Camera Geekery: Fujifilm GA645Zi

Camera Geekery: Fujifilm GA645Zi

Ah the 1990's; the decade known for pogs, Pokemon, and premium point and shoot film cameras such as the Fujifilm GA645Zi. The Fujifilm GA645Zi "Professional" was the final and most sophisticated model from Fuji’s GA medium format line and introduced a few tricks up its sleeve other than that zoom lens. It also boasted an adjustable viewfinder diopter, a lens cap warning signal, a more ergonomic placement of the shutter button, a revamped top plate, and a quieter (relatively) focusing motor. It's been hailed the ultimate point and shoot in some circles, which raises an eyebrow from yours truly. Outside of a Holga or Diana, it and its cousins are the lightest medium format cameras on Earth. Now that we've had our slippery fingers on one for a weekend, let's dive into the hype.

Background History

The Fuji GA645 series is an entire family of fixed-lens autofocus cameras that's an extension of the previous GS folding-lens manual-focus cameras. It takes #not120mm roll film and the "6 x 4.5" negative is actually about 56mm by 41mm, making it small by medium format standards but still two-and-a-half times the surface area of a 35mm negative. That's definitely enough to show a quality improvement over 135 film, and makes the negatives easier to scan and more forgiving to deal with. Used properly, the 645 format gives just as much usable image as a cropped 6×6 frame, with the advantage of having a few extra exposures per roll.

Fujifilm released the GA645Zi in 1998 in champagne and the more uncommon black version like this example was released one year later. The Fujifilm GA645Zi is the final iteration of the GA series starting with the original GA645 in 1995 and incorporates a zoom lens. The lens is a ten element in ten group design with a 1.6x zoom range of 55-90mm, F/4.5-6.9, equivalent in 135 format to approximately 34-56mm. However, there is a caveat, you only get four zoom steps or positions to choose from; 55mm, 65mm, 75mm and 90mm.

Fujifilm GA645Zi Tech Specs

• Manufactured by: Fuji Photo Film Co., LTD., Tokyo, Japan.
• Made in: Japan.
• Date of manufacture: 1998
• Price: around $1849 USD in 1999
• Weight: 880g (no batteries)
• Dimensions: 165mm x 111mm x 75mm power off and no hood; depth with power on: 91mm, zoomed out to 90mm: 111mm
• Focal length: 55-90mm. 65°-42° diagonal angle of view.
• Aperture: F/4.5-F/6.9 maximum, and F/22-38 minimum. Auto or manually set in half stop increments.
• ISO: 25-1600 manually set in 1/3 stop increments.
• Focusing distance: 1.0m to infinity
• Viewfinder: ‘portrait’ orientation illuminating window type bright frame finder with automatic parallax correction. Manual states 88% coverage at infinity, 90% at 3 meters, with a magnification of 0.4-0.58x.
• Light meter: TTF, (through the finder) center weighted light metering SPD photocell.
• Lens: Fujinon Super-EBC (electron beam coating) 10 elements in 10 groups design with a 1.6x zoom range of 55-90mm, F/4.5-6.9. Uses 52mm filters
• Shutter and speed: 2 seconds up to 1/700*, plus bulb mode.
• Film: standard 120 or 220 roll, with a picture area of 56mm x 41.5mm, automatic 120/220 switchover
• Film Loading: Auto-loading with film sensing
• Exposure compensation: +/- 2 E
• Flash: built-in pop-up type, guide number of 12 at ISO 100, not user adjustable in power but it sounds like is has a crude distance integration system in ‘P’ mode. Fill flash only in aperture priority and manual modes. The owner’s manual suggests slow sync is available in ‘As’ mode
• Power: two CR123a 3V lithium batteries. Fuji claims the batteries will last for 3000 shots with no flash use.

Fujifilm GA645Zi Features and Ergonomics

Viewfinder

A quirky thing you will notice once you take a look through the viewfinder is the vertical orientation. This clearly plays into the strength of the camera as a portrait machine. The viewfinder itself is nice; bright, not too contrasty and parallax corrected. Vital camera settings are clearly visible on the sides when the shutter release is half-pressed, with number and font sizes just right. My only gripe is that if exposure compensation is used, only the icon appears under the shutter speed on the left side. To see how many increments you've set you'll have to stray your eyes away from the finder and check with the back LCD.

