The Ricoh GX100

The Ricoh GX100 digital camera presents an interesting concept...It is a compact digital camera that also allows an experienced photographer the options to control the image-making process. 

• While you can shoot at arms length using the LCD display on the back as the viewfinder (sadly, what has become the norm for digital P&S cameras), you can also attach an accessory digital viewfinder.
• The basic layout and functionality of the controls is, quite frankly, an industry leader.  You can also assign your choice of functions to some of the controls.
• It allows a choice of shooting modes, including manual, and three different aspect ratios.
• It saves files in either RAW (plus a JPEG of selectable size and quality) or just JPEG.
• It has a truly wide-angle zoom lens -- equivalent to 24mm in stand 35mm camera terms.  The longest focal length of the lens is 72mm, which certainly isn't a marketing crescendo, but the conservative 3:1 zoom range allows for better performance across the full range.

Not to say that this camera is perfect (whatever that means).  There are a few factors to consider:

• Ricoh does not sell a lot of cameras in the U.S. and there is very little in the way of corporate support.  The only two dealers currently identified by Ricoh are Adorama and PopFlash Photo.
• The GX100 is not cheap.  With the optional VF1 electronic viewfinder the camera costs about $700.  That puts it in direct competition with the lower end DSLRs.
• The sensor is small -- and that means noise at high ISO.  Since there is no way for the user to select the strength of in-camera noise reduction, it is best to shoot RAW files for color photography at ISOs 400 and above -- which means you'll probably just shoot RAW all the time.  Noise reduction will best be handled in post-processing using advanced noise reduction software such as Noise Ninja.

Did you notice the mention of "color photography at ISOs 400 and above" in the last bullet above?  That's the point of this page:  Looking at how the GX100 behaves as a B&W camera.  Several reviewers and users have commented on the film-like qualities of the GX100 when the black and white mode is selected.  That especially goes for the results at higher ISOs.  (When you shoot RAW and B&W, the RAW file is full color, and the JPEG is rendered in B&W inside the camera.)

Update 1:  Since this page was written, Ricoh has marketed the GX200 12MP camera.  There are several feature changes, but moving up to 12MP did nothing to reduce the noise at higher ISOs -- especially when shooting color.

Update 2:  Ricoh recently announced their revolutionary GXR camera.  It is unique in utilizing lens/sensor modules.  The initial offerings will be a small chip zoom lens (essentially the same zoom range as the GX100/GX200 cameras) and a 50mm field of view equivalent using an APS-C sensor.

(Product photo from Ricoh website)

Background:  I like to informally test new digital cameras (or software) in a controlled low-light situation.  One location I've found quite handy is the Gallery Place - Chinatown station on DC's MetroRail. 

• Photography is allowed -- without tripods.  The station provides some deeply dim areas, some very bright highlights, middle (concrete) grays, signage (so you can check resolution and camera shake), and different lighting sources (color issues).  This produces a very wide dynamic range.
• The platform edge lights were recently converted to red LEDs so you have a narrow color band which, due to the intensity, will produce blown-out highlights while still reflecting red on the sides of the cars.  Also, the stainless steel car roofs seem to induce some color and noise patterns with some cameras at high ISOs.
• There is a wide pedestrian overpass that crosses the Red Line and I choose a position that looks down the Red Line platform that serves trains arriving from Metro Center station.  I can rest the camera on the concrete safety barrier below the metal hand rail and get fairly steady pictures.

The large photos below have had no corrections.  The only thing done to them was "Save for web" in PhotoShop CS3, sized down to 20% of their original size and the quality set to "60".  Contrast, curves, and all the rest of that stuff are straight out of the camera.  I selected two shots where the same guy is waiting, and where both trains are blurred.  In-camera image stabilization was turned on, the the JPEG quality was set to "high".

ISO 1600:  1/15th @ f/2.9; center-weighted aperture priority; 5.1mm lens setting.

ISO 1600 100% Crops: 5 in. x 5 in. marquee crop @ 72 ppi; saved at JPEG setting "12".

ISO 400:  1/4th @ f/2.9; center-weighted aperture priority; 5.1mm lens setting.

ISO 400 100% Crops:  5 in. x 5 in. marquee crop @ 72 ppi; saved at JPEG setting "12".

Conclusion:  I think the GX100's B&W capabilities are certainly worth exploring, especially as a street camera.  I'd guess the "pixel peepers" out there can find evidence of in-camera noise reduction, but most of the comments I have read regarding the GX100's B&W performance compare it to film shot at the same ISOs.  You have the choice of shooting RAW (with the associated B&W JPEG image, or getting faster in-camera performance by just shooting in JPEG mode.  That gives you the option of taking those RAW images and post processing the heck out of them. 

If you want to see the files as they came out of the camera, you can download the ISO 1600 and ISO 400 images.