Ricoh GXR

Ricoh GXR
Ricoh GXR: body with A12 macro lens and VF-2 viewfinder mounted, and S10 24-72 mm equivalent lens on the side
Overview
MakerRicoh
TypeInterchangeable lens/sensor
Lens
Lens mountRicoh GXR lens/sensor
Sensor/medium
Sensor typeVaries (CCD in S10; CMOS in P10, A12 and A16 modules)
Sensor sizeVaries (1/2.3" in P10, 1/1.7" in S10, APS-C in A12 and A16)
Maximum resolutionVaries (10MP in P10 and S10; 12MP in A12; 16MP in A16)
Recording mediumSD/SDHC
Focusing
FocusAutomatic
Shutter
Shutterleaf (A12, A16, P10, S10) or focal plane (GXR Mount)
Image processing
Image processorVaries (GR ENGINE III or Smooth Imaging Engine IV)
General
LCD screen3 inches (7.6 cm); 920,000 pixels
BatteryRicoh DB-90 3.6V
AV Port(s)HDMI, USB
Body featuresmagnesium alloy
Dimensions113.9 by 70.2 by 37.5 millimetres (4.5 in × 2.8 in × 1.5 in) (body only, excluding projections)
Weight160 grams (6 oz) (body only, excluding battery, memory card, strap)
References
"GXR: Specifications". Ricoh Global. 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.

The Ricoh GXR is a compact digital camera first announced by Ricoh Company, Ltd, Tokyo on November 10, 2009.[1] Unlike conventional cameras which either have a fixed lens and sensor or interchangeable lens and a fixed sensor, the GXR takes interchangeable units, each housing a lens, sensor and image processing engine, sometimes called a "lensor" as a portmanteau of lens and sensor.

Following the introduction of the Ricoh GR in 2013, the GXR was quietly discontinued.

Features

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The GXR has a modular design, consisting of two major components: the host body, which holds the battery, pop-up flash, rear screen, and external interfaces for data and flash; and a Camera Unit, which holds the image sensor, lens, and image processor in a sealed module. Ricoh also offered a Lens Mount Unit, which omits the bundled lens in favor of a mechanical interface compatible with many Leica M mount lenses.[2]

The body has a hot shoe on top for an external flash unit; the Ricoh GF-1 is designed for the GXR. Alternatively, Ricoh marketed both optical and electronic viewfinders which attach to the hot shoe. The GV-1 and GV-2 are optical viewfinders featuring the field of view equivalent to a 28 mm lens, and are intended to be used with the A12 28mm unit. The VF-2 electronic viewfinder offers 920,000 pixels and 100% field of view, and can be used with any unit.[3]

Camera and Mount Units

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Ricoh GXR: body, A12 macro lens, and P10 28-300 mm equivalent lens

Officially, Ricoh released five Camera Units and one Lens Mount Unit. Journalist Thom Hogan has coined the "lensor" nickname for the Camera Units.[4] The body accepts one unit at a time; each unit slides onto the body via a stainless steel rail and locks into place. To remove a unit, it can be released by a lever on the camera's body. Both the body and lens unit use magnesium alloy exterior.[5]

Each Camera Unit (lens + sensor) has its own unique specifications relating to its sensor and optics, meaning that different lens units will change the features, behavior and performance of the camera body to varying degrees when attached. By pairing the lens and sensor as a single unit, Ricoh claim that each unit has these features optimised to one another and a specific task, whereas with conventional interchangeable lens cameras, each different lens must use the same sensor and engine. The sealed units also prevent dust from reaching the sensor, which can be a problem with other cameras where the sensor is exposed whilst a lens is being changed. However, a significant disadvantage of this system is the extra cost involved in having to buy a whole new sensor with every new lens.[4]

The Lens Mount Unit was sold with a device used to check mechanical compatibility of lenses; some lenses extend deeply into the body and could cause interference with the sensor.[2][6]