Main Control Dial

The main control dial is operated by pressing down the lock button and rotating, to select ISO , OFF , P , A , AS , and M. The mode dial is meant to embody simplicity but there is a bit of complexity to deal with. The mode dial has "A" and "AS" positions to choose from. Both are aperture-priority, and the difference only matters when using the flash. The "AS" will use the metered exposure and add the flash for fill, which is how most cameras work in aperture priority modes, while the "A" mode will force the camera to a 1/45 shutter speed. Being a leaf-shutter camera, the flash will sync all the way up to the camera's 1/400 maximum, making the little pop-up useful for catchlights and fill.

Zoom Lever

Love it or hate it, zooming is controlled by a thumb lever on the back of the camera. Design-wise, I like its size and location and it complements the grooved lines on the thumb rest nicely. I do understand people's concern with the awkwardness, but in practice I find it not to be any real issue. As mentioned before, there's only four zoom settings so precise movement is not very necessary.

Shutter Release Button

The shutter release button is often cited as a star feature of the GA645Zi and once you wrap your hands around the camera grip you will see why. It is 60mm from the back of the camera and perfectly raised 70mm from the base, which is roughly at 3/4ths the height of the camera. Combined with the 50 degree slant, it can't really feel better in the hand. Well as good as plastic can feel.

Built-in Viewfinder Diopter

Another cool feature is the built-in diopter, a very much welcomed feature for us four eyes. There are no clear markings to indicate the degrees, but if you are far-sighted, turn the dial clockwise or if you are near-sighted, turn it counterclockwise. The diopter has an adjustable range of -3 to +1D.

Semi-Automatic Film Advance

A feature aimed to simplify the loading process is the automatic film winder. One turn of the thumb dial advances the film spool in quarter-turn increments. While the feature itself works fine, I wish there was a smooth continuous spin rather than increments. More on that later.

Pop-up Flash

I pop-up flash is always handy to have and is a must for a point and shoot in my book. You never know when you'll need a fill flash to counteract some rough backlight. The flash has to be manually popped up, it won’t do it automatically even in P mode. The guide number is 12 at ISO 100.

Rear LCD Display

I always appreciate little details like a film reminder slot. The film back is wrapped in leatherette and has a film reminder memo holder for film box tops. Yes, SP400 is better at 200.

A nifty gimmick touted by the GA645Zi is the data imprint feature but if you are expecting the information to be on the image a la 35mm point and shoots like the Ricoh GRs, you'll be disappointed. Exposure and date time information can only be imprinted on the film outside the photo area.

Film Spool Release

A staple of Fuji cameras that I always love is the push out pegs for film spool loading. It's elegant and works like a charm making film loading quick and secure.

Fujifilm GA645Zi Size and Weight

The following is a comparison between the Fuji GA645Zi with a couple other portable medium format legends on hand, the Plaubel Makina and Fuji GF670. Neither of which has a zoom lens or flash.

Fujifilm GA645Zi weight: 920g (w/batteries)

Plaubel Makina 67 weight: 1.27kg (w/batteries)

Fujifilm GA645Zi weight: 920g (w/batteries)

Fujifilm GF670 weight: 1.02kg (w/batteries)

The Fujifilm GA645Zi side by side with the Leica R8. It's even lighter than an R8 which is 1.2kg

Fujifilm GA645Zi Issues

LCD ribbon

A common issue with the GA645Zi is this ribbon imbedded in the backdoor hinge. It is in quite the vulnerable position so be sure to slowly and carefully open the back door and don't let it swing out and stretch too much. As the result of this poor design, the rear LCD is liable to failure. Unfortunately this is a common occurrence as few examples of a perfectly working LCD still exist. The sample I reviewed has a finicky one, normally OK but fades when the temperature drops. Kind of annoying not be able to see how many shots you have left.

Film Alignment

Back to the incremental film advance. The quarter-turn increments can make it difficult to get the "Start line" aligned correctly. This is important because the GA645Zi is rather picky with this to be able to load the film correctly. I had it about this much off and the camera was unable to load properly so you're gonna have to take the spool off, roll it back a bit and start over.

In another roll I shot, the start line was again off a bit but it was able to load. However upon finishing and opening the back, the dreaded "fat roll" made its presence. So the tech meant to make your life easier can actually make it more of a pain if you are not careful. Thus I reckon a continuous rolling or smaller increments would have prevented these issues.

