Ricoh GRD IV

Not my only, but by far my most used and favourite workhorse of my camera bunch is my Ricoh GRD IV. Ive written about it before in passing, so forgive me for repeating or rehashing anything.

Now superseded by the similar looking, but very different beast the ‘GR’, the GRD IV, in my opinion, is one of the more ‘professional’ of the compact camera selection out there. Offering almost as full control as a larger DSLR (only lacking in manual focus – although it does have the famous GR series ‘snap’ mode), but in the size that fits in any pocket. with a 1/1.7″ CCD sensor, its large for the typical pocket held camera’s (and small compared to many mirrorless). As with the GRD, and now GR line, the menu system is amazingly customisable, and the fit in ones hand is pretty darn good.

Mine has travelled with me since its release, about two years ago now, and has never faltered. Prior to purchase I was jumping from camera to camera (both compact and DSLR). I do own a Sony Nex 5N also, but the fact the GRD remains, and is my holiday camera of choice really does make a statement. Im also impressed with Ricoh’s after sales service, with only two weeks ago Ricoh offering a firmware (likely its last) update both with small fixes and new additions – not many camera firms can match that!

With a fixed 28mm lens its not for everyone, but then again in our mobile phone camera day and age, perhaps it is not as limiting as one may initially think.

August 22, 2013 2

Oakura Beach

Just to the left of yesterdays image (about 15km down the road actually) lies the seaside surf escape of Oakura Beach. Easter weekend in New Plymouth happened to also have a VW club meet on, so it was quite cool to see a good handful of well kept and restored Kombi van’s parked up along the beach, as their owners surfed (or swam) the waves.

Of interesting note, the township was hit by a tornado in 2007.

Image wise, I desaturated the blue from the sky and slightly pushed contrast before cropping. All done in Gimp, and shot on the Ricoh.

April 7, 2013 0

Port Taranaki Power Station and Sugar Loaf Island

One of my favorite shots from last weeks holiday in New Plymouth is from Paritutu – a tall headland point to one side of the main township. Looking down, under a falling sun I captured this image of the old power station, and offshore island.

The power station, a natural gas/fuel oil station was opened in 1974, and decommissioned in 2008. Asbestos discovery was noted as one of the reasons for the closure (NZ has widely banned any new use of asbestos for several years now, and its often very costly to deal with in old homes etc).

Off shore was see Sugarloaf island. The remainder volcanic vent piece from an estimated 1.7 Million years ago. Now part of a protected Marine area.

Shot on the GRD, resized in Gimp.

April 6, 2013 7

NZ from the Sky

Returning from our holiday in New Plymouth yesterday afternoon, it was a beautiful, mostly clear day right up the North Island (soon to be given the dual title Te Ika a Maui).

As with all of my recent holidays, I went along with my Ricoh GRD IV. I almost took the Sony Nex this time, but keeping with tradition, at last moment, switched out for the Ricoh. Battery wise, the Ricoh is superior – plus I have two spares – enough to keep me going over a week at my usual holiday snap pace. As well as better battery life, its more compact, fitting into jeans pockets, or relatively light with an over the shoulder strap. Downside wise (depending on ones perspective), the Ricoh is a fixed lens, small sensor camera.

In many ways (I’m sure I have written this before), one of the things I like about the Ricoh and its fixed lens is that is makes you think for the shot – you have to move and change position to attain the composition in your mind. This of course applies to all prime lenses. The other strength, is even though its a smaller sensor, the lens is designed specifically for it – getting the most from the package, and not having to sacrifice like all zooms do to one level or another. I think the final piece which has made this my return to for holidays shooter is the menu system. I’ve owned a good number of cameras in the past, and Ricoh are easily up there at the top level with their menu – both in ease of use and options.

All that being said, todays image is not right up there in my favorites from the camera… but its not often I get to shoot NZ from a plane, so I wanted to share. Location wise, its somewhere on the west coast, around half way up (I think).

Some more from the trip tomorrow.

April 3, 2013 3

Sun Beats Down

Finally a stroll after work! – its been a very busy few weeks, with a lot on both in and out of work. However, today I managed to head out for a little walk by the motorway. Its been another hot day, with a large percentage of the country now in, or close to drought. Todays particular area had a lot more green than many places I have seen lately. It is near a water collection area, so may have some springs around perhaps. Armed with the GRD IV, I got down to knee height, aimed out and up, adjusted compensation and shot into the sun. I think it highlights the sun beating down on an area with light shelter.

Shot in cross-processed mode on the Ricoh, I resized and added rounded corners in Gimp.

March 7, 2013 4

Upon the Tree

A big long day – Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone!

Today’s image is of one of the tree-top Angels from the family home tree. Still the same old tree I had when young!

In keeping it short for the day, image was shot on the Ricoh GRD IV and edited in Photoshop CS5. Its been quite some time since I used Photoshop – I have been using Gimp as my main PC editor for some time now…the Photoshop layout and menu was all backwards (If you use Photoshop, just swap the editor names around and it will make more sense to you). I am by no means criticizing it – at the end of the day its the better of the two…just not my usual or chosen editor.

The bad weather is starting to arrive, albeit not as bad as forecast. We will see what tomorrow brings!

Hope your Christmas has gone well!

December 25, 2012 1

Smiths Bush

As spring slowly approaches the days are starting to lengthen out again. This still does not leave much light when I finish work, but left enough today for me to take a brisk walk around Smiths Bush in Northcote on Auckland’s North Shore.

It must have been about 5 years, possibly more, since I last went through the bush. It has turned into a wonderful local walkway there one could spend three quarters of an hour on a loop trail. The tall trees with mixed canopy, along with rotten fallen trunks really gives one the sense they are out in the bush/jungle.

Armed with my GRD and light fading fast, I captured a number of forest shots. In post processing in Gimp I played around with a few contrast and special layers, with the result being today image. When I get some more time I will definitely visit Smiths Bush again!

August 9, 2012 0