picture(s) a day: jun 29
A while back I was trying to decide between buying a used Pentax Q-series camera and a used Ricoh GXR, both being really quirky digital cameras from the 2010s. Luckily for me, I was able to find an cool example of both within my birthday budget! I wrote about my purple Pentax Q10 recently, and now I'm posting a little bit about my Ricoh GXR, with the P10 and S10 lens modules.
Various views of the front and rear of the Ricoh GXR, with the P10 and modified S10 modules attached; the last picture is the lens module connector
The Ricoh GXR camera system is different because instead of the camera sensor being in the camera body and having interchangeable lenses like a regular set up, the lens, sensor, and processor are built into interchangeable lens modules. This is cool because you essentially get different cameras in each module, with different lenses, sensor types and sensor sizes.
The P10 and S10 modules both have 10MP resolution, but have different zoom and aperture ranges, and their sensor sizes are slightly different, 1/2.3-inch and 1/1.7-inch, respectively. The P10 has a CMOS sensor, while the S10 has a CCD sensor. The ability to have such different camera set ups in interchangeable modules is such a cool concept. There are other modules with larger APS-C sensors, and a module that allows you to use Leica M-mount lenses. Awesome!
In addition, this S10 module happened to be converted into a full-spectrum IR camera, meaning the IR cut filter was removed, allowing the sensor to be more sensitive to IR wavelengths. The previous owner included a variable IR filter that can be adjusted between 530 and 750nm wavelengths which ultimately means the IR photos I take can have different overall tones:
All straight out of the camera, no edits. The top row shows lemon tree branches against a clear sky at different IR wavelengths (purpley, overexposed orange-reddish, and better exposed reddish); bottom row, first two pictures show orange tree branches against clear sky with power lines in the background at two different IR wavelengths (purpley, orange-red), last picture shows a purpley jade plant in IR
While the IR filter does have some markings showing which way to rotate the filter through the wavelength spectrum, the included 3d-printed filter tube isn't exactly a precise set up, so I don't know exactly what wavelength I'm tuned to. Looking up light wavelengths in general, though, purple wavelengths are between 280 and 450nm, while red is between 620-750nm.
I have some previous experience with IR photography via my Sony F717 and V1 cameras which have a Nightshot mode that is sensitive to IR, but with limitations imposed. I haven't used a full-spectrum IR camera before, so I'm excited to play around with this! It's very good timing, too – peak summer and very sunny skies around Northern California.
Having this Ricoh GXR somewhat nullifies my desire (for now, heh) for the Ricoh GR IV, since this is a similar form-factor, but a lot more flexible. Yay! 🥳
I feel lucky to have found the purple Pentax Q10 and this Ricoh GXR because they're both customized in ways I like. Feels like fate that I found them. 🙂
