Friday 28 November 2008

Dilemma


Ok, this is another boring picture and shameless gear show off ;). Still, this time I am asking for your opinion. I will go to Hong Kong on holiday next week and plan to make it mainly a photo trip. Now the downside of having all these cameras is which one(s) to take along for the trip?
The GRD I with adapter lenses is certainly in but what about the rest? Should I bother carrying the heavy and bulky Panasonic LC1 for the higher dynamic range and very good low ISO pictures although it is limited usable for street photography and unusable for any low light photography? How about the small R10 with the highly versatile zoom but no manual controls and slow lens? Is it worth taking the GRD II along if the GX200 can do everything it does but better and is more versatile? Or how about the GR1, it is a great camera but film is highly limited and restrictive?
So what would you take along? I am thinking to limit myself to only 2 or max. 3 cameras but which?

A reminder, the Ricohforum meetup is tomorrow. So if you are around do join us, even if you don't have a Ricoh camera but are interested in them it could be worth coming along.

10 comments:

  1. GX200. You don't wish to be intrusive and be shuned with your gigantic LC1. But GX200 is a bit limited at the tele end, which you will need for streetshots of faces. Take a small tripod for night shots of the Victoria Harbour. I did some with my mini tripod tonight. The harbour is amazingly beautiful this time of the year. The weather is like 13 degree centigrade here with a clear sky and great light for day and night shots.

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  2. GR1! Give film another chance. For me it has always been worth the trouble and I would love to see some scans of your pictures!

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  3. I really like your cameras. These are interesting.

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  4. Bo on spoil yourself, when you get there buy a new camera. :)

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  5. I agree with Nevin and yesbuts. Yes, the GX200 is amazing for street photography with a little zoom for flexibility. Then get a new camera when you are there ;-).

    Which one would you buy?

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  6. And Christi, I just happen to have written some posts for must-dos in Hong Kong. Those places are also great for taking pictures too. Check them out in just you are interested to know why and where:
    http://ricoh-gx.blogspot.com/2008/11/chachangtang.html

    http://ricoh-gx.blogspot.com/2008/11/lonely-road.html

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  7. I would suggest the GRD1 and GX200. They are both small enough. In that case you don't need to take the additional adapter lenses with you.

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  8. take the LC1 or buy yourself a G1 with M mount adapter lens when you're there and a nice bright prime lens. Or get a R-D1, i hear they are cheaper there. Also take the GX200 since you prefer it over the GRD2.

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  9. Oh I don't know. Toss them all in the air and pick the ones that still work, that way you will make sure you have the sturdy ones (repeat the operation if too many are left).

    Good to meet you yesterday...

    Martino

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  10. Thank you all for your comments, think the best combination will be to take the GRD I and GX200 and maybe another camera for the trip.

    Thanks for your advice Nevin and your posts of things to do are very good. The GX200 will have to come along and I really like using it. I will try to buy myself a Gorillapod in HK on the first days so I can get some long exposures done.

    DLC, I might take the GR1 along although film is very limiting and it will probably end up taking only a few shots. The prints and especially scans are very disapointing here unless you pay a lot of money. You can see the results of my GR1 week posted.

    Thanks Amanda, the link should come in very handy on my next trip to the US.

    Yesbuts, this is an excellent advice but at the moment I am not sure what camera I would get. The G1 would be it but the fake and bad dSLR design and plasticky build is something I can't live with.

    Thanks Marco, think the GX200 is the best to compliment my GRD I and with the 19mm lens should provide the needed extra wideangle for architecture shots. As for a new camera, I don't know, nothing of real interest out there at the moment.

    Wouter, you are right, this is the best combination although I would take only the 40mm adapter for the GRD, the lens is much faster on the GRD so it could come in handy.

    Tom, the G1 would be a great choice if Panasonic would have made it look and handle like the LC1 or RD1 and not crippled with dSLR like controls and build. The RD1 is a great camera but too heavy and I coukld not live with MF only.

    Martino, it was great to meet you, too. Very good advice but the dang Ricoh cameras and LC1 are too solid so I got tired of throwing them in the air ;).

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