Ricoh GR, brief first thoughts and some images ...

Received my new Ricoh GR on 18 June and am still learning the best settings for street photography. (The two pictures below inside the shopping mall were taken at F4.5, ISO 100, with a shutter speed of 125. 125 is a bit on the slow side for my liking for interior shots, and as a result the pictures not as sharp as I’d like them to be. The exterior shot (car) was taken at F.4.5, ISO 160 at 160.)

I’m experimenting with the settings for best results with future images, and have now set auto-high with maximum of 1600 ISO. (I’ll start with F2.8 and decrease aperture as necessary to maintain adequate shutter speed.) Incidentally, I’ve set the snap focus to 2.5 metres, but so far have found the autofocus to be fast enough not to require use of full-snap mode.

Aperture priority, colour Vivid, converted to B&W in Aperture for monochrome pictures.

(More thoughts and images from my next photo walk, which I plan later this week.)

Style guys

Window shopping ...

Car park, Cameron Toll Shopping Centre

Downsizing ...

My most recent photo walk, Wednesday 5 June, was something of a revelation. After 30-odd years shooting with SLRs (and preferring the SLR way of framing via the viewfinder), I discovered I’m now more at home street shooting with my Ricoh GRD. (I suspect the reason for this is that I’ve developed a method of shooting with the Ricoh whereby I hold the camera slightly to one side at the hip and compose the shot. I think this looks to subject/s as if I’m checking a previously-taken shot.)

Using an SLR for street photography, however, is more up-front and in your face. If you put the camera to your eye (the most obvious way to shoot with this type of camera), your subject can be aware of your intentions. To counteract this, I’ve been shooting either from the hip or, with the D90, pretending to check the top LCD screen while aiming the lens and taking the photograph.

I’ve found, however, using this method with the SLR is a bit hit-and-miss when it comes to focussing. The Ricoh overcomes this with its snap-focus function, which I must say I’ve found invaluable.

Good as the Ricoh is, though, its small 1/1.7 sensor just can’t deliver the same image quality as a APC-sized sensor — or such was the case until recently, when Pentax Ricoh brought out the fifth incarnation of its GRD line ... new GR. The 16 mp APC-sensor in the GR offers the same resolution as my D90 ... in a camera which is only fractionally bigger than the GRD 1V!

As taking street pictures is now my main photographic interest, I made a decision to buy the new Ricoh GR, which I’ve pre-ordered this week. To help pay for it, I’m off-loading my D90 (no easy decision). It was, however, prompted by reality: I’ve only used it twice in the last year while, on the other hand, I use the Ricoh almost on every shoot. (I’m not giving up SLR photography altogether, however, I still have my trusty D40 and F65 film camera.)

My thoughts on the Ricoh GR (and some sample pictures) in a future post. Meanwhile, some pictures from my most recent photo outing with the D90 and 24mm lens ...

A case for a wee rest ...

Patient Pooch

Middle of the road ...

Coffee time ...

Double parked

A short blog on the Fuji X100 ...

Bought a Fuji X100 two weeks ago, which I gave a trial outing on Tuesday 21 May. Before ordering, I read that the latest software update had fixed the much-reported focussing issues, which had been the only factor that concerned me.

I’d read, too, that the X100 was a camera you’d either love or hate. Sadly, my short time with the X100 puts me firmly in the second category. Focussing with the camera was still hit and miss, and I was not in the least impressed with image quality, which is easily bettered by my Nikon D90 with a prime lens.

I also discovered that battery life was mediocre; 77 shots on a full charge — and that with the camera set to viewfinder mode only (back LCD off).

I’m sure the new incarnation, the X100s, is an improvement. But for me the X100 was a disappointment. I was lucky to have purchased the camera from a reputable UK dealer who, I’m glad to report, issued a full refund.

Of the 77 images I took, there was only one I liked, which I’ve posted below. (I plan another photo walk this week, when I will be trying out a 24mm lens for the Nikon.)

Windswept (click for larger image)