barry burton

New Camera!

After solely photographing using my POS Canon PAS* for the last year and half, I finally admitted to myself that I had a problem: I no longer had the patience for film, I couldn’t afford a decent DSLR, but it was simply unacceptable that I never had manual control. Enter the Ricoh GR Digital II. I know, I know, there is plenty of hype surrounding the camera, its predecessor was much loved by hipsters everywhere, causing others to hate it, and this, the successor, was then hated by some because it was new and different and easier to acquire, and gasp, maybe, just maybe, too many people had caught on to the hipness, which is rumored to be a known hipness carcinogen. Nevertheless, thus far the camera is shaping up to be the ultimate modern day rangefinder—small, full manual control, and beautiful SLR / TLR like results (which is merely to say, closer than any other non-interchangable lens camera out there, and if you ask me, quite surprisingly close). The next few weeks will see a more rigorous test, as I put the camera through the paces of normal use in differing environments. All I can say is that I so love yet again controlling shutter speed and aperture (and there are 2 dials for this, in the same location as on real Nikon SLRs!); everything in its right place.

* I should note, that as far as push a button, get a decent picture (documentary, but not artistic), Canon SD cameras are definitely the way to go—their interaction design is so far beyond every other manufacture and model series it is ridiculous, and as far as normal consumer products being used by normal people are concerned, the usability of the product is the primary contributor to the quality of the end result, features and other gizmos having absolutely no bearing.

p.s. — anyone want to buy a used Nikon N80? C’mon, it’s so retro!