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Digital Monochrom

Ricoh GRD1

The RICOH GRD 1, or classic, or original in terms of being the first GR digital, been released in 2005.

It has a 8.1MP CCD Sensor without a noise reduction filter. That ´s why the noise is very similar to the film grain. The later GRD II and III both have a noise reduction filter always on, reducing the distinctive signature of the the GRD I sensor.

The lens is a 28mm lens, F 2.4 to F 1. 6 elements; 5 groups: 7 diaphragm blades

Find some more real life images

http://www.aicardi.net/ricoh-grd-street-camera/

https://cameralegend.com/2017/05/25/grd-love-the-original-ricoh-grd-revisted/

F4 @ ISO 400
F4 @ ISO 400

You can get so close and nobody really pay attention to you and your camera. I use the Ricoh mainly on snap function. The focus is fixed, set to 2.5m. Small sensor = very large DOF already at f4. I turned all sounds off, so you hear NO shutter sound !

F4 @ ISO 400
F4 @ ISO 400

For cityscape or landscape i quickly set the camera to fix focus at infinity.

F4 @ ISO 400
F4 @ ISO 400

I like the noise around ISO 200 - 400. It looks balanced to my eye and gives me a very organic look. I only use black and white jpg´s.

F4 @ ISO 400
F4 @ ISO 400

For still life and makro shoots I use the spot AF. It is not slow for me but for todays standards and for people used to AF it is ancient. Like the Fuji X100 original.

F4 @ ISO 400
F4 @ ISO 400

If you want an inexpensive street camera and like the organic look, you should give it a try. You can get them in Japan in good condition and working order.

Compared to the latest Ricoh GR...well, I shoot around 5.000 images with it, every day, but I prefer the GRD1, because the 16MP CMOS sensor is just to perfect, steril and clean to me. Even if you use silver fx, you still don´t get the organic felling to the images. And you need to work more for it. The GRD1 is basically delivering my type of look straight out the box.

Thanks for stopping by and happy shooting

F4 @ ISO 400
F4 @ ISO 400
F2.4 @ ISO 800
F4 @ ISO 200
F4 @ ISO 200
F4 @ ISO 200
F2.4 @ ISO 400
F2.4 @ ISO 400
F4 @ ISO 100
F4 @ ISO 200
F4 @ ISO 200
F4 @ ISO 200
F4 @ ISO 200
F2.4 @ ISO 400
F4 @ ISO 200
F2.4 @ ISO 800

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