Review: Ricoh GR D IV still a Great Camera!

Taken with new Ricoh GR (V)

Why am I doing a review of a discountinued camera? Aren't people still reviewing old and discontinued film cameras, like the Ricoh GR21? I know, the old Ricoh film GRs are pretty much all cult cameras, but I reckon the recently discontinued Ricoh GR D IV will become one too...one day soon. In addition, the GR D IV is now selling for $200-300 less than when it was a current model, and about half the price of the new GR V. So is the recently discontinued GR worth $400? It depends on your needs, but for me, I think it is, and this review is to explain why. Let's start with the pros and cons first:

PROS:
-high quality construction, solid buttons and dials, solid feel.
-well thought out controls and ergonomics (single handed operation)
-the most customizable point and shoot, more than most ILCs
-advanced control over camera functions (manual flash control, white balance compensation)
-advanced features (level and tilt with calibration, skew correct, dynamic range, interval composite)
-amazing 1.23 million pixel LCD screen. It's enjoyable just looking at your images.
-advanced focus system: dual AF system, snap focus, dual shutter focus-type selector
-great jpegs and DNG RAW files. Highly customizable jpegs.
-really good battery life, compact charger, cheap and generic batteries, AAA back-up
-sharp lens even wide open at F/1.9
-super close 1" macro mode. Perfect for product and food shots.
-truly pocket-able, unlike GR V, which is only slightly bigger,but just a bit too big (for me)

CONS:
-compared to big brother, small 1/1.7" CCD sensor (although there are advantages to small)
-VGA video (although for me, I could care less about video)
-expensive when it was a current model (although the price has dropped significantly)
-non zoom lens (although this is a matter of opinion. I'm fine with 28mm equiv for EDC camera)
-after turning on in play mode only, you can't jump into shooting mode. You have to cycle off! 

Keys to the Streets: Public Pianos Downtown

Taken with Fuji X-100S, ISO 400 @ 1/2000 sec  F/5.6

I was walking along a busy part of DT Vancouver and I heard a piano playing outside. I thought to myself that this guy must be a pretty hard core busker to drag a piano out into the street. After listening to his bluesy playing for a while, I asked him how he got the piano in the middle of the city. He told me it was one of many public pianos left out throughout the city. Anyone can play it, as long as you close the lid once you're finished, and you share if someone else wants to play. What a great idea. Supposedly this project has taken root in bigger cities throughout the USA and has made its way to Vancouver.

The project is called Keys to the Street and its hosted by City Studio, a non-profit organization committed to making Vancouver a Green City. I don't know what that means exactly, but I guess they want people out of cars and onto the street more and partake in community activities, such as playing music publicly. I think its a great idea. I know if they left guitars lying around, people would just take them, so a piano makes sense. What's next? How about a harp? A double bass? Will this be competition to professional buskers? Do they mind some free competition? I think there's enough space for everyone to play music publicly. Rock on Piano Man!

Image taken with the Fuji X-100S. Check out full review here.

A Red Guitar, Graffiti Alley and No Home

I was walking through graffiti alley looking for anything new since my last visit and I ran into James. Originally from Winnipeg, he hitched a ride on a freight train to Vancouver hoping to find work and a place to live. Unfortunately he found neither. I asked him if he could play me a tune, and he sloppily obliged with a one-handed riff.

Hanging out with his guitar and his cd player, he told me he just became homeless. Smelling strongly of alcohol, he asked if he could get some change to buy food. I told him I have a policy of buying something to eat instead of handing out money so he happily agreed. In fact, he stood up and started to dance...

An Accordionist, His Dog and a Little Boy

As a street photographer, I appreciate street artists. They are often colourful individuals, they're stationary (easier to get a few good shots), and if you contribute financially to their performance, they don't mind you taking pictures of them. This performer was an accordionist, a rarity in the world of buskers. I wanted to get a nice environmental shot with people passing by, so I backed up a bit. At the same time, a mother decided to send her young son to put money into the busker's old broken case. I noticed the dog acting very anxious, probably due to the anxiety of the little kid, not understanding the instructions of his mother of where to put the money...and that's when it happened!!

Preview: Canon G1X as Street Camera?

The Canon G1X is an unusual camera. It doesn't really fit into any category. Too big to be a point and shoot, but not versatile enough to be compared to most interchangeable lens system camera. What the G1X has is a huge 1.5" CMOS sensor, outperforming the micro 4/3 system cameras, and just slightly behind APS-C equipped cameras in terms of image quality. The lens is a modest 28-112mm F2.8-5.8, but it's better than most kit lenses on entry level interchangeable lens cameras. The autofocus is a bit better than most point and shoots, but not up to the level of most newer micro 4/3 and DSLR cameras.  The build quality is outstanding. It's a tank! The dials and buttons are super solid, built like an Canon L series lens or a single digit series Canon DSLR body . 

Jack White-esque Busker in Open G-flat

I couldn't help but notice the explosive sounds echoing off the tightly packed buildings as I got off my bus. This noise was rhythmic in bluesy fashion, but with a raw rage that is definitely descriptive of Jack White's guitar playing. With a block of wood and  his foot stomping as his percussion section, Brett was all business as he one-man-jammed along Granville Street in Vancouver. 

Store Review: Fortknight Men's Boutique

Guitars, fountain pens, shoe polish, pocket squares, shaving and drinking paraphernalia, handmade bags, wine barrels. What do they all have in common? They can all be found at Fortknight Men's Boutique in Gastown. Okay, maybe the wine barrels aren't for sale (or are they?) but everything else you can find here, and more.

Walking past his store window and looking in, I just had to go inside and see what this place was all about. I asked Tyler, as a retailer, how can he tie together all these seemingly dis-connected products and sell them under a single roof?  Sell a PRS guitar with a bottle of Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream? How about a made in  Austria decanter with a nice beeswax shoe polish from Paris? A Jet City guitar amp with a Graf von Fabre-Castell fountain pen? What was his retail theme? His answer was simple...

A Busker, the Blues, Boots and Pantera!

My wife had some shopping to do on Granville Island, so I decided to come along for the ride. We took a quick break at a small coffee shop and sat in front of this blues playing busker. Stomping on his guitar case with his big, black boots helped with the visual and audio effects of his guitar playing. What didn't match quite as much was his Pantera t-shirt!! I thought he made it work for himself though. I asked him after why he had a Pantera t-shirt on, and he said "because they're the greatest!" There you go. Never judge a musician on their musical taste. To each their own... Rock on Blues Man!!

Jimi Hendrix Mural in His Old Neighbourhood

Biking through the backstreets of Vancouver, I've been finding tons of murals in the most obscure places, mostly industrial and commercial zones. When did we start getting such cool murals here? I found this one just off Hastings and Clark in a heavy commercial-industrial zone.  I thought that painting the dumpster in a similar flower-power style was a nice touch, as the mural naturally flows down on to the dumpster (which in turn influenced the sprouting of real flowers in front of the dumpster perhaps?)

I knew I recognized the style of this graffiti artist on other murals, and so I started looking for some sort of artist's signature, and I noticed the below.........

 

Looking up the name Nomadizm, it led me to the Nomadic Alternatives website, which showcases his work, and prolific is an understatement!!  He's done album covers for K'Naan (you know the one with the camel?), KOS, Public Enemy, logo designs, and tons of murals