Pocket Rocket

How the Ricoh GRD II is fast becoming my constant companion...

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Introduction

This article is all about the benefits and compromises of using a compact camera for documentary photography; based on the Ricoh GRD II (the compact camera I currently use).

The recent emergence of cameras such as Canon's G9, Ricoh's GRD and GX100 and Sigma's DP1 all featuring RAW capture are proof of the appeal of a good quality compact camera.

Sometimes an SLR just isn't appropriate and lacks the convenience of a compact model (that's why they're called compact after all). The current crop of high end compact's offer a great deal, but every camera is a compromise and in this case is that compromise to be found in image quality?

Back when I used film and before I destroyed it in an accident my Ricoh GR1 travelled with me everywhere and was perfect for those 'just in case' photographic opportunities.

After watching developments in the high end compact sector I finally decided to plug the gap left by my GR1 with Ricoh's new GRD II.

Ricoh GRDII compact digital camera, my chosen replacement for my trusty Ricoh GR1

A few of my favourite photographs made with my faithful GR1 film camera (click on each image for more information) the camera's pocketability meant I kept it on me all the time - ready for any opportunity that presented itself

Why a compact ?

"The best camera is the one you have with you..." (Anon)

Given their pocketability therefore, it's far easier to keep a compact camera with you all the time for those unexpected photographic opportunities.

A growing number of photographers like are known for their use of compact cameras for 'serious' photography and the convenience and rich feature set of the current crop of high end compacts could have a lot to offer any photographer. So what are the benefits?

◆ First and most importantly compact size means the camera can be easily carried in any pocket and kept on you at any time.

◆ You stand out less and attract little attention compared to an SLR and can work unobtrusively and quietly.

◆ RAW output on high end models allows for greater flexibility in post production.

◆ The lower price point compared to an SLR means high end compacts are more affordable to most people so where as I can only justify a new digital SLR every 3-4 years I could in theory afford to update my compact more regularly, taking advantage of the latest developments in technology without breaking the bank (although some of the more expensive compacts now have price tags to rival those of low end SLRs).

◆ Compacts avoid many of the issues that can be drawbacks with SLRs - the lack of a reflex mirror means there's no vibration caused by mirror 'slap' and the live image preview lets you use the camera away from your eye far more easily and accurately.

However, the obvious trade off with a camera like the GRD II that has an image sensor smaller than your little fingernail is image quality, mainly due to higher noise levels than with larger sensors. Sigma's DP1 has however made inroads to remedying this issue thanks to its larger sensor and image quality is improving all the time among the current crop of high end compact cameras. There are other compromises too; shutter lag, slow start up time and potentially compromised ergonomics due to the reduced proportions.

This article summarizes the benefits of a high end digital compact and aims to give some idea of achievable image quality. Although my experiences are specifically based on the Ricoh GRD II many of the general principles apply to compact cameras in general.

GRD Evolution

Ricoh announced the original GRD in September 2005, the GRD II was announced as a successor in October 2007. The GRD II kept the same 5.9 mm lens as the original (equal to 28 mm on a 35 mm film camera) but included a 10 megapixel sensor and a new image processing engine and vastly improved RAW file write speed.

This article is based on my experience of the Ricoh GRD II. I've been using this camera since February 2008 in a variety of situations; this article summarizes my experiences to date.