Ricoh will have a presentation of a mirrorless APS-C camera on November 12th, 2009. The camera will be available in December 2009. I am expecting more details in the next few days.
This is the information I posted two months ago on this rumor:
Ricoh is working on a compact camera based on Pentax’s K mount. It’s not clear if they would use the exact K mount or the M 4/3 approach by keeping the mount diameter in-tact and reducing the distance so that older K mount lenses still can be used via an adapter and a new series of new “micro K mount” lenses will be introduced.
Related posts:
- Rumor: Ricoh is working on a compact camera based on Pentax’s K mount
- Confirmed: new Ricoh mirrorless camera on November 10th
- Ricoh’s mirrorless camera: with a “slide-in” interchangeable lens mount system
- Ricoh’s mirrorless, interchangeable lenses camera – coming up on November 10th?
- Rings of fire (k-mount adapter for Samsung NX10)
12 Comments
I’m guessing Ricoh is more likely to produce an interesting mirrorless APS-C camera because they’re not afraid of killing any DSLR line (e.g. Olympus) with a small camera full of features that makes needless an entry level DSLR. And maybe they are constrained to make this move, otherwise I can’t see a bright future for their digital camera division. I like how things are shaping up. I hope we’ll see some nice (and also cheaper) cameras in the following years.
Removing the mirror doesn’t help a lot regarding the size of the camera. Especially when this is a big APS-C sensor. Small impact angles of optical rays are restricting factor. Unless, of course the sensor is specifically designed, like what Leica did, i.e. Kodak did for them.
The other option is using retrofocus lens designs but then the camera stays thick like a dSLR having mirror or not.
Probably the 4/3 sensor size with crop factor 2 is the most optimal in terms of image quality, camera registration(the distance from the lens mount to the image plane), without having shifted micro lenses sensor design.
At lest for now. Well, I could be wrong, let me know.
to the best of my knowledge, m4/3 doesn’t keep the mount diameter intact, nat sure whoever wrote this is smoking?!?! the news item is not exactly new, and it doesn’t clarify much of what has not been clear since the rumor first appeared:
1) there is still no clear indication whether this is going to be fixed lens or interchange camera? fixed more probable. (original rumor talk about APS mirrorless camera, K-mount is an addition which might turn out to be fiction)
2) not clear how much if any Pentax/Hoya are invoved?!
3) K-mount or universal screw mount (m42)? if the interchangeability is true and Pentax is not much involved,more expect universal screw mount than K-mount.
4)Sigma DP3 with interchang. SA mount taking it further here, almost starting a new rumor.
Correct, m43 is some 6mm smaller in diameter than 4/3rds. The commonality between them is in imager format and the lens communication protocol (m43 uses an evolved variant of the 4/3rds protocol).
M42 is extremely unlikely. K mount is something Ricoh has a long background in and is the most likely mount for Ricoh to target.
Ricoh is EXCELLENT in making fixed lens advanced compact cameras. GRD3 for example, it is a hit in eastern world.
I personally hope that Ricoh make it fixed with low light lens, 28mm f/1.4 or equivalent to between 35 to 50mm, then this will be very interesting. It will beat Sigma DP and Leica X1 hands down.
But, the rumor say that Pentax is involved.. this add to the complexity. Hopefully you get more info before the announcement.
Enche
I hope, Ricoh takes the GRDIII design as a strong guideline for the new camera system. I regularly use my GRDII and GRDIII cameras next to Nikon DSLRs and Leica film M.
The GRD line is simply the best, regarding direct control and usability in a small package with an excellent, fast fixed lens. If Ricoh heals the not ideal high ISO behavior of small sensor bodies and puts in excellent exchangeable prime lenses or the possible usability of Leica M mount glass, I get one unseen.
I hope, Ricoh does not jump the 4/3 bandwagon, as the technology really is grown backwards with these small sensors, opposed to what has been used in the old days as a pocketable 35 film camera.
yes, why should Ricoh jump to 4/3 while the GRD3 sensor already very capable in high iso setting. I just tested out GRD3, and the noise reduction algorithm is fantastic. ISO 1600 is about the same as beginner dSLR such as Canon XSi (450D) if not better.
What I’m also hoping is even they plug in larger sensor, they keep the size the same as GRD line (not like GF1 or E-P1). plus Image stabilization and selectable spot focus point. That will be ideal
I’m sorry, but the GRDIII, while good for a compact, isn’t even close to providing the performance of the Sony CCD-based DSLR’s which are currently the noisiest ones out there. The XSi has at least a full stop of advantage in noise over the GRDIII.
Menos
You can’t put the 4/3 and the APS sensors in a different class and sizes. For all intents and purposes, they are of similar sizes. the 4;3 ratio is more adapted for most print sizes , except the postcard size. and for People who shoot a lot of verticals , it is WAY better. I hope that Ricoh does not produce another 3;2 ratio camera
Harold
to Harold
4/3rds and APS-C sensor size difference is what it is:
4/3rds = 17.3 x 13 mm ~ 225mm2
APS-C = 23.6 x 15.8 mm ~ 373mm2
printing is not terribly important, most people keep most of their digital photo’s just for viewing on screens and even if you crop the APS-C to 4:3 aspect it is still considerably larger than 4/3rds.
Another player in high quality compacts and that’s good for all of us. Thanks for posting.
See this post:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1013&message=33380681