Fujifilm GA645Zi Sample Images

The following examples were shot on Fujifilm Pro 400H and JCH Streetpan 400. Self-developed with Cinestill CS41 and Df96, respectively.

Conclusion

I find it interesting that you can only set the year up to 2025. Therefore, does that mean that in 3 years all Fuji GA645s will discreetly implode like a Mission Impossible message? The loud whirrs of the motors and 90's sounding clunky focusing doesn't inspire confidence.

The real feature of the camera is its portability and versatility in focal lengths. The flat profile of the vertically-carried GA645 means that it's less bulky than an SLR when it's slung on a shoulder strap, and the plastic body is sturdy enough to handle minor scrapes and bumps. The absence of a mirror means that there’s no mirror vibration. So your slowest hand-holdable shutter speed could be down to 1/15th or even 1/8th of a second.

*Multiple sources list the GA645Zi having a max shutter speed of 1/700th but I only see a max of 1/400th in my sample. I hope other users can help clarify this. If it is indeed just 1/400th, you will be frustrated as I was with using it for street photography. That in addition to the less than reliable AF, it is not an ideal setup for action on the streets.

Final Thoughts

The target audience for the Fujifilm GA 645Zi remains the same in 2022 as it did in 1998. It is for those who want to travel light, not think too much and have deep pockets. If you got the dough, this camera is a great way to make the transition to medium format with and greatly eases the intimidation factor. The Fujifilm GA645Zi can be a fantastic travel and on-the-go, always-on camera.

However, expect to lose some frames with the 90's era AF tech. It struggles especially with close focusing around 1m. The lens itself though is versatile and nice, displaying thin lines with nice contrast, however the lack in speed can be limiting in low light and the shallow depth of field of that "medium format look". I wouldn't confuse it with an exhibition making tool. It is what it is; a light, simple, pretty damn pricey way for the average enthusiast to capture most travel situations on a format larger than 35mm.

MN

The post Camera Geekery: Fujifilm GA645Zi appeared first on Japan Camera Hunter.

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Camera Geekery: Leica R8

Camera Geekery: Leica R8

Ah the Leica R8, it can be considered the M5 of the R series for its controversial aesthetic decisions and polarized much of the Red Dot's loyal base. Red Dot folk aren't exactly renown for embracing drastic shifts. The Leica R8 represented a major break in R-series camera design and was met with so much consternation, much like the Leica M5, that it was dubbed the not so flattering moniker " The Hunchback of Solms". But my mother taught me to not judge a book by its cover. So how does Leica's first independent SLR effort since the Leicaflex compare to the stalwarts of the day from the land of the rising sun? Only one way to find out.

Leica R8 Background History

The Leica R8 was officially launched at Photokina in 1996 and it looked significantly different from the Minolta-collaborated R3 through R7. The R8 was the first R-series camera that was entirely developed and styled by Leica and had no association with Minolta. It was highly anticipated and intended to herald a new era for Leica Reflex Cameras. The R8 was available in either Silver chrome or Black chrome finishes until it was replaced by the Leica R9 in 2002. According to the wiki at L-Camera-Forum.com, there were 36551 R8s produced.

Compared with its predecessor the Leica R7, the R8 has a few noteworthy upgrades. The mirror lock-up can be activated without any optional accessories, and the self-timer offers two options for exposure delay: 2s and 12s. Also, the R8 has an automated film loading mechanism so you don't have to fiddle around with attaching the end of the film strip to a film transport spindle.

However, one significant non-upgrade is the lack of autofocus, a staple of the other flagship SLRs of its time such as the Nikon F5 and Canon EOS 1n.

Early versions of the R8 were apparently rampant with electronics issues, in particular faulty micro-switches and poor contacts that resulted in the camera locking up when used with the optional motor-drive. In addition, some of the first R8 cameras were reported to leave scratch marks on your film, which Leica addressed in later production runs. Leica replaced the backdoors of affected cameras and repaired these issues under its five-year warranty. Cameras with a serial number of 247xxxx or newer appear free of the aforementioned problems, as is the sample that I am testing.

