Ricoh GR officially announced, available for pre-order
Ricoh officially announced their new GR digital compact camera. B&H is currently taking pre-orders for the new GR (price: $799.95).
The new GR has a redesigned 28mm equivalent f/2.8 lens. Here are a MTF charts comparison between the GR and the GR Digital IV:
Detailed Ricoh GR technical specifications:
- 16 MP APS-C size CMOS image sensor
- Improved white balance algorithm and color reproduction
- New GR ENGINE V
- Magnesium alloy body
- No anti-aliasing filter
- No image stabilization
- 4 fps
- Newly designed 18.3mm (28mm equivalent) f/2.8 lens with 9 blade diaphragm
- Lens design: 7 elements in 5 groups with 2 aspherical elements
- High speed auto focus system with continuous shooting
- Designated AF and aperture preview buttons
- Pocket-sized compact with portable design
- Large 3", 1.23 million dots LCD screen
- Capture standard JPG or DNG (RAW)
- Max shutter speed: 1/4000
- ISO range: 100-25,600
- Flexible Shooting Modes
- Full 1080p h.264 HD video recording capabilities at 30, 25 and 24 fps
- Eye-Fi card compatible
- Dual-axis electronic level
- Aprox. 1 second start-up time
- AF speed: 0.2 seconds
- Minimum focusing distance: 0.3m (0.1m in macro mode)
- Image effects, macro mode and 35mm crop mode
- Shipping will start shipping in mid-May
- Battery life: aprox. 290 shots
- Dimensions: 117 x 61 x 34.7 (Nikon Coolpix A is 111 x 64.3 x 40.3)
- Weight: 245 g (lighter than the Nikon Coolpix A which weights 299 g)
- Price: $799.95
| Memory | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | 54MB |
| Memory Card Type | SD SDHC SDXC |
| Still Images per GB | JPEG: 39 @ Highest Resolution - 1820 @ Lowest Resolution |
| Recording | |
|---|---|
| Video Recording | Yes, NTSC/PAL |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080: 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps 1280 x 720: 50 fps, 60 fps 1280 x 720: 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps 640 x 480: 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps |
| Video | |
|---|---|
| Video Clip Length | Up to 4GB or 25 Minute |
| Audio Recording | With Video, Mono |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 3.0" LCD Rear Screen (1230000 pixels) |
| Connectivity/System Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | AV Output, HDMI D (Micro), USB 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | None |
| Software Requirements | Windows: XP (SP3), Vista, 7, 8 Mac: OS X 10.5 or later |
| Environmental | |
|---|---|
| Operating/Storage Temperature | Operating 32 to 104 °F (0 to 40 °C) |
| Waterproofing | None |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery | 1x DB-65 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack |
| AC Power Adapter | AC-U1 (Included) |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 4.6 x 2.4 x 1.4" / 11.7 x 6.1 x 3.6 cm |
| Weight | 8.6 oz / 244 g with battery and card |
Press release:
PENTAX RICOH IMAGING DEFINES THE ADVANCED COMPACT SEGMENT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE RICOH GR CAMERA
Following on the Award Winning GR Digital Series the New RICOH GR Camera Features an APS-C-Sized Sensor and Compact 8.6 Ounce Body at Just $799.95
Denver, CO (April 16, 2013) — PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION today announced the RICOH GR, an ideal blend of image quality, camera size and price; setting a new benchmark for the advanced compact camera category. The new RICOH GR camera features an APS-C-sized CMOS image sensor delivering shallow depth of field, exceptional low-light performance and a wide dynamic range for remarkable images across a wide variety of shooting styles.
Remaining true to the heritage of the multi- award-winning RICOH GR Digital series the new Ricoh GR camera combines compact size with outstanding performance. Featuring a 16 megapixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor, no low-pass filter and a completely redesigned optical path the GR is built for superb image performance. The newly developed and optimized18.3mm (28mm in 35mm format) F2.8 lens compactly provides high-resolution, wide-angle images with stunning edge-to-edge sharpness all while minimizing chromatic aberration and distortion. The camera’s category-leading, nine-blade aperture diaphragm produces a rounded bokeh effect across a wide range of apertures.
Advanced capabilities of the sensor and lens are supported by a newly developed GR ENGINE V imaging processor which optimizes high-sensitivity shooting to ISO 25600 minimizing noise, producing accurate, color-rich images. Finally, a newly designed lens driving mechanism and optimized AF algorithm combined with faster data readout speeds from the image sensor provide a high-speed auto focus system that can focus on a subject in a mere two-tenths (0.2) of a second. A super quick start-up time of approximately one second ensures photographers are guaranteed a speedy capture ready camera in even the most fleeting scenarios; making the RICOH GR the ideal companion camera at a fraction of the size of a DSLR.
“The introduction of the RICOH GR marks a new standard of confidence in the compact camera segment,” said Jim Malcolm, Executive Vice President, PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICA. “The RICOH GR camera’s unparalleled set of robust features and hardware completely redefines what can be expected from a compact camera.”
In keeping with its advanced functionality the GR also offers a range of helpful features common to DSLRs like in-body RAW-data development and a dedicated depth of field preview button to aid in accurate image framing and quick inspection of focus prior to capturing an image. Additionally, the GR boasts full 1080p HD video recording capabilities replete with continual AF during video capture creating sharply-focused, high-quality video output.
Instantaneous photo and video sharing is now a breeze with the GR’s optimized Eye-Fi SD card compatibility. Built-in menus allow the user to easily enable automatic transmission of images and video to a smartphone for rapid sharing. Users can even select favorite images and resize them before transmission.
For consumers seeking additional creative expression, RICOH offers an optional wide-angle conversion lens extending coverage to 21mm. The new GR is also compatible with the full range of accessories already offered for the preceding GR Digital line of cameras including viewfinders, flashes, lens hoods and adapters and more.
Pricing and Availability
The new GR advanced digital compact camera provides incredible value with a category-low cost of $799.95 and will be available at retail outlets nationwide and online in May 2013.