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The Ricoh GXR is a compact
Officially, Ricoh released five Camera Units and one Lens Mount Unit. Journalist Thom Hogan has coined the "lensor" nickname for the Camera Units. The body accepts one unit at a time; each unit slides onto the body via a stainless steel rail and locks into place. To remove a unit, it can be released by a lever on the camera's body. Both the body and lens unit use magnesium alloy exterior.
Each Camera Unit (lens + sensor) has its own unique specifications relating to its sensor and optics, meaning that different lens units will change the features, behavior and performance of the camera body to varying degrees when attached. By pairing the lens and sensor as a single unit, Ricoh claim that each unit has these features optimised to one another and a specific task, whereas with conventional interchangeable lens cameras, each different lens must use the same sensor and engine. The sealed units also prevent dust from reaching the sensor, which can be a problem with other cameras where the sensor is exposed whilst a lens is being changed. However, a significant disadvantage of this system is the extra cost involved in having to buy a whole new sensor with every new lens.
The Lens Mount Unit was sold with a device used to check mechanical compatibility of lenses; some lenses extend deeply into the body and could cause interference with the sensor.
;Notes
digital camera
A digital camera, also called a digicam, is a camera that captures photographs in Digital data storage, digital memory. Most cameras produced today are digital, largely replacing those that capture images on photographic film or film stock. Dig ...
first announced by Ricoh Company, Ltd, Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
on November 10, 2009. Unlike conventional cameras which either have a fixed lens
A lens is a transmissive optical device that focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (''elements'') ...
and sensor
A sensor is often defined as a device that receives and responds to a signal or stimulus. The stimulus is the quantity, property, or condition that is sensed and converted into electrical signal.
In the broadest definition, a sensor is a devi ...
or interchangeable lens and a fixed sensor, the GXR takes interchangeable units, each housing a lens, sensor and image processing engine, sometimes called a ''lensor'' (a portmanteau
In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together.
of lens and sensor).
Following the introduction of the Ricoh GR in 2013, the GXR was quietly discontinued.
Features
The GXR has a modular design, consisting of two major components: the host body, which holds the battery, pop-up flash, rear screen, and external interfaces for data and flash; and a Camera Unit, which holds the image sensor, lens, and image processor in a sealed module. Ricoh also offered a Lens Mount Unit, which omits the bundled lens in favor of a mechanical interface compatible with many Leica M mount lenses. The body has a hot shoe on top for an external flash unit; the Ricoh GF-1 is designed for the GXR. Alternatively, Ricoh marketed both optical and electronic viewfinders which attach to the hot shoe. The GV-1 and GV-2 are optical viewfinders featuring the field of view equivalent to a 28 mm lens, and are intended to be used with the A12 28mm unit. The VF-2 electronic viewfinder offers 920,000 pixels and 100% field of view, and can be used with any unit.Camera and Mount Units
Officially, Ricoh released five Camera Units and one Lens Mount Unit. Journalist Thom Hogan has coined the "lensor" nickname for the Camera Units. The body accepts one unit at a time; each unit slides onto the body via a stainless steel rail and locks into place. To remove a unit, it can be released by a lever on the camera's body. Both the body and lens unit use magnesium alloy exterior.
Each Camera Unit (lens + sensor) has its own unique specifications relating to its sensor and optics, meaning that different lens units will change the features, behavior and performance of the camera body to varying degrees when attached. By pairing the lens and sensor as a single unit, Ricoh claim that each unit has these features optimised to one another and a specific task, whereas with conventional interchangeable lens cameras, each different lens must use the same sensor and engine. The sealed units also prevent dust from reaching the sensor, which can be a problem with other cameras where the sensor is exposed whilst a lens is being changed. However, a significant disadvantage of this system is the extra cost involved in having to buy a whole new sensor with every new lens.
The Lens Mount Unit was sold with a device used to check mechanical compatibility of lenses; some lenses extend deeply into the body and could cause interference with the sensor.
;Notes
See also
* Minolta Dimage EX * Other Modular CamerasReferences
External links
* * * (samples photos) * (review - full size samples) * {{Ricoh Ricoh digital cameras Mirrorless cameras