A Ricohflex Diacord L twin-lens reflex medium format camera from c.1958… My major pseudo-impulse-buy from an epic long weekend of workshops, gallivanting, delicious eating, and of course hectic shopping. It’s loaded up with film… now just need something to shoot and some skills.
Ricoh’s new GXR has a removable face… meaning: you can switch out the sensor AND the lens. There are various reasons for this (better lens/sensor pairing, more compact possibilities, etc.), but it will mainly just serve to freak out anyone watching when you go to change your lens and end up looking like you’re destroying your own camera.
(More sensible words on the matter from DPReview.)
I was literally running around and shooting photos and videos all day (school parade!), when I discovered a slight issue with the 14-140mm kit lens. (Innuendo warning: I’m too tired to phrase this in a way that WON’T make the gutterminded giggle.)
The zooming mechanism was super tight when I first got it, which made for some really jerky zooming, but meant the lens stayed where you put it if the camera was jostled. After a LOT of use, though (it is my only lens for the GH1 and I’ve shot well over 30,000 photos and many hours of video on it), the mechanism has become really loose. So loose that the lens actually extended halfway while I was running with it pointed down. On the bright side, I now get really smooth zooming in videos… but it’s still a bit disconcerting, and I can only hope it doesn’t get looser…
…because that just won’t be classy anymore.
Leaked photo of Olympus’ upcoming Micro Four-Thirds camera, the E-P1. Supposed to be announced TOMORROW (June 16th). Text lust: ACTIVATED. (Via 43rumors.)
Panny FINALLY announced the GH1 for Japan, and I will be able to get my grubby hands on it on April 24th! …Well, HOPEFULLY. They are only making 5,000 units available in the first month.
No price mentioned in the official press release (Japanese only… I didn’t even bother reading it), but the special 60 units they are selling in advance (Japanese only, halfway down the page) to Club Panasonic members reviewers will be going for 127,330 yen… or $1300 USD, which is in line with the original release price of the G1 lens kit.
So while I wait for the release date to roll around, I’ll work on some Japanese reading comprehension by trying to figure out this “special campaign” they have going on (looks like prizes are involved!).
Update: Word on the street is that MSRP will be around $1800 Canadian dollars… which is roughly $1460 USD. Sounds about right… and just slides in under my $1500 budget. Let’s hope the Japanese domestic price will slide FURTHER under.