Ricoh GXR interchangeable module specifications[7][8][9]
Lensor
Feature
A12 28mm A12 50mm A16 24-85mm P10 S10 GXR Mount (Leica M)
Unit Name GR LENS A12 28mm F2.5[10] GR LENS A12 50mm F2.5 MACRO[11] RICOH LENS A16 24-85mm F3.5-5.5[12] RICOH LENS P10 28-300mm F3.5-5.6 VC[13] RICOH LENS S10 24-72mm F2.5-4.4 VC[14] GXR MOUNT A12[2]
Image Sensor Resolution (MP)
Effective/Total
4288×2848
12.3/12.9
4928×3264
16.2/16.5
3648×2736
10.0/10.6
3648×2736
10.0/10.4
4288×2848
12.3/12.9
Type CMOS CMOS CCD CMOS
Size APS-C[a] 1/2.3" 1/1.7" APS-C[a]
Lens Focal length
(35mm equiv.)
f=18.3mm
(28mm)
f=33mm
(50mm)
f=15.7~55.7mm
(24~85mm)
f=4.9~52.5mm
(28~300mm)
f=5.1~15.3mm
(24~72mm)[b]
varies with lens in use
Aperture f/2.5–22 f/3.5–22 (wide)
f/5.5–22 (tele)
f/3.5–7.0 (wide)
f/5.6–15.4 (tele)
f/2.5–9.1 (wide)
f/4.4–15.8 (tele)
Min. Focusing Dist. 20 cm (7.9 in) 7 cm (2.8 in) 25 cm (9.8 in) 1 cm (0.4 in) (wide)
27 cm (10.6 in) (tele)
1 cm (0.4 in) (wide)
4 cm (1.6 in) (tele)
Construction (Eles/Grps) 9E/6G (2 aspherical with 2 surfaces) 9E/8G (1 asph with 2 surfaces) 11E/9G (3 asph with 6 surfaces) 10E/7G (4 asph with 5 surfaces) 11E/7G (4 asph with 4 surfaces)
Filter Thread 40.5mm 55mm 43mm[c]
Shutter speeds (sec.) 180–13200 30–12000 180–12000 180–14000[d]
Image stabilization No Yes, sensor shift No
Imaging Engine GR ENGINE III Smooth Imaging Engine IV ?
Dimensions 68.7 mm × 57.9 mm × 50.4 mm (2.7 in × 2.3 in × 2.0 in) 68.7 mm × 57.9 mm × 71.3 mm (2.7 in × 2.3 in × 2.8 in) 71.4 mm × 70.5 mm × 93.3 mm (2.8 in × 2.8 in × 3.7 in) 68.7 mm × 57.9 mm × 44 mm (2.7 in × 2.3 in × 1.7 in) 68.7 mm × 57.9 mm × 38.6 mm (2.7 in × 2.3 in × 1.5 in) 79.1 mm × 60.9 mm × 40.5 mm (3.1 in × 2.4 in × 1.6 in)[e]
Weight 210 g (7.4 oz) 263 g (9.3 oz) 350 g (12.3 oz) 160 g (5.6 oz) 161 g (5.7 oz) 170 g (6.0 oz)
Notes
  1. ^ a b 23.6 mm × 15.7 mm (0.9 in × 0.6 in)
  2. ^ 0.79× or 4.0mm (19mm) with DW-6 at wide end; 1.88× or 28.8mm (135mm) with TC-1 at tele end. HA-3 required for these conversion lenses.
  3. ^ with HA-3 accessory
  4. ^ Sync: 1180
  5. ^ Flange-back distance: 27.8 mm (1.1 in)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ricoh announces the GXR interchangeable unit camera system" (Press release). Ricoh Company, Ltd. 2009-11-10. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-07. Tokyo, Japan, November 10, 2009—Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) today announced the development and release of the GXR interchangeable unit camera system
  2. ^ a b c "Lens Mount Unit (Discontinued)". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  3. ^ "GXR: System diagram". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ^ a b Hogan, Thom (July 14, 2022). "Ricoh GXR Camera Review". Sans Mirror. Retrieved 3 April 2024. Let's discuss that sensor and lens thing a bit. The term I use for the module is lensor. That's because one module contains both a sealed sensor mounted on the back of a lens.
  5. ^ "GXR: New System Features". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  6. ^ Waloszek, Gerd (19 November 2020). "Ricoh GXR: Units - Overview". Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  7. ^ "What is the difference between GXR A16 24-85mm, A12 28mm, and A12 50mm?". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  8. ^ "What is the difference between GXR P10 28-300mm, S10 24-72mm, and A12 50mm?". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  9. ^ "GXR: Specifications". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Camera Unit 4 (Discontinued)". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Camera Unit 1 (Discontinued)". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Camera Unit 5 (Discontinued)". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Camera Unit 3 (Discontinued)". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Camera Unit 2 (Discontinued)". Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
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