ROM-lenses (1996-09)

The R8 featured electronics that could take advantage of lens-specific information to correct for lens vignetting (in connection with the Leica Digita-Modul-R), to adjust the zoom reflector on flash guns according to lens focal length, or to correctly display aperture information if accessories like tele-extenders, were attached to the lens. This lens-specific information was stored in a Read-Only Memory (ROM) chip that was added in the form of a strip of electrical contacts between the mount and the rear element of R-lenses. The ROM chip came with all newly sold lenses at the time, but could also be retrofitted by Leica technicians to older lenses. ROM-lenses have the R-cam and can also be mounted on R3-R7 cameras, where they support all the functions that these cameras offer.

We unfortunately don't have any access to a ROM lens at the moment to test out the full features. Most lenses with an R-bayonet can be used on any R-system camera body, but not all camera functions might be supported, as five different types of R-system lenses exist.

This aperture information transmission between lens and body is achieved through a cam that is linked to the movement of the aperture control ring. Here you can see an example of a twin and triple cam. Apotelyt has a great article detailing which lens are what here.

Leica R8 Tech Specs

• Lens mount: Leica R bayonet with additional electrical contacts ("ROM contacts")
• Shutter: Copal vertically running metal-leaf unit
• Speeds: 32-1/8000, stepless in automatic modes, or to 16 seconds in half-stop steps in manual mode, as well as Bulb. The flash X-sync speed is 1/250
• Shutter release: on the shutter-speed dial, w/cable release socket
• The optional Motor-Drive gives additional front and vertical-grip releases
• Operating modes: Manual, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Program, and Flash
• Metering methods: Selective (7mm central area), 6-element matrix, center-weighted, and flash TTL center-weighted
• Exposure lock: Half-press on shutter release (must be in Selective metering mode)
• Exposure compensation: Plus or minus three stops in half-stop increments, using lever on left side of the eyepiece
• Film speed range: Automatic DX coding ISO 25 through 5000; manual ISO 6 through 12,800
• Metering range: 0.007–125,000 cd/m³ (EV −4 through EV 20)
• Flash sync: Hotshoe center contact or external synch socket; first or second curtain sync, as well as strobe (multiple flashes) view
• Flash X-sync 1/250 second or slower
• TTL flash metering compatibility: Leica dedicated SF 24D flash unit and Metz units with Metz SCA 3501 adapter
• Viewfinder coverage: 93%, magnification 0.75× with 50 mm lens
• Self timer: 2 sec or 12 sec
• Mirror pre-release: Selectable via switch; first shutter release press activates mirror, second activates shutter
• Frame counter: In viewfinder and on rear cover LCD
• Multiple exposures: Unlimited, with multiple exposure switch on body
• Body: Cast zinc top plate, aluminum frame, synthetic base, rubber bottom; Weight 890g
• Battery: 6v, 2× CR2 lithium battery

Leica R8 Features and Ergonomics

Shutter release / Metering modes

Love it or hate it, the shutter release button is in the middle of the shutter speed dial. M6TTL and M7 users will feel right at home with the size and rotation of the dial. It is big and rubberized for a nice grip and feels great in use, barely needing a touch to operate. I don't mind the shutter release location, in fact it feels good and increases speed to have your index finger on the shutter release while the middle finger works the shutter speeds.

Underneath that you will find the metering options, which is handy especially when using non-forgiving slide film where perfect exposure is a must. It is in a handy location, allowing you to easily operate it without taking your eye off the viewfinder.

Exposure compensation

One location I am not a fan of is the exposure compensation switch. Yeah, it's moot if you just shoot manually. But if do want to shoot in for example A mode, I find it to be in an awkward position. I admit that perhaps I am just hardwired and used to them being a dial on the top plate. But while looking through the viewfinder, sticking your thumb in there to use the switch gets real close to your left eye and doesn't feel comfortable.

Multiple exposures

Another interesting feature is the multiple exposure switch to the right of the film advance lever. I personally don't do much double exposure, but plenty of photographers do and when done well it can be pretty awesome. An elegant solution for those who have the skills. Take your first exposure, set the multiple exposure switch to the multiple exposure position, re-cock the shutter and take your second exposure. You can keep shooting on top of that same frame indefinitely. Turn the multiple exposure switch back to the single exposure position, now re-cock the shutter and advance the film with the film advance lever to return back to normal.

