Ricoh GX100 Wish List 

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Wishes taken as-is from the DPReview forum, some feedback may be required if they don't sound correct.

From the latest list of wishes appearing in November 2007 in the DPReview Ricoh forum. As is currently but will slowly get tidied and compressed.

1. a higher resolution EVF
2. dispense with the clumsy lens cap and use the system employed on the GR1 series. As it stands, that lovely £400 lens is too exposed to fingerprints, and worse, and to use the lens hood and attachment, while very effective, detracts from the shirt-pocket portability which ought to be the forte of this masterpiece.

1. RAW buffer (for at least one shot)
2. Constant aperture (at least in the range of f/4.4 and narrower)
3. Built-in cap
4. Rear wheel instead of a lever
5. AA battery support instead of AAA
6. Extension cord for the EVF
7. TTL flash shoe
8. 16:9

 • flash compensation
 • more durable metal lens mount (and tube adapter, for that matter)
 • shutter priority
 • infrared remote shutter release
 • a compact external TTL flash!

I also have a hankering for weatherproofing


The problem with lens cap is that the zoom lens is most probably longer in its retracted state. So if Ricoh would like to make the GX100 without the cap (in the same style as GRD lens mechanism), they would have to make the camera body thicker. But I'm not sure any GX100 user would like to exchange the current slim GX100 body (even with cap) for a much thicker body (ala G7/G9)?

As for the TTL flash, GX line is historically under GR line. Who knows? Maybe they add the ttl flash connector in any future upgrade, to match the GX line with canon G line? But I would not be so sure about it.

AA instead of AAA? Well as in case of built-in lens cover, it would mean much thicker body. For some people probably good thing because of better grip. But in my opinion it would completely change the current GX look and GR-like feel?

Flash compensation? I'm afraid, this will stay just another small GR/GX marketing difference. The same as almost zero B&W settings in case of GX100. The just want to differentiate the markets a bit. But because the Ricoh nicely surprised with flash compensation for original GRD owners, maybe this small feature will be added in any future GX100 FW?


- battery and memory card door on the side (like GX8), to enable changing these when the camera is on a tripod;
- regular external power connector (not the replacement-type of a battery);
- shorter basic interval in the time-lapse mode (perhaps 1s, 2.5s, 5s, ...);


-Flash compensation.
-I’m an admitted JPEGer and would like basic control of the output via adjustable contrast, sharpness, and noise reduction settings (including the ability to turn NR off).
- 6mp sensor. I know this will never happen, but to my eyes dynamic range is one of the big differences I see between DSLR output and P&S output. I know it won’t make it a DSLR, but it will improve both DR and noise characteristics.
-I’d like to see them stretch zoom to 4x (24-96mm). This should still be a decent lens, but provide better portraiture. I like the range of the LX2 (but I like the 24mm better).
-I’d like to see them do away with the lens cap, but not so sure if I would accept a deeper body to accommodate this (I’m wishy and wishy-washy).
-Higer res EVF. Heck, it would be nice to have an OVF option too.
-AA support would be nice. I envision the clever Ricoh engineers miniaturizing some of the electronics and other internal doo-dads so AAs would fit without changing the overall size. (Hey, it could happen).
-Exposure bracketing.
-Power ON after Auto Power OFF using just the shutter button. This makes those “grab” shots so much quicker. I have this on my Pannys and Nikon D40.
-Precise battery status.
-A compact external TTL flash would be a nice finishing touch.



I've been trying out a Panasonic FZ-18 i bought for my wife, and that has 2 features I really like that I think could probably be implemented very easily (this is in addition to my general agreement with the lists posted previously):
You have the option of setting it so that even when you are using the EVF, using quick review causes the display to switch to the back LCD; it returns to the EVF when you go back to shooting mode. I find this very handy.
One of the display modes makes the actual image a bit smaller and shows all the useful info about ISO, aperture, shutter speed, image quality settings, etc., in a black border around the right and bottom edges; more like the usual sort of display in a DSLR, so you have the info available but it is not cluttering up the image. I really like that, too.

Lower price tag.

