Cheap Camera Review - Ricoh GXR - Leica M8 on a Budget! 

Hey Mattias, just wanted to thank you for making this video because it convinced me to get this as my first premium digital camera and to try out manual focus lenses for the first time. It's been a super fun learning experience.

After watching this video I have ordered one off ebay to test out. After getting my Epson R-D1 and loving it, I totally agree these 2 camera makers were way ahead of their time....

Great videos Matthias. I have a GXR with 2 M modules and the 28mm fixed lens module. One of my M modules had been converted to IR, so I have everything I need in the GXR. I love its build quality and of course the IQ of photos it produces.

That minolta! Like butter those photos wow! Solid review yet again!

I own one of these cameras and found it to be superb. Absolutely great handling camera, great UI for sure. Snap focus is great..... just superb, I very wish they kept with it. That said, I would absolutely be down with a GR and a GR with a normal lens as well. These guys truly know how to make small cameras.

This is absolutely beautiful. I sort of want one now, it will hold me over until I can figure out how to get ahold of a Leica M9/10.

Excellent quick view. I was also at a point looking to pick up one of these from Amazon for cheap but it was either this or pick up a DP3 merrill someone disowned. Picked the DP3 with no regrets but was always intrigued by the GXR. I wish ricoh would revisit this concept just with better marketing and forethought.

Most photographed DOG in the WORLD !

your videos are refreshing, subscribed!

still my favourite camera reviewer!

I love the way you said use the camera within its limitations

The concept of the camera is great

Realy enjoy these videos, thank you

I forgot about this camera. I remember seeing it on DRTV back in the day. Such an interesting design, shame it never caught on.

Awesome review as always. There are so many good "old" cameras out there, yet people go crazy over big sensors and fps even if they dont use them to their fullest

Hi Mattias, thanks for the quick review! This looks like a lovely camera. I still have my old Leica M8 (and an M9), and actually have the same Voigtlander lens you used in this review! Keep the great videos coming! I appreciate it. Are you based in Germany? I am currently in Berlin to do some work at the Humboldt University. I brought my M9 with me. It is a beautiful city to photograph!

Thanks for sharing this, I own and use the GXR and the M module. I would love to add the 28mm module if I had not already owned the GRD II and IV of the same generation. This GXR is fun to use and own. It makes my photography fun.

I have the GXR with the A12 lenses. The colors and sharpness is amazing. One way to get a cheap house (back) is buying it with S10 as a used combo (as cheap as 124 USD) and then throw the S10 in the drawer and buy the better lenses individually. Make sure to get a screen protector.

Mattias, I have a feeling that you (like me and a lot of other people out there) have a special place in your heart for the Ricoh GXR. Well I was thinking that since there are a lot of unused S10 24-72mm sensor / lens units that are unused. How hard would it be to convert that unit into a 24.3 MP (think Sony’s Sensor for now)-in other words we use the shell and the connectors of the S10 and we strap in the sensor. We have a programmer write us a useable firmware to bridge the gap from the sensor to the camera unit. We’ll put the firmware on an SD card like they do on for raspberry pi home brew computers. It won’t be anything too crazy, just manual focus and stills (no auto focus or video). Then we of course will use the e-mount [there are hundreds of adaptors available out there already for every type of vintage lens. We put it in www.gofundme.com and with the amount of subscribers you have, I’m sure you could find 5000 people to give $400 each (lord knows they pay that for the A12 Leica unit). 5000 x $400 = $2,000,000. And it’s done all for the love of Ricoh and photography. What do you think about the Ricoh GXR Resurrection Project?

GXR is a sample of unique concept with poor marketing budget

I had this camera on my wish list on amazon since it came out. I totally forgot about this camera! Time to look on Ebay for this camera.

Oh the song choice!🙏🏽🤩🤩🥰🥰 Very Foo Fighters-esque.

I was selling cameras when this came out. Often we could not get the other lens modules. That scared away buyers....

gunpowder is a professional.

I always liked this idea as a solution to the sensor dirt/damage that comes with interchangable lenses, but if anyone were to try this again there would be the same problem of incredibly expensive "lenses" (each one is basically a whole compact camera remember) So that benefit didn't seem like a good trade off when this system came but. but now I've seen your results I might pick one up if I see it around on the cheap. I might make a good camera to let someone who is learning use for a bit to get used to the idea of manual control and swappable lenses, without having to worry about expensive gear or exposing the sensitive innards to get the most out of it.

Change the sensor and shutter? Wow! That sounds ingenious!

THanks ...I learned a few things from it!!

I’m 3 years late but I just bought one on eBay to get back into photography after watching your videos :D

Interesting to hear that this is when you fell into the Foveon rabbit hole.:)

This camera has another take on a modular camera approach and I'm liking it!