Film loading

While I think smoothly loading into a film spindle is a fine skill honed by countless practicing, I do also appreciate a well-made, reliable easy load system. The only problem is that you don't get those once-in-a-while awesome first of the roll pictures.

Back panel

On the back side under the LCD screen that shows the amount of exposures made and the battery level, there lies a little panel that flips out and that is where you will find the film ISO setting and and self-timer modes. I think it's a nice touch to keep these minor features easily accessible yet tucked away enough to not get in the way or be an eye sore.

If you manually select an ISO value different from the DX code of the film cassette, it will show "±" inside a small triangle warning you that you are over or underexposing the film. Handy!

Viewfinder

As you would expect from a Leica, the viewfinder is absolutely gorgeous. Clear, contrasty and sharp, the vital information you need is minimally yet legibly displayed on the bottom. Here is a look at the R8 finder versus the M6. The Leica R8 finder is a tad cooler with more blues and greens kind of giving it Fujifilm vibes.

Body size

The body is chonky with a capital "C". Here you can see the R8 compared to Nikon's also manual focus only F3. The body is supposedly girthy to accommodate tele lenses, but I don't know why you would be hand holding a big tele lenses anyways, on top of that also needing to manual focus.

I can imagine Jimmi Hendrix appreciating the big grip but for us with smaller mitts it could shave off a couple millimeters to be ideal. That being said, the location of vital functions such as the shutter speed dial, release and depth of field preview is perfect. It is intuitive and efficient to have your index finger on the shutter release, middle finger rotating the shutter speed dial, and ring finger activating the depth of field preview.

Leica R8 Sample Images

The following images were taken with the 21mm Super-Angulon-R and 50mm Summicron-R on Kodak Gold 200, self-developed with Cinestill CS41 and scanned on a Plustek Opticfilm 8200i.

Conclusion

The Leica R8 was the Red Dot's valiant attempt to shed the notion that they had become a has-been resting on their laurels. They wanted to prove they can still successfully innovate and they really swung for the fences. The "Hunchback of Solms" is a rather harsh nickname to me as I think it looks cool, but then again I also liked the M5. While the chunkiness and density of the body does indeed feel great and sturdy in the hands, I would prefer it to be smaller, especially for an exclusively manual focus/film advance camera. For that size I just feel like it should have AF or some kind of motorization. The fancy metering modes are cool I guess, especially if you use slide film and flash.

An apparent glaring miss would be the lack of AE lock. However it does exist, albeit only when in spot metering mode; half pressing the shutter locks the exposure so you can recompose.

Aside from the exposure compensation, everything is perfectly located and does what it does elegantly and intuitively. I really do love the design of the shutter speed dial; it is a much more satisfying and luxurious feeling compared to the thin finger dials of say the Nikon F5. And of course the star of the series is the lenses. There's a reason why cine guys have caught on and inflated the prices in recent years.

Final Thoughts

The fact that many photographers and DPs I know who have R lenses don't use them on R bodies is a telling sign. The lenses are incredible, yet the accompanying bodies seems to fall just short of winning over the majority. While I thoroughly enjoyed using the Leica R8, the gripes I have with size to features ratio leave something to be desired. If I still have to manually focus and advance my film, I don't see why I need a body of this size. The R8's top speed of 1/8000th is an upgrade over the 1/4000th of say the Nikon Fm3a if you like shooting hummingbirds, but you need batteries and packs on over 300 grams.

I appreciate Leica's final crack at the SLR market and there are things to love about the R8 but yeah overall as a tool, I think it misses the boat for me. The innovative features such as multiple exposures and flash curtain syncs don't really apply to me, I'd much rather swap those for a smaller body that's repairable and exposure compensation that won't take my eye out. I will be selling a kidney to get some Summicron R lenses adapted to my Minolta X700 ;)

MN

In case you missed it, there is also a video of Bellamy's thoughts on the Leica R8 over on here.

The post Camera Geekery: Leica R8 appeared first on Japan Camera Hunter.

