Travelling Light

Sometimes a Lowe Pro full of heavy, fast primes, telephoto zooms and fabulously useful tilt shift lenses just doesn't fit the occasion or my mind set photographically. Just as in a photograph less can definitely be more, so too with kit.  Of course there are activities when both space and weight become super significant, mountaineering, cycle touring, or even flying hand luggage only come to mind.

A long time fan of a high quality compact camera, I used a Ricoh GR1 film compact with razor sharp fixed 28mm lens and a Hasselblad Xpan for years, when I didn't want or need to use anything larger.

Over the years, I've had a few digital compacts, which all to some extent compromised image quality for portability and convenience. However, times and more importantly technology is changing.  There are a raft of new high quality compact cameras coming to the market, from Canon, Fuji, Panasonic, Nikon and others, some boasting remarkably innovative specifications and better still, relatively large APS-C sized sensors and interchangeable lenses.   

Recently I have been taking a Ricoh GXR with me everywhere, a quick trip to London, a walk on the coast and out with my dog. The GXR is not by any means the latest or most high tech offering, with a relatively modest 12 megapixel sensor and an add-on rather than built in viewfinder.  - but I rate it very highly and it suits me for many reasons, but these are my top 10 

1.  Truly small and light - not all compacts are.  Many have body dimensions not much smaller than a full frame DSLR and some pretty huge lenses, for me there is no point.

2.  Option to use Leica M series prime lenses, or those from other manufacturers and Ricoh's own.  I use the A12 module with 40mm Summicron and 90mm Elmar Leica lenses (bought secondhand), becoming  due to the APS C sized sensor in 35mm terms, 60mm and 135mm.  I also have the Ricoh 28mm module. The Leica lenses are manual focusing whereas the Ricoh is autofocus and manual.

3. Excellent customisable controls, allowing me to assign for example exposure compensation, ISO control, and focus assist to buttons of my choice.

4. Viewfinder gives 100% coverage through the lens

5. Mirrorless design enables handholding at slow shutter speeds

6. Generates RAW files in DNG format

7. Upgradeability as technology changes over time

8. Able to shoot time lapse

9. Very quiet in operation

10. Lastly and most importantly, capable of delivering really great image quality.

There is masses of information online about everything photographic, but that is no substitute for using your own equipment and drawing your own conclusions.  So I have done a variety of shots, all without the use if a tripod to assess various aspects of this camera and the lenses I will be using with it. I appreciate that viewing these images small and on screen is no way to judge this or any camera's capabilities. The cliffs and sea image was handheld with the 40mm Leica Summicron at 1/90sec at f11 200 ISO I have had printed to 30 x 20 inches.  Sharpness, clarity and detail are remarkable, I couldn't be more pleased with the image quality.

I'll be testing the GXR with Lee filters and posting more images here soon. 

I am not for a moment suggesting my DSLR kit is going to be replaced by this or any other compact camera, but these are exciting and remarkable times for photography, just don't let the technology bog you down or the kit weigh you down.