I got a used Ricoh GXR with M mount from eBay after seeing Mattia’s review. (Note: I already own Sony A7 and owned Canon T5i) Positives 1. I’ve never used Leica cameras. So can’t comment on the color. But when compared to Sony A7, Ricoh GXR’s has awesome colors. It looks more pleasing than Sony A7. 2. Native JPG files looks pretty decent. Good for those who don’t have DNG editors. 3. DNG files are around 15MB. So it is easy to manage and can be edited/viewed using various tools. 4. Long lasting battery. 5. I love the tilt indicator. 6. Has lot of lens options. Negatives 1. Super slow even with high speed memory card. 2. Can take only max of 32GB memory card. (Not a negative me though) 3. Focus peaking is not that great when compared to Sony A7. 4. It is almost of same size like Sony A7. Even though it comes with native m-mount, mount protrudes outside the camera like an adapter. Sony A7 with m-mount adapter looks compact. 5. EVF won’t turn on automatically like Sony. You have to push a button to turn it on and off. 6. It is super hard to get spare parts. Verdict: Negatives mentioned above won’t affect the image quality. If you can live with slow camera and can’t afford Leica then this is the camera for you. Colors looks stunning. This camera is not for pixel peepers. It is far better than phone cameras.

You work very well

I remember that these used to be sold new for almost nothing... 8 years ago or so? Unfortunately the supply has now dried up, and those who change hands are going up in price. (Still really cheap, of course.)

Pictures of flowers? More of Gunpowder! And no bad thing. We love him!

Great Video, Mattias. You mention M8-like colours. How good were the monochrome conversions?

Good job mate

So cool!

Your dog’s gotta be the most photographed dog in the world 😂

i like your backyard

I was once deciding between GXR and Epson R-D1. I eventually went with R-D1. No regret. I love my R-D1.

I might be interested in buying your GXR, including the M mount module. Where can I find further information?

I just picked one of these babys up for 300 dollars US today. With the M mount module included!! Exicted!

Like all great ideas, it will be back eventually in a slightly different form.

I'd love to see more pictures from this camera!

you got a voightlander 35mm f1.4 in with the deal? madness. I dear you could still the lens on and make all your money back.

How it compares with Sony A6000. With an adapter I can use M mount lenses on Sony as well with more pixels and extra features. Will Sony provides same Leica like images with the lenses you mentioned (Leica, Voigtlander, 7 artisans)

The camera that I will never sell!

Well I think now it's time to get a new M module for my GXR. It has A16 24-85mm/3.5-5.5 and I rarely picked it up since I bought my GR II. What do you think the best decent lenses for it are? Any wide Voigtlander will do?

how is the jpeg image quality of this 28 mm different from the quality of a nikon 28mmon the equivalent sensor

With the Leica mount, Can you use auto ISO? What about the different metering modes?

This seems like an excellent idea. If it had 2 bodies, one small and with perfect ergonomics (Grip/Control Layout) and the other not quite as small with IBIS . Probably could have 2 Screen types, lower resolution LCD and a fancy high resolution OLED; an external clip-on viewfinder too. If there were 3 Sensor size ranges and 2 or 3 mount types. You could choose what you wanted (or afford) and in a few years you could buy a better Sensor. Both RED and Black Magic make Cameras with upgradable Sensors. The idea is not unique or unaccepted. Instead of the old practice of locking you into the Lens Mount type it would 'lock you in' to the Body, and whatever bits and pieces you had.

Will pairing a full frame lens on Leica M module degrade the performance? I planning to buy this camera with Leica module and pair it with 7 Artisans 35mm f/2. Will it produce good images? I cannot afford Leica lenses. Or do I need to buy 7 artisans 35mm 1.2 (designed for APS-C) and pair it with M mount to E mount adapter. Which 7 artisans lens you suggest?

GRIII or GXR?

I'm probably one of the few lucky guys to have 2 of those lul xD

Can u do a review on Sony A7 with contax G lenses

The lack of OVF is the one and only reason stopping me from ditching my DSLR sadly

Happy puppy

How about if they release a gxr2 ,improve the focus,higher pixel,tilty screen,evf...haha..

What a coincidence. i just got a GXR with S10 module last week. I got it for a steal under 100, but the A12 is significantly better. Is it worth to invest 300 dollars more and get the M-mount and a decent lens? Is the S10 even comparable to the A12's sensor?

Please make a video of your camera collection

i may switch to a Leica camera for video if you have any suggestions. Currently using the BMPCC. Heres a project I shot with the BMPCC to give you and idea: vimeo.com/221081327

I missed your voice.

Found one with the M mount and 3 of its lenses for $500 brand new!

Such an underrated camera. Glad to see it being recognised again. Been using it for the past 2.5 years as my main. *shooting on a budget* but for what it's worth, I think it does the job quite well. Rangefinder is much faster to focus on still. Check my insta for the last 3 years of frames taken with a nokton 35 :) @mistaken_asian

4:01

This is leaf shutter?

Hello everyone! I got a deal in a Ricoh gxr with the 24-70 3.5-5.5...the image quality I get from it it’s worst than everything I ever experienced before from a digital camera,isn’t it suppose to be an APS-C sensor lens unit?a i doing something wrong?too soft images softer than a melting butter..if anyone has a set of settings to suggest I would be more than grateful,thank you.

i love your boring pictures matt

Hey Mattias! Have you thought about creating a Patreon account so subscribers could (if they want to) support you?

needs an EVF

How the hell can you describe this as a cheap Leica M8 when it has a CMOS sensor and your images look nothing like those from a CCD sensor ?

It is not a cheap camera please!

ughhh... nice camera, but i don't like it. it looks bad for me. if a camera doesn't inspire me to make photos, it's bad for me

Cool information! Thanks a lot !

Question. Does the M mount produce the color or do you still need a leica lens?