#camerageekery #bellamycamera #camerageek #filmcamerareview #japanclassiccamerablog #japancamerahunter #leica #leicar8 #r8

Camera Geekery: Ricoh GR21

Camera Geekery: Ricoh GR21

Another end of the line masterpiece, the Ricoh GR21 rocked the world in the year 2k1 when it was the first compact camera to have a 21mm wide angle lens. The Ricoh GR21 won the hearts of many street photographers and compact fans as the weapon of choice for prime Daido Moriyama and earned the Technical Image Press Association's (TIPA) Best Prestige Camera Award in 2001. It has been touted as the ultimate compact for many pundits but its rarity has kept it out of the hands of many drooling fans. Naturally I was stoked to have a go on one, especially wanting to compare it against extensive experience with a Contax T2 and Yashica T4 Super.

Ricoh GR21 Background History

All of the features that were developed on the previous models of Ricoh GRs were included in this model. From a glance they look identical except the GR21 lens protrudes due to not being fully retractable. Speaking of the lens, it is an aspherical 21mm f3.5 multicoated piece of perfection, so good that they made it a Leica L39/LTM version. We've reviewed the 28mm version before here.

Ricoh GR1 vs. Ricoh GR21 in off mode

Supposedly only 4000 or so of these cameras ever made it into production, and they are decently hard to find in good working order these days. Like the Contax Aria or the Nikon F6, the Ricoh GR21 is among the great Japanese swan songs for 35mm film models.

Ricoh GR21 Tech Specs

• Type: 35 mm autofocus Lens shutter camera
• Lens: GR Lens 21 mm F3.5 (9 elements, 6 groups) multi-coating aspherical glass lens elements
• Focusing: Passive-type multi-autofocus with focus lock and 3-point indication, automatic auxiliary AF light under low lighting
• Shutter: Programmed AE - approx. 2 - 1/500 sec.; Aperture Priority AE - approx. 2 - 1/250 sec. Time Exposure Mode
• Exposure Control: Aperture Priority Mode
• Viewfinder: Reverse Galilean type with LCD bright frame, in-viewfinder illumination under low light
• Field of View Factor: 83%
• Viewfinder Magnification: 0.33
• Diopter: -1dpt.
• Film Speeds: ISO 25 - 3200, compatible with DX code system. Non-DX films are set to ISO 100. Manual ISO setting possible (1/3 EV steps)
• Film Loading: Ricoh auto-load pre-wind system. Film pre-winds to the last frame number when the back cover is closed. Mid-roll rewind is possible.
• Film Counter: Electronic, counts down the number of exposures left
• Built-in Flash: Electronic flash that automatically adjusts light amount to ambient light conditions. Automatic flash for dim light and backlight conditions. Automatic soft flash for a subject at close range.
• Flash Modes: Auto, Flash-on, Flash-off, Slow Synchro, Red-eye Reduction
• Range of flash: ISO 100 reversal film - 0.3 - 1.6 m (1 - 5.4 ft.); ISO 400 reversal film - 0.3 - 3.3 m (1 - 10.7 ft.); ISO 100 negative film - 0.3 - 2.3 m (1 - 7.5 ft.); ISO 400 negative film - 0.3 - 4.6 m (1 - 15. 1 ft.)
• Flash Recycle Time: About 5 sec.
• Self-Timer: Built-in 10-seconds digital timer, the operation indicated by LED
• Auto Power Off: Approx. 5 mins. after operation
• Power Source: 1 x 3V lithium battery (CR2 or equivalent)
• Other Features: Cable release socket, Synchro terminal, Date imprinting, 30.5 mm filter attachable
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 117 x 64 x 26.5 mm (4.6 x 2.5 x 1 in.) (not including lens barrel); 117 x 64 x 38.5 mm (4.6 x 2.5 x 1.5 in.) (including lens barrel)
• Weight: 200g (240g with film and battery)
• Optional Accessories: 30.5 mm filters (PL, MC - Y2, MC - 1B, 6x - Cross, MC-ND4). Electrical cable release

Features and Ergonomics

The Ricoh GR21 is the only 21mm ultra-wide pocketable film camera ever made, so the lens of course is the star feature. But the complementary characteristic is that lens housed in a small and lightweight package. Weighing in at 240g with a roll of film loaded, here's how it compares with other some other svelte beauties on hand.

