always needed a 35mm compact with aperture priority, exposure compensation, spot metering, and a lens that will put an SLR to shame. It could be smaller but handles well and is very light. The 28MM lens is great for scenes and group shots but too wide for traditional portraits. I can live with this as a zoom would not have the same quality. Bottom line if picture quality is very important and you don't want to carry an SLR nothing else comes close at this price and precious little at any price.

Customer Service

Not tried

Similar Products Used:

Fuji DL 28
Canon IXUS Z70
Nikon Nuvis S

Light & compact, lens

Detail finish, on/off switch(turns on in pouch), noisy motor, view finder in bright light

I owned it for less than 2 years. Good value for its price. 28mm lens is great, but I think it's over evaluated. I hope Ricoh offers choise of 35mm or 28mm. Feels and sounds cheap. Assembled in Taiwan - which is ok, but prefer Made in Japan. Sold it through ebay last year.

Customer Service

Never used.

Similar Products Used:

Contax T2, Minox GT