Small size, high degree of controlability, excellent optics, rugged construction, lens hood.

Distortion at the edges, esp corners.
A bit slower than pure point and shoot camers.
Manual focus option is a bit tricky to use.
Lens hood fitting is not secure enough.

If you need a carry camera, want fine optics, some controlability of exposure and focus, and don't want to pay Leica prices, this is it. I am really pleased with the sheer quality of the photos, and I do know about lens testing. Maybe there is some variability in quality, because others have queried the lens, but mine is sharp.
You need to work within the limits of the camera, and take a bit of time and thought over your photos, but if you do, you can take great pictures.

Customer Service

Not needed yet

Similar Products Used:

Contax T, Olympus XA,

easy to use, compact, great len, accurate metering

the flash is too weak

I'd longed for a compact camera for years. Without compromising the quality was the paramount factor. After a period of research, I finally made up my mind to buy a GR-1. Obviously, my choice is correct. Great color retention, accurate metering and flexible manual control are the values of GR-1. Though the flash is weak, I don't find it as a big problem because I'm interested in lshooting landscapes. All in all, I like the F.28 which can allow me to shoot in low light conditions & 28mm len very much.

Customer Service

/

Similar Products Used:

Olympus MjuII,
Fuji Super Mini Zoom
Olympus Zoom 105

Size and weight.
Stylish and simple looks.
As easy or as flexible as required.

Limited to 28mm wide angle shots - lots of pavement if you're not careful!

I've had it for 2 years and really like it; I've taken mainly outdoor shots, but also people and events. It's superb for close-up people shots, but you have to compose carefully outdoors. With the right film and good processing (try monochrome!) the results are excellent. Will maybe now add a Leica C1 for longer shots (though sacrificing control over aperture and/or speed).

Customer Service

OK in the UK.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax compact, Rollei 35LED.

Super-small and light. Discrete and quiet. Optically spot-on. Great manual overide features. Did I mention how small it is??? NOT APS!!!

No red-eye reduction.

This is a little beauty. I do a lot of travel photography and I generally load the GR-1 with Fuji 800 neg film (press grade) and use it wherever it's not alowed. The optics are fantastic, the metering even better. Loaded with Velvia, I've have published shots in Lonely Planet books (don't tell them). It constantly impresses me. Free yourself, keep a GR-1 on your hip - you won't regret it!!!

Customer Service

Ok.

Similar Products Used:

Other pathetic compacts that frustrate me!

Ultra compact design
sturdy magnesium body
beautiful lens

clumsy autofocus
noisy operation

The size of this camera and its unassuming nature are without peer. The lens is beautiful, but difficult to get consistent shots. Operation is on the crude side copared to the higher end P/S cameras. I sold it for the 35TI, which gives me far better/more consistent results. But I still miss that tiny size. and when I did get occasional
great results, they were as good as anything out there. Lack of Ricoh support may be a downside.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon TIContax T2

Titanium body, ultra slim size. User-selectable aperture, EV control can let me achieve the overexposure desired on color negative film.

Doesn't live up to the hype. Brand new purchase arrived with defective shutter release, and had to be serviced while Ricoh was bailing out of the U.S. market.

Not the camera I expected. Durable, yes. But I don't see the overpowering strength of the GR lens in photos I've taken. Pictures are sharp, but not sharper than my T4's results. And even with practice, I find theGR-1's autofocus more of a challenge than it ought to be. If I'm going to have to refocus before I get a decent lock, then what makes this camera superior to a 25-year old Olympus XA rangefinder? I wanted the 28 mm lens, but I'm thinking I could sell this GR-1, track down an Olympus XA4 and A16 flash, change the light seals, and have more control than the GR-1 really offers. I keep trying, but the GR-1 isn't the head-and-shoulders winner its fans proclaim.

Customer Service

All through the dealer. Wouldn't want to try to deal with Ricoh directly.

Similar Products Used:

Yashica T4, Olympus XA. Olympus Stylus Epic. Canonet GIII QL17.

Size and Construction

No Support in USA

A nice little camera, I purchased one after reading some flattering reviews. It is nice but the lens did not perform up to my expectations. I found it did not perform to Leica Minilux or T2 optics. I know it's cheaper but if I am going to carry a P/S for grab shots I want to know the camera will give me what I want. This one did not so I have since sold it. Also what happens when something goes wrong? Ricoh who...

Customer Service

What? Where? Who?

Similar Products Used:

Leica, Contax

Tiny size and weight,
Magnesium body, Leather case, choice of aperture

Manual not so great. How long will the film advance motor last?

I bought this after reading the many positive reviews. I also was interested in having a durable metal-bodied camera, but the Nikon Ti28 cost way too much. I am very pleased with the GR1. It takes a short learning curve to get used to it before you notice how great its pictures are form a standpoint of sharpness and color rendition. I found that I can get great "people" pictures buy centering the lens on the subject, that is, if you take a head to toe shot center the lens at the subject's waist. This reduces the distortion of the 28mm lens. I also got some great pictures of a Pompeii museum exhibit using a 2.8 aperture setting since flash was not allowed. Also the camera is so tiny people barely knew I was taking pictues. It is also great for pictures of buildings, airshow displays, and autos. Its motor got real noisy one time but seems to be good now. That is my only complaint and I would like to see this camera with manual advance like my Olympus XA2. The auto focus on the GR1 is one modern thing that makes it a pleasure to use compared to the hard to focus XA2. The XA2 also has a horrible shutter button imho. It is too bad that this camera is not being imported/marketed here as of now but it must have had a very limited market here. It really is like a micro-sized Leica for a reasonable price.

Customer Service

Haven't needed any

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Freedom Zoom Explorer, Olympus XA2

Very compact and easy to carry; durable metal construction, adustable controls, sharp lens. Fast focus and exposure compared to many other P&S.

No US support. 28mm has DoF advantages but also have to be careful about distorted images.

I wanted a camera to carry when "I didn't want to carry a camera" that also would produce "good" quality photos; didn't care for the boxy, plastic T-4/5 that is more of a shoulder bag camera than pocket camera - the GR-1s fits the need exactly. Produces amazingly good results indoors without flash. Viewers should note that this review listing contains lots of laughable comments bemoaning the GR-1 compared to $3000 Leica M6 outfit or contax/leica P&S costing 2-4 times as much. I don't expect EOS1 results from a $300 pocket size P&S and consider the GR-1s a good value for its limited purpose.

Customer Service

Haven't needed any.

Similar Products Used:

Rollei P&S, various Olympus P&S

Great lens with high contrast and low distortion. Intuitive and easy to use. Great to have programed and aperature priority exposure in a point and shoot. Truly pocket size.

Buttons are hard to use. Cheesey lens cover for retracting lens. As usual red eye doesn't work. I wish they would leave this off cameras.

Quality of pictures on par with my G1, but not as many features as G1 (Obviously). Beats the pants off of any P&S I have used. Only downside is that don't have any lens options, but heah this is a P&S. I CARRY THIS EVERYWHERE AND AM GUARANTEED A GOOD SHOT (Of course minus composition flaws due to the photographer)

Customer Service

Have not needed

Similar Products Used:

Contax G1, Minolta 7000i, Pentax 105D, Cannon 120 Classic