Digital Camera Reviews

The Ricoh GR Digital II is the second compact digital camera that we’ve reviewed recently which has a 28mm fixed focal length lens, putting it it direct competition with the Sigma DP1. The lens on the GR Digital II is a stop faster, offering a maximum aperture of f/2.4, but unlike the DP1 which uses a large APS-C sized sensor, Ricoh’s camera is based upon a much smaller 1/1.75-inch CCD sensor with 10 megapixels. Improvements from the original GR Digital model include the new GR ENGINE II image processing engine which promises better noise performance, a neat electronic level function that indicates if the camera is level, and a retro 1:1 aspect ratio for square format photos. Images can be recorded either as JPEGs or in the Adobe DNG RAW format, there’s a pop-up flash and an external hotshoe which can accept a flashgun or the optional electronic viewfinder, and full creative control over exposure is available.
Features
# 10-megapixel CCD imager for up to poster size prints
# 5.9mm fixed lens (equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm camera)
# Compact and durable magnesium alloy body
# Macro focus as close as 1.5cm (0.6 i.)
# JPEG and RAW still image file formats
# 2.7-inch TFT color LCD with live histogram display and 230K pixels of resolution
# Compact and lightweight body
# Auto, Program (w/shift), Aperture priority, Manual, My Settings (1/2) and Scene (Movie, Skew Correction, Text) modes
# Movie mode w/sound, 640×480 or 320×240 at 30 or 15fps
# Continuous mode and two “Multi-Shot” continuous modes

Ricoh GR Digital II Reviews From dcresource

What I liked:
* Very good photo quality (though see issues below)
* Fast, 28 mm wide-angle lens
* Slim, very well constructed body; good control layout
* 2.7″ LCD display with good viewing angle and sharpness (though see issue below)
* Tons of manual controls
* Support for RAW (DNG) image format
* Nice 2 fps continuous shooting mode (JPEGs only)
* Customizable buttons and spots on the mode dial
* Handy “leveling” feature
* Very little barrel distortion for a wide lens; redeye not a problem
* Very expandable: supports lenses, flashes, and even optical viewfinders
* Above average battery life; can use AAA’s in “emergencies”
* USB 2.0 High Speed support

What I didn’t care for:
* Very expensive
* Images on the soft side
* A bit too much noise reduction applied, especially at ISO 400 and above
* Focusing is sluggish at times, especially in dim light
* LCD nearly impossible to see in low light
* Poorly placed flash is easy to close accidentally
* Optical viewfinder a $200 extra
* Can’t swap memory cards while camera is on a tripod
* No Mac software included

Ricoh GR Digital II Reviews From cnet

The good:
Solid construction; nice wide-angle lens; hot shoe.

The bad:
No zoom lens; no built-in optical viewfinder; slow start-up; clunky converter lens design.

The bottom line:
The GR Digital II is a cute compact camera that might appeal to street photographers looking to step away from a rangefinder and into digital, but it doesn’t deliver the features, performance, or image quality it should given its steep price tag.