Ricoh GXR with the S10 Unit
In a move that will go down in camera history as a classic case of innovation gone wrong, Ricoh has announced today a new “Interchangeable Unit” camera where you change the lens and image sensor as an integrated unit.
In the Ricoh GXR, each lens / unit combo “optimizes” the sensor used for the particular lens. For example, if you use a long zoom, you get a tiny sensor. Each unit also comes with shutter mechanism, aperture, and its own image processing engine.
Umm, that’s basically the whole camera, leaving a shell of handgrip, battery, LCD, flash and memory card compartment!
Camera units currently available are:
- A12 – 50mm F2.5 Macro with a 12.3M (23.6 x 15.7mm) CMOS sensor
- S10 – 24-72mm F2.5-4.4 with a 10M (1/1.7-in.) CCD sensor
Instead of coming up with a large sensor digital camera that can accept interchangeable lenses, Ricoh is basically asking photographers to play Russian Roulette with their image quality every time they swap lens.
Currently, only the A12 50mm unit uses a large APS-size sensor. The S10 24-72mm unit uses a tiny 1/1.7-in. sensor. It’s only 3x optical zoom and they can’t even use an APS-size sensor? Using a tiny 1/1.7-in. sensor is equivalent of using digital zoom with only part of the larger image sensor.
If other units will feature zoom lenses with the same large APS-size sensor, then the question becomes, Why pay twice for the same sensor (and processor and shutter) when you are just swapping lenses?
If some European magazine or association gives this camera an award, I’m going to scream… 
According to Imaging Resource, Minolta first came out with that [not so] brillant idea and IR concluded the Minolta Dimage EX1500 Zoom could well be “the first ‘obsolescence proof’ digital camera!” — and we all know what happened to Minolta.
Ricoh Announces the GXR Interchangeable Unit Camera System
Lens, image sensor, and image processing engine integrated into a single interchangeable unit. World’s smallest and lightest*.
Tokyo, Japan (PRWEB) November 10, 2009 — Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) today announced the development and release of the GXR interchangeable unit camera system featuring the world’s smallest and lightest* digital camera with the ability to change lenses.
Ricoh GXR with the A12 Unit
The new GXR is an interchangeable unit camera system in which lenses are changed by using a slide-in mount system to attach camera units to the body. The lens, image sensor, and image processing engine are integrated into the camera units so the body itself does not contain an image sensor.
Ricoh GXR Shell
With world-leading small size and low weight* enabling easy carrying, the GXR interchangeable unit camera system features a highly rigid magnesium alloy body and multiple camera units that can be changed to best fit the scene to be photographed. You can enjoy easy lens changes as well as amazing image quality and shooting flexibility. Concealing infinite possibilities in its small body, the GXR is a revolutionary camera system that pioneers a new realm of photography.
Ricoh GXR Back View
Distinctive characteristics
- Lens, image sensor, and image processing engine comprise an integrated unit which can be changed to match the scene being photographed
- World’s smallest and lightest* digital camera with interchangeable lenses
- System potential expanded through use of interchangeable units
* Internal flash, interchangeable lens digital cameras with lens attached.
As of November 10, 2009, Ricoh research.
For more information: http://www.ricoh.com/r_dc/gxr/
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