Ricoh Launch GR Advanced Compact Camera

Ricoh has launched a new advanced compact camera called the GR with an APS-C sensor and compact metal body.

Posted: 17/04/2013 - 10:41

Pentax Ricoh Imaging has announce the new Ricoh GR, the first new Ricoh camera to be developed under both Pentax and Ricoh, building on the strengths of the Ricoh GR series, it features a 16.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and has features found in Pentax Digital SLRs including RAW processing and Tav mode.

Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, ltd. is pleased to announce the launch of the GR. This new Ricoh-branded expert digital compact camera not only offers the top image quality available in the renowned Ricoh GR series, but features a pocket-sized body that enhances the camera’s operability and portability in everyday snapshot use.

The new GR inherits the product concept of the GR DIGITAL series while upgrading the basic specifications and functions of its predecessor. It features a newly designed lens to assure sharp, clear image resolution, even at image edges. Thanks to the combination of a newly developed APS-C-size CMOS image sensor (with approximately 16.2 effective megapixels), the high-performance GR ENGINE V imaging engine and an Anti-aliasing filter-less design, the camera assures high image resolution, gradation-rich colour reproduction and improved image quality, especially at high-sensitivity shooting.

In addition to improvements in quick shooting capability, an AF button and an aperture preview button — both easily accessible with the thumb — have been newly added to upgrade the camera’s operability during everyday shooting. It also offers a range of user-assisting features, including in-body RAW-data development and focus assist to facilitate manual focusing.

The GR will be available from May 2013 RRP £599 body only. A price for the body and viewfinder togrther has not yet been announced.

Ricoh GR Key Features

Exceptional image description, assured by the new GR LENS 18.3mm F2.8
The GR comes equipped with a newly designed GR Lens with the angle of view equivalent to 28mm in the 35mm format. Designed to be compact while providing high performance, this lens delivers high-resolution images with edge-to-edge sharpness and rich contrast, while minimizing distortion and chromatic aberration by incorporating two high-precision aspherical lens elements and a highly refractive low-dispersion glass element in its optics.

Improved image quality, supported by the large image sensor, GR ENGINE V and Anti-aliasing filter-less design
The GR comes equipped with a new APS-C-size CMOS image sensor, providing an image-sensitive area as wide as that of a Pentax DSLR image sensor. Thanks to this large image sensor, the GR offers approximately 16.2 effective megapixels to produce beautiful, high-resolution images.

By coupling the large image sensor with the newly developed GR ENGINE V imaging engine, the GR offers high-sensitivity shooting at ISO 25600 with minimal high-sensitivity noise to produce high-resolution, rich-gradation images with a natural sense of depth and a beautiful Bokeh effect.

Quick response to shutter opportunities
The GR provides a high-speed autofocus system that can focus on the subject in a mere 0.2 seconds,* thanks to the newly developed lens driving mechanism and optimized AF algorithm, as well as the ever-faster data readout speed from the image sensor. With its start-up time of approximately one second, the GR responds quickly and flawlessly even to fleeting shutter opportunities.

The GR’s AF Continuous Shooting function captures a series of photos at a maximum speed of approximately four images per second, allowing the photographer to capture a fast-moving subjects, such as athletes and wildlife, in sharp focus.
* Measured against CIPA standards.

Pocket size for superb operability
Despite the incorporation of the large image sensor, the GR has a compact and portable design. Its casing is made of a magnesium alloy that is both light and highly rigid, while its exterior design retains the flair and style typical of the GR series.

An array of shooting functions
The Image Effect modes allow the user to add a variety of visual effects to create distinctive expressions without the need for a PC. For greater creativity, three new modes have been added for the GR: Retro for a nostalgic ambience with subdued saturation; High Key for a bright, lively result while retaining subtle gradation in highlights; and Miniaturize for a diorama-like appearance, popular in the CX-series models. Selection of the nine Image Effect modes is pushbutton-easy, with the direct-access Effect button positioned on the camera’s side panel.

High-quality Full HD recording of extended movie clips
Taking advantage of the H.264 video format, the GR’s Full HD movie recording function captures high-quality, extended movie clips (1920 x 1080 pixels, 16:9 aspect ratio) at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. Image Effects such as Retro and Bleach Bypass are available during movie recording.

Eye-Fi card compatibility for easy image transmission to smartphones
With Eye-Fi wireless LAN SD memory cards, the user can automatically transmit recorded images to a smartphone,** and even select favorite images and resize them before transmission. In the playback mode, the user can also recall the transmitted images on the monitor using the Effect button on the side panel.
** The automatic transmission mode must be selected in advance on the settings menu.

Function expansion via firmware upgrade
Function-enhancing firmware upgrades, which have been popular with all GR-series models — from the GR DIGITAL to the GR DIGITAL IV — are scheduled to become available along the way for the new GR as well. By upgrading the camera’s firmware, the user can always take advantage of the latest, most advanced functions to optimize the camera’s performance.

Other features:

• Dual-axis electronic level for high-precision horizontal and vertical alignment
• Non-directional stereo microphone
• Crop mode*** for instant setting of a 35mm angle of view in the 35mm format
• Chromatic moiré compensation function to minimize wavy moiré patterns in  the image
• Optional GW-3 Wide Conversion Lens (with 0.75X magnification and optics optimized for the GR) for 21mm ultra-wide-angle shooting
• Compatibility with UHS-1 high-speed memory cards
• SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 LE for Pentax Ricoh Imaging RAW-data processing software (developed by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory) included; in-body RAW-data development also available *** When this mode is selected, the largest recorded size is M.

For more information, visit the Pentax Ricoh website.

Ricoh GR Specifications

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