135compact.com 35mm ultra compact cameras Ricoh GR1 and GR1s
The
Ricoh GR1 is one of the smallest
wide
angle (28mm) camera for 35mm film. It belongs to the absolute top
section of
the ultra compact 35mm film cameras. It has been released in 1996. As
for the Minolta TC-1, there are quite some photographers who consider the Ricoh as the best ultra
compact 35mm film camera ever built. It
was rather expensive from start and prices stay high today. There is a
point and shoot mode with full automatic control. But you can also set
the aperture and the camera does the rest. The Ricoh GR1 has more
manual control:
the viewfinder indicates autofocus distance, shutter speed, exposure compensation and AF O.K., dedicated aperture control dial for aperture priority AE, spot or multi-focus metering, dedicated flash mode switch, dedicated exposure compensation dial fixed focus modes.
Its main data are:
28mm/F2.8 Ricoh GR lens, 7 elements in 4 groups, autofocus with focus lock, min. focus 0,35m Electronic shutter, 2s-1/500 and T Size 117mm x 61mm x 26,5mm (Grip: 34mm), Weight 175 gr. without battery 25-3200
ISO, automatic DX coding, automatic mode or aperture priority AE,
segmented centre weighted or spot metering, self-timer, automatic film
advance, manual focus in 4 steps
Camera
front closed and top.
Camera front open. The lens only moves out further than on other wide angle compacts.
Top. Exposure compensation, time mode, focus mode, LCD screen, shutter release, aperture setting. 2nd strap lug on the edge.
Back. Flash mode swith, AE and flash control light, viewer, on/off button. Film type window.
Bottom. . Tripod socket.Battery compartment, takes a CR2 battery. Strap lug on the edge Front.Flash guide number ~7 (m/ISO 100).
Camera back open.
Film compartment.
This
camera is one of the smallest full frame cameras for 135 film. In
comparison to the Minolta TC-1 it's a bit longer but thinner, so in my
opinion they are equal. It has numerous features, well packed into a
tiny body. It's a high
quality ultra compact with a superb lens. For me, who has spent his
whole life with cameras, everything is easy to use.
Aperture priority is a "natural" thing to me, so I don't need or even
want an all
automatic one. But, in case of, this camera can be fully automatic. The
possibility of extensive manual control suits me
well. It's one of the few cameras that keeps any setting you chose when
switched off. Autofocus is responsive and works well. Putting a film is
easy, you drop the film into the camera, tear the film leader up to the mark and that's it, the camera
prespools the whole film. It feels more
solid than it looks. Seen the size, handling is
logic
and easy. It is an excellent idea to have dedicated wheels and
switches, no need to go into a menu, the setting is always visible
at a glimpse. The T mode for the shutter lets you take any kind of
night photo. Up to 60 seconds the counting is visible on the top
screen, it then disappears, but the shutter stays open as long as you
want. Marvellous. Picture quality is impressing, the pictures are sharp and and the contrast is amazing.
There
is a "date" version of the GR1. My camera had this feature which I find
useless. But if you like or need the date stamp, you can be served.
There
was a GR1s model in 1997 with only minor changings: the LCD is
back-lit, the lens coating is different and a filter or hood can be
attached. Please look further down for pictures of this one. In 2001 there was a GR1v model, which adds DX override, an
auto-bracketing mode and manual focus has 6 steps instead of 4. The
latter is still far from the 22 steps of the Minolta TC-1 or the 17
steps of the Fuji Super Mini.
The
GR1v model is the most sought
after, it's price is often twice the GR1 price tag. As I do not need
the improvements too much, I am fine with a GR1. All models will sooner
or later die from a dead LCD screen. There is no repair service any
longer by Ricoh. Keep in mind that there are 2 LCD screens: one on top
and one in the finder. Both have issues. When they fade, the camera can
still be used for a while, but it could be over soon.
As long as the film numbers are missing, you just don't know how many
photos are left. But when the mode symbols are missing, you don't know
which mode it is using. Of
course you can count the pushes on the mode button from start and hope
you got it right. In case of doubt, switch it off, put it on again and
count anew. If the LCD in the finder dies as well, it's the end of
control over manual exposure mode as you can't see the speeds. But the
worst: you can't control focus. There is no auto-focus lamp as on the
R1 and the brackets in the finder are missing.
Before
giving away my last Ricoh, that one had the first number incomplete, but
still guessable and it stayed so for 3 years without getting worse. So
if you come across a cheap one, it might be worth trying. But if you
pay full price, be careful
choosing your camera dealer. I was not lucky with my first one. The
screen was
perfect for 2 films. Putting the 3rd film two weeks later, it only
showed part of the information. As the camera was quite expensive, I
was
upset. The seller did not offer any warranty, but took it back
nevertheless without any problem. So if the price of a
Ricoh hurts you, stay away from it. And do not believe sellers which
tell you that a partly defective screen is of no importance. It will die
completely sooner or later. Otherwise it is a
nearly perfect camera. I bought a GR1s then which was fine for a while. There are pictures of this one further down.
This is what a beginning dead screen looks like. It will get worse soon:
So here comes my GR1s. It looks a bit battered, but it was not expensive at all. That's why I gave the Ricoh a second chance.
Camera
front closed.
Camera front open. The lens only moves out further than on other wide angle compacts.
Top. Exposure compensation, time mode, focus mode, LCD screen, shutter release, aperture setting. 2nd strap lug on the edge.
Back. Flash mode swith, AE and flash control light, viewer, on/off button. Film type window.
Bottom. . Tripod socket.Battery compartment, takes a CR2 battery. Strap lug on the edge. Film compartment.
First screen screen problems again. The camera can still be used quite some time as the settings are still visible.
