Ricoh GR Digital
Something Different

It’s nice to know there is at least one manufacturer out there determined to keep it simple. The Ricoh GR Digital is a no-nonsense, no frills, solid camera that does just what it is supposed to do – take beautiful pictures with a maximum amount of human control and no fuss.

This is not a camera for everyone. First of all, there is no zoom to speak of. Instead what you are given is a tack sharp and reasonably fast 28mm f/2.4 fixed focal length lens. For some, this is reason enough to turn their backs on the camera and never look back.

Having a fixed focal length lens means much sharper images and fewer JPG artifacts – all in theory of course. Combined with an excellent quality sensor and you get a very ‘film like’ appearance in the final results in all but the highest ISO settings.

But it’s build quality where the GR Digital absolutely shines. It reminds me of the days when cameras where built to last decades rather then a measly two to three years. Even though the camera body itself is not much bigger then a cassette tape case, my hand fit comfortably around the grip and all dials and functions where easy to access.

Speaking of controls, when was the last time you used a needle style light meter on a digital camera? I was absolutely shocked when I discovered this on the GR Digital but quickly melted into a state of euphoria when memories of my old 70’s SLR’s came rushing back to me.

If there is one problem with the GR Digital (other then its higher then average price) it’s the processing speed. RAW images can take up to twenty seconds to write to the SD card, a time frame that can make street shooting a little frustrating.

Still, if you’re a photographer looking for an extra point and shoot digital to compliment your larger and bulkier D-SLR’s then the Ricoh GR Digital is a perfect choice.