[Leica] OT Pana GF1 (20 pancake) & Ricoh GRD-III

[mark at whitedogs.co.uk (Mark Pope)]

I used to have the original GR-D with external viewfinder.  I bought it 
on the basis that I loved my film-based GR-1.  I was disappointed with 
the GR-D for a number of reasons:
1. The camera was painfully slow if I tried to use it in raw mode.
2. Image quality was OK, but the small sensor made for a noisy image - 
for me it was all but unusable above about ISO 200.
3. The JPEGs weren't brilliant.

I replaced it with a Canon G9, which I felt was a better camera overall 
the tiny sensor however is still a limiting factor for me.

I'm sure the GRD-III is a much better camera than the original GRD, but 
personally, I wouldn't buy one as I believe it still has a small sensor. 
   Now, if it had an APS-C sized sensor and a 17.5mm lens (28mm 
equivalent), then that would be a different proposition.  The other 
thing that bothers me with the GRD and Canon G9 is the aspect ratio of 
the sensor which is such that if you want to shoot in 1:1.5 format, you 
have to effectively shoot at a lower resolution.

I am very interested in the GF1 with the 20mm pancake lens.  I had a 
look at one earlier this week and was quite taken with the build quality 
and handling.  I would prefer to have a direct viewfinder - I haven't 
made up my mind yet whether to buy a 40mm Voigtlander viewfinder or the 
electronic viewfinder when I get one.

I loved the build quality of the Ricoh, but I think the Panasonic is as 
good IMHO.

If you can live with the fixed lens (which retracts into the GRD body, 
making it possible to keep the camera in a shirt pocket) and the small 
sensor size, the it may be a good buy.  But if image quality is more 
important than compactness, then I think the GF1 wins.

I hope this helps Steve.

Best wishes


Mark





Mark Pope,
Swindon, Wilts
UK

Homepage               http://www.monomagic.co.uk
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                (2008) 
http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2008


Nathan Wajsman wrote:
> Hi Steve,
> 
> I have the GF-1 and I am very pleased with it. With the 20mm pancake, and 
> without the EVF, it is pocketable if you have a jacket on, but otherwise 
> not (i.e. not shirt-pocket pocketable). Assuming the GRD III is the same 
> size as the GRD I once had, then there is a significant difference in 
> size. But in the end I sold the GRD--low light performance was not good, 
> and I found the single focal length too limiting in the end. These days I 
> have the LX3 (i.e. same as DLux 4) as the pocket camera. Low light 
> performance is still crappy but at least there is more flexibility in 
> terms of focal length and it is pocketable.
> 
> If I recover sufficiently from the flu that has kept me at home for the 
> past 1.5 days, we are going hiking in the mountains tomorrow. I will 
> probably take the GF-1, maybe the LX3, but definitely not the M8.
> 
> Cheers,
> Nathan
> 
> Nathan Wajsman
> Alicante, Spain
> http://www.frozenlight.eu
> http://www.greatpix.eu
> http://www.nathanfoto.com
> 
> Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
> Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog
> 
> 
> 
> On Jan 30, 2010, at 7:17 AM, Steve Barbour wrote:
> 
>> On Jan 29, 2010, at 10:06 PM, Nathan Wajsman wrote:
>>
>>> Steve, the Ricoh has the usual tiny sensor found in compacts; and in 
>>> addition, the lens is non-interchangeable. So I am not sure how relevant 
>>> such a comparison would be.
>>
>> I guess that with the lenses I mentionned the image quality of the GF1 is 
>> much better, that's  what I am after....
>>
>> I saw the Ricoh the other day for the first time, tiny , attractive, and 
>> the images were excellent, (a friend had one)
>>
>> I am curious about how these attractive small cameras compare...
>>
>> many thanks, Steve
>>> Cheers,
>>> Nathan
>>>
>>> Nathan Wajsman
>>> Alicante, Spain
>>> http://www.frozenlight.eu
>>> http://www.greatpix.eu
>>> http://www.nathanfoto.com
>>>
>>> Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
>>> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
>>> Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jan 30, 2010, at 6:50 AM, Steve Barbour wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm wondering with the recent interest in the Panasonic GF1 with the 
>>>> 20mm pancake lens and an external optical VF, has any used/compared 
>>>> this to the Ricoh GRD-III with its 28mm lens and the optional external 
>>>> viewfinder...
>>>>
>>>> I 'd be very interested to hear your thoughts, reactions, comparisons,
>>>>
>>>> appreciated,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Steve
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
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>>
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> 
> 
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