Ricoh GXR with A12

When Ricoh announced the GXR system late last year, it shook the imaging industry with its revolutionary standard of interchangeable lens cameras. Typically, only the lens is changed while the rest of the shooter's specifications remain untouched. But with the GXR, it's a different ball game altogether. The compact's body facilitates operation such as adjusting the menu parameters and shooting mode. However, the imaging sensor is not in the snapper's body. Instead, the sensor and lens make up one module which slots into the GXR. This opens up quite a lot of expansion possibilities for this system which we will elaborate upon later.

Ricoh's main competition will likely come from Panasonic, Olympus and Samsung, which have compact interchangeable lens snappers. While the GXR trumps over its rivals in many aspects, there are obvious flaws which enthusiasts should take note of.

For the purpose of the GXR system, this review will cover both the body and the A12 lens module which is a 50mm F2.5 macro optics. Subsequent analysis on other optics and sensor blocks will focus on the features, performance and image quality.

Design

On its own, the GXR body is very light, tipping the scales at just 160g. But with the A12 module installed, the combination weighs 423g. If you did your calculations right, you'll see that the lens block weighs more than the camera body.


The GXR and the A12 module. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)

On looks, Ricoh has adopted a safe approach by implementing the same design as its other pro-oriented compacts such as the GRD III. This gives the camera a very professional outlook that puts it apart from other point-and-shoots.

Photographers who've used a GRD series snapper before will be familiar with the button layout on the GXR. The rear controls are well-spaced out and each can be easily accessed with the thumb. There is an Adj rocker below the power switch for adjusting exposure settings or navigating the menu. Pressing it calls up frequently changed options. The zoom rocker at the right side can be used when you attach a zoom lens module such as the S10. When you are using a prime lens, it activates digital zoom.


There is a switch at the handgrip which you have to press to detach the lens block. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)

The eight-way navigation pad has two customizable shortcuts and it surrounds the Menu/OK button. The mode dial at the top of the camera has a lock which has to be pressed before you can turn it. All these minor details impressed us and convinced us that Ricoh had the professional user in mind when it designed the GXR.


The weight distribution of the A12 on the GXR is very even and it's a pleasure to hold the camera. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)

With the A12 lens module on the body, the camera feels solid. Weight distribution is even and it didn't weigh us down even after extended shooting periods. When taking pictures in manual mode, the front command dial changes the aperture, while the Adj rocker tweaks the shutter speed. We really like this feature which even some entry-level dSLRs don't provide.


The menu has many sub interface which can make it confusing for first-time users. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)

Taking pictures with the camera is a joy, but one gripe we have is with the menu interface. While we understand the GXR is geared toward advanced users, we wish the menu was less complicated.

Features

The highlight of the A12 lens block is its specifications. It has a focal length of 50mm and there is an APS-C-sized sensor inside for capturing images. This greatly improves the image quality over typical point-and-shoots which use much smaller sensors. The A12 is a macro glass which can focus down to 7cm, but it works well as a general-purpose lens, too.

The A12 is also capable of recording 720p-quality videos, and since it employs a larger sensor, the low-light performance is one of the best we've seen from a compact camera so far.

Here's a comparison table between the GXR with the A12 and its competitors.

Specifications/model	Olympus E-P1	Ricoh GXR with A12	PAnasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Sensor size/resolution	18 x 13.5mm/12 megapixels	23.6 x 15.7mm/12.3 megapixels	18 x 13.5mm/12 megapixels
Dimension/weight	120.5 x 70 x 35mm/335g (body only)	113.9 mm x 70.2 mm x 77.1mm/ 423g	119 x 71 x 36.3mm/285g (body only)
LCD size	3-inch, 230k-dot	3-inch, 920k-dot	3-inch, 460k-dot
Viewfinder	None. Optical viewfinder optional	None. Electronic viewfinder optional	None. Electronic viewfinder optional
Max. video resolution	1,280 x 720 pixels	1,280 x 720 pixels	1,280 x 720 pixels
Audio	Stereo	Mono	Mono
Burst mode (full resolution)	3fps	3fps	3fps
Flash (built in)	No	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilizer	Yes, sensor-shift	None	Optical (via lens)
Still image format	RAW and JPEG	RAW and JPEG	RAW and JPEG
ISO range	ISO 100 to 6,400	ISO 200 to 3,200	ISO 100 to 3,200
Memory media	SD/SDHC	SD/SDHC	SD/SDHC
Related links	Review		Review

According to Ricoh, one advantage of sealing the sensor in the lens module is that it keeps the sensor dust-free even when you're changing the optics on the GXR. This is unlike conventional interchangeable lens cameras which expose the sensor when you remove the lens, which can cause dust to be stuck onto it.

