The Ricoh GR has special value in the one piece well built body, a fabulously sharp well corrected fast lens and then a miracle of an accessory 21mm accessory lens that will wow you too.
But that’s it. You have to be a traveler and like working on the wide side. It’s perfect for architecture, crowds, inside a train or the exterior of an entire train yard, workshop or factory floor.
It’s great for birthday parties or for museums where they don’t want pictures as it’s silent and one can point from the hip surreptitiously with the camera taught against your side but aimed by practice!
However the Olympus is also - tried and true system and has the miracle of I inexpensive zoom lenses to reach to 600 mm equivalent and grab a bird in a tree.
Look up Robert Watchers extensive work here, taken in South American countries. His use of various “Pen” and Pro MFT Olympus bodies documenting ordinary street scenes and interior life is extraordinary. Without the “across the street” reach, this would not be possible. Nothing matches the lightweight practicality of the amazing MFT zooms for wildlife or reaching into a dark cafe from the street!
But in an interior or for landscape and cityscape views the Ricoh GR is THE pocket wonder that can’t be matched
Frankly, having both is a great idea and get a helper/wife friend to carry the other one and have fun too.
A brand new, old stock GR I or GRI II is still obtainable and either would be a perfect choice and super thrifty!
I used my GR I for years until dirt got in the sliding lens cover and jammed it closed!
Hmm, I will send it for repair!
Asher
