GR21 & GRD

Ricoh GR Digital

Ricoh GR21 / Kodak BW400CN

Tried my GR21 with a roll of Kodak BW400CN film today. As this is more a test than anything else, I don't care much about the composition. I just took pictures more or less as I have been doing with my GRD. I have to confess that I still haven't got used to take pictures with a film camera yet.

I have to look into the small viewfinder. As I wear glasses, I have to press my glasses onto the viewfinder in order to get a clear view. The data shown in the viewfinder is not easy to see with their light colour and their position around the view. After seconds of looking into the viewfinder with another eye closed, I had blurry vision. Also, when I look through the viewfinder, a small part of the view is blocked by the lens barrel. Composition then becomes rather tricky.

Surely I can't have an immediate review of the shot I've just taken. But I feel better when pressing the shutter release button of the film camera than a digital camera one. My decision seems to be stronger. If I take pictures with a dc, I can check the photo(s) just taken and delete it or them right away and try another. The crucial decision would be loose.

I had the film processed. The result is better than I thought especially considering that this is my first film experience after years of solely digital photography. Here is a comparison between GRD (top) and GR21 (bottom). The GRD photo is a jpg straight from the camera only resized nearly to the same size as the GR21 one which was a scanned jpg directly from the negative very probably by the Fujifilm minilab. Both were taken at P-mode in ISO400 with multi-point AF and 21mm focal length. I like the photo by GR21 much better.

GR21 has its limits which GRD can overcome. In short, GRD is an all-round camera for today whilst GR21 rules for its incomparable touch and expressive potential particularly as the result of using film, a completely another world from digital format.

Film and digital format. Like vinyl and CD. Different worlds.

I think I'll reserve my GR21 only for some really special moments. GRD is still my main razor.

I'll have another test with colour film. Stay tuned.