Because it has to serve a variety of lens/sensor modules, ostensibly with different capabilities, the Ricoh GXR's controls are generically designed and labeled.
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.
Ricoh offers an extra cost lens cap that's probably worth the money. It attaches to the bayonet mount on the lens, and uses an ingenious aperture design.
The camera is on the heavy side, but not onerously so, and it's got a shallow but comfortable rubberized grip. Overall, I found the body design functional, albeit with some drawbacks imposed by the necessity to be more generic than most cameras.
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GXR unit
Unlike interchangeable-lens models, the Ricoh GXR system has a body containing the basic electronics, LCD and flash, in which you insert modules containing a lens and sensor.
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Straightforward design
Because it has to work with so many different variations of capabilities, the controls on the GXR body are fairly generic and simple. This works both for and against the camera's usability. For instance, Ricoh doesn't crowd the mode dial with scene modes, and it supports three sets of custom settings. But it also means that I didn't realize the camera supported video capture until I looked at the specs and searched the manual for instructions--it's enabled in the scene modes.
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Generic labeling
While the design is physically fine, Ricoh can't really dedicate any of the controls to specific functions; everything is assigned within the menus, which will make it confusing for those with more of a photographic than technical inclination.
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Diect controls
Like most enthusiast cameras these days, the GXR has a Direct button that pulls up frequently needed shooting adjustments so you can easily change them. This is doubly important given the GXR's generic body design. My one complaint with the implementation is that unlike most others' the display doesn't go away when you tap the shutter button; you have to hit the Direct button a second time. That's really annoying.
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Menus
The adjustment lever--actually the jog dial at the top back of the camera--can be configured to cycle through four different setting options. Like the Direct access screen, though, tapping the shutter button doesn't make it go away.