If a separate lenscap is unavoidable, how's about a soft rubber or plastic lenscap that can be pushed off by the the lens itself as it extends. Tether it in a more convenient way and add a magnet or velcro to keep it out of the way. Or integrate lens protection into the carry case itself.
Offer other styles of carry case, most of them thinner, and maybe with options for onboard storage of the finder and it's caps. Taller would be okay.
Other color variations might be okay, but maybe not baby blue + gold.
DB-60 battery is good.
All markings embossed into the housing-nothing to rub off



1. At least a 3 RAW shot buffer because of the next item...
2. Exposure bracketing upto +/-2 stops for HDR blending photos (unless they can somehow dramatically increase the sensors dynamic range).
3. A little less distortion at all focal lengths.
4. A little sharper at the tele end.
5. Flash exposure compensation in P and AV as well as the ability to manually control flash output (1x, 1/2x, 1/4x, etc.) in M-mode.
6. Ok, I realize I'm dreaming here, but I'd like to see two models that share all accessories: a GX100 Mk IIw (wide) with the 24-72 lens and a GX100 Mk IIt with a 50-200 (or so) equivalent lens. I used to travel with 35 and 85 mm primes or else 17-40 and 70-200 zooms so the above 2 camera setup would be my perfect combo. I must admit to liking compressed landscape/architecture shots as well as portraits taken with the 70-200 focal length.


1. usable high iso (noiseless upto 400 or 800 without noise reduction)
2. raw buffer
3. button for "shoot this image only in raw"
4. lower power consumption and power-in plug for longer time-lapse shooting
5. flip-lcd screen, or at least: on top of the camera a tiny 15x10 mm screen next to the power button, to shoot with the camera on belt-level. just for framing a scene.
6. a built-in neutral density filter 2 and 4 stops or so.



I would like to add weather sealing and better video performance to the wish list
The lens cap is a pain, how about a place on the camera that you could SNAP the cap on ? I would pay extra for that. And a removable corded flash ! we could pop it off and point it to the ceiling, etc.


1. Faster Raw
2. In Aperture Priority the camera should be able to go to a faster shutter speed than 1/760 second
3. In Aperture Priority being able to select a smaller aperture than f9 for when trying to blur shots in bright light
4. In Manual mode to be able to swap the shutter/aperture with the front dial / rear toggle as I find the rear toggle can be too slow.
5. In preference to number 4 a rear dial rather than a toggle.
6. A Bulb mode for the remote release.


Nice to have :
1:1 Raw mode
B/W Contrast setting
Slightly better evf resolution. I find the evf a must have option.
24-48 limited lens without any distortion and f2.5 to no more than f4 at the long end.

- A level indicator just like the GRD II has -- that can be done in software
- better tele performance, as has already been indicated -- but this would require a new lens design
PS: Any EVF improvements would be welcomed as well...


-Less wobbly lens barrel
-Get rid of lens cap

The older wishes, yet to be merged into the newer ones above.

Flash exposure compensation - A must have for camera of this class and price! None automatic solution is good enough. [Note: the R3/4/5/6/7 can achieve flash compensation by using the usual EV compensation control. Does the GX100 firmware also behave this way?.. Guy]

 +-1 and +-2 EV bracketing - Good for HDR photos and while the camera is capable to go +-2 EV exposure, why not in bracketing?

Constant aperture (4.4 and above) - Really, it would great to be able to keep the F number constant while zooming. Of course, it's not possible for values between F2.5-F4.4, but it's perfectly doable for F4.4 and above.

An option to shot DNG only without corresponding JPEG - It should make the GX100 RAW writing 1-2sec faster (with currently the fastest card Sandisk Extreme III or Panasonic SDHC class 6) or even faster in case of GRD. No JPEG processing = less time required for writing RAW..simple math;) There should definitely be a difference between storing just single 14MB file and storing 14MB + processing and storing additional 3,5MB JPEG? Many shooters (especially GRD users) would gladly pay the price of lost RAW preview (which is not RAW preview at all) if it would mean faster RAW writing. Not to mention that there already is a small thumbnail stored in each RAW. Sure, it's small, but why not use it for rough preview?

1:1 RAW format - There already is an option for 3:2 RAW so why not 1:1? Possible slowdown because of RAW processing?? 3:2 saves slower than the original 4:3 RAW so maybe the 1:1 would require even longer time?

BW jpeg customization (GX100: contrast/sharpness + GX100/GRD: B&W color filters) - Definitely! Great for all "pure" B&W shooters.

Focus Lock - Not just by half pressed shutter button, but the same (similar) way as AF Lock [AE Lock?]. Even Canon Ixus compacts have this feature and it's very useful! No need to press an hold the shutter button all the time! [Again the R3/4/5/6/7 can do this focus lock by achieving auto focus then switch to manual focus, does the GX100 firmware behave the same way? Be aware that zooming in manual focus will change the focus point.... Guy]

Power ON after Auto Power OFF using just the shutter button - that sounds reasonable.

Better, more granular, battery reporting. - more precise battery status would be really welcome. This is something I really love on Sony cameras.

Interval shooting start from 1 or 2 secs - Manual continuous shooting allows to take 1.6 frames/secs so why not to allow Interval shooting from 1-2 secs? Starting it from 5 secs is too limiting.