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Ricoh GXR S10 (photo samples)

With some cameras, you think all the photos look just OK, and then get hit with the "wow" when you view them on your computer display. This is not so with the Ricoh GXR+S10 24-72mm module. Many of my shots look great displayed at about 25 percent, which is why I was so disappointed when I zoomed to 100 percent or printed at 13x19. To me, that's one of the important differences between a merely decent enthusiast compact and a standout model.

Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Lori Grunin
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1 of 11 Matthew Fitzgerald/CNET

Noise

At all ISO sensitivities, Ricoh seems overly aggressive with the blurring aspect of its noise reduction, and there's serious aliasing on edges. I wouldn't recommend shooting JPEGs at anything higher than ISO 200.
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2 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Noise, ISO 800

While shooting raw allows for better noise reduction you can also see some of the native edge aliasing, especially around the eyes. (1/30 sec, f2.8, AWB, evaluative metering, Neutral color)
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3 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Noise, ISO 1600

Here you can really see the edge problems--look especially at the eyes and the fine grid pattern that appears in the shadows. In the latest firmware update, Ricoh added a Max noise reduction option, but as far as I can tell that just increases the blurring even more. (1/30 sec, f2.8, AWB, evaluative metering, Neutral color)
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4 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Distortion, narrow angle

The GXR's in-camera distortion correction is relatively subtle, partly because there isn't much lens distortion. The slightly different framing is not a correction artifact, but the differences in white balance seem to be. (1/125 sec, f4.4, AWB, evaluative metering, ISO 100)
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5 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Distortion, narrow angle

There's little distortion at the narrow end of the lens, but it displays the same white balance difference. (1/125 sec, f5.1, AWB, evaluative metering, ISO 100)
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6 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Bokeh

While the lens is on the slow slide, it does produce relatively nice effects in out-of-focus areas.(1/125 sec, f4.4, AWB, evaluative metering, ISO 100)
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7 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Color settings

While not as scary as Vivid, Ricoh's Standard (default) color setting tends to saturate greens and blues a bit too much. (1/220 sec, f9.1, AWB, center-weighted metering, ISO 100)
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8 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Sharpness

The GXR+S10's default sharpness is pretty good. Plus, there's barely any fringing on the highlights.(1/30 sec, f4.2, AWB, evaluative metering, ISO 100, Standard color)
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9 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Color

The auto white balance tends to be overly cyan in shadowed conditions--for instance, note the color of the leaves in the shot with the yellow flowers on the right. The rest look okay, though.
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10 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Close-up sharpness

Close up shots look just a smidgen soft when zoomed in, but this is the kind of softness that can stand up to some sharpening in post process.(1/290 sec, f6.1, AWB, centerweighted metering, ISO 100, Natural color)
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11 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

General sharpness

This is typical of the detail in wide angle shots; you can see how unsharp the foreground subjects look. (1/80 sec, f4.6, AWB, evaluative metering, ISO 100, Natural color)

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