Minox 35AL : 210g

Ricoh G1s : 214g

Minolta TC-1: 225g

Yashica T4 Super: 228g

Ricoh GR21: 240g

Weighing a mere 30g more than a Minox yet is made of aluminum and magnesium alloy and packed with manual features, weight is not an issue for carrying around the Ricoh GR21 all day. The only issue is that the lens cannot fully retract, making it less than ideal as a pocketable camera and provides a source of sensitivity in terms of robustness. Be careful if you're gonna have it in your jacket pocket!

Another relic tech of the past that I actually enjoy is date imprinting. While I wouldn't necessarily want it on an exhibition print, I think it is a handy option to have for snaps and travel documentation. Ricoh managed to sneak the function into a tiny window on the right hand grip of the camera.

Another cool function snuck into a minuscule body that could come in handy is the flash socket (no shoe) and electrical remote release socket. Having the ability to use a handheld off camera strobe is a nice detail aimed at pros, however the exterior flash is not taken into account by the metering system, so watch out for overexposure!

Mid-roll rewind is also possible with the discreet little button tucked away to the left of the flash socket. The Ricoh GR21 also implements an auto-load pre-wind system. When you load a roll, the film pre-winds to the last frame number once the back cover is closed. Bear in the mind the pre-wind system takes some time. It spools at roughly a frame a second, so be prepared to wait a good 40 seconds or so from loading to being able to fire your first shot.

The GR series ergonomics are the stuff of legend and for good reason. It feels great in the hands and all necessary buttons are where they need to be. The leatherette is cleverly wrapped around the entire grip, even providing nice thumb support around the film canister window.

To get into incognito street mode, users suggest to set it on snap, put your aperture to f8 and go burn through some film. With a 21 focal you get a huge depth of field so focusing isn't really an issue. Snap mode locks the focus to 2m, so at f8 anything from 2m to infinity you should be golden.

Ricoh GR21 Sample Images (B&W)

The following were shot on JCH Streetpan 400 at ISO400 and then pushed 1 stop in development with Cinestill Df96. Scans are courtesy of a Plustek Opticfilm 8200i.

Ricoh GR21 Sample Images (Color)

The following were shot on Kodak Gold 200 at box speed and developed with Cinestill CS41. Scans are also courtesy of a Plustek Opticfilm 8200i. Unfortunately, the Cinestill CS41 might be on its last legs, getting some weird spotting but nevertheless can see what the lens is capable of.

Conclusions

The top LCD is a bit renown for its unreliability. As is the case with the sample I used the numbers can fade in and out especially going from extreme temperatures. You can switch on the camera and leave it on at room temperature and should come back in a few minutes. It is annoying in the field not being able to see how many frames you have left sometimes or what mode the camera is in.

Aside from that, the engineering is outstanding and the Ricoh GR21 is a joy to use. 21mm is too wide of a cup of tea for me but it was still fun to carry around and explore the city. It fits nicely in the back of a cycling jersey so it's perfect for cycling around and taking quick snaps of interesting wide scenes.

The prices are a pretty crazy for a p&s, that's the age we live in now; premium compacts will pretty much run north of $1000 now. The lens is incredible for its size and very competent in color rendering and contrast. It's just too wide for my purposes and IMHO lacks that magic of the Contax T2's Sonnar or the Yashica T4 Super's Tessar. I dunno, maybe I'm just a Zeiss snob.

I am generally not a fan of retracting lenses, especially ones that don't even go all the way. The tiny motors that move these lenses are pretty much unrepairable these days, one of the reasons I sold off my T2. The GR21 lens extends 3cm from the body and when retracted still sticks out 1.7cm. So it isn't a technically pocketable camera the way the GR1s, TC1s and 28Tis are.

Final Thoughts

If you absolutely need a wide 21mm compact then well, you really don't have another option. Like the MJ documentary, this is it. After finally getting the opportunity to shoot one, I can understand the hoopla around the Ricoh GR21 and wish it fits my needs more. Nevertheless, it really is a marvel of engineering and appropriately has a seat at the table of the Mt. Olympus of compact film cameras.

For me, it wouldn't be my jack-of-all-trades compact but would make an ideal companion to a Leica M in the streets. Instead of changing lenses to something wider when needed, the Ricoh GR21 would be an ideal wide, silent, sneaky "B cam". Indeed, what a luxury. Hope y'all keeping safe out there, let us know your thoughts and experience with the legendary wide boi.

MN

The post Camera Geekery: Ricoh GR21 appeared first on Japan Camera Hunter.

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