Photography news, before it happens

I was always curious to try out the Ricoh GXR system and with the announcement of the A12 Leica M-mount unit, I was able to borrow one and use it with my Leica lenses. Here is my quick review:

General

First, I have to say that this GXR A12 M-mount setup makes sense only if you already have Leica lenses and are looking for a backup or just want a smaller body. This combo may appear also to Leica M film shooters who are looking for a “cheaper” digital solution. The GXR body ($349) and the A-12 M-mount unit ($649) totals around $1000 which is more expensive than other mirrorless solutions for Leica M lenses with similar sensor, like the $600 Sony NEX-5n for example (there are several different M-mount adapters for Sony NEX).

Some basic specs of the Ricoh GXR A12 unit:

• 12.3MP APS-C size CMOS sensor
• ISO range: 200-3200 (including HI and LO)
• 1280x720p HD movie recording capabilities
• 1/4000 maximum shutter (1/8000 when electronic shutter is used in SCENE mode)
• Maximum of 4fps RAW continuous shooting
• No Anti-Aliasing (AA) filter
• 3.0-inch 920k dots, anti-reflection coated, display
• 86 MB internal memory
• Magnesium alloy body
• 1.5x crop factor