At the launch of the GXR, Ricoh also said that other modules can be made to fit the camera's body. Two examples shown were the projector and harddisk modules. Users can slip them onto the shooter and read/transfer the images off the SD/SDHC card. However, there hasn't been much news about these components yet.

Performance

While the GXR with the A12 impressed us on many counts, its performance was disappointing. We expected a combination of this caliber to deliver faster and more accurate focusing. However, the lens would hunt for our subject in dim conditions, and there were situations where it indicated that the optics was in focus but that wasn't the case as we saw on the LCD display. Under daylight, the A12 had slightly better performance, but it wasn't good enough. Given that the GXR uses contrast-detection autofocus (AF) like the Olympus E-P1 and the Panasonic GF1, we thought the Ricoh would at least offer similar focusing speeds. However, in our tests, it performed the slowest. For most of our pictures, we employed manual focusing instead.

There is an alternative focusing mode but it's geared more towards advanced users. Called snap focusing, the GXR allows users to preset a distance which the lens will focus on. By selecting an appropriate F number, photographers can press the shutter and take a picture immediately without waiting for the lens to focus. If the depth of field is sufficient, then the subject will be in focus.

With regard to continuous shooting, the A12 is on par with its competition at 3fps. But in M-Cont Plus Hi mode, it was able to deliver 24fps at a lower image resolution of 1,280 x 854 pixels.

CIPA rates the A12 to deliver 320 pictures with the battery on a full charge and we think this figure is accurate. We shot over 250 images and there was only about a quarter power left on the battery indicator.

Exposure-wise, the A12 tended to underexpose images, so it's advisable to compensate by overexposing the picture about one- or two-third stops.

Image Quality

ISO comparison chart for the A12. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)

For this review, we will be looking at the JPEG image quality from the A12. From our comparison test chart above, you can see that the APS-C-sized sensor was helpful in delivering noise-free pictures up to ISO 800. It was only at ISO 1,600 that we observed slight speckles dotting the shadow regions of the photo. In fact, we think photos taken at ISO 3,200 are good enough for an 8 x 10-inch print and you won't see the noise unless you inspect the image closely.


Comparison between ISO 1,600 samples from the E-P1, A12 and the EOS 500D. Note that the A12's picture is sharper. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)

When viewed against samples from the E-P1 and Canon EOS 500D, we noticed the A12 held its ground. There were no discernible differences seen at ISO 200 or 800, and this actually puts the Olympus, with its smaller sensor, at an advantage. In theory, a bigger sensor means better picture quality, but in this case, the APS-C-sized A12 didn't fare much better than the E-P1.

The image settings were left at default and colors from the A12 appeared slightly muted. But this is not a big deal as users can always capture in RAW format and post-process them on a computer.

One plus point of the A12 is that the lens is able to render very sharp and fine details. Compared with the kit lens on the EOS 500D and the E-P1, we realized the Ricoh glass is capable of delivering sharper pictures.

Conclusion

The GXR and A12 combination is more a tool for the professional user than the average consumer. This explains the premium price tag on the individual component. The GXR body retails for S$738 (US$592.96), while the A12 sells for S$999 (US$802.67). All in, this package costs more than S$1,700 and is pricier than the E-P1 or GF1 bundles.

However, there is something about the Ricoh that had us hooked. Perhaps it is the enjoyable experience of using it, or it could very well be the overall feel of the camera. We would have liked it more if the focusing was faster.

The modular system is a refreshing innovation to the imaging industry and we hope the company will release new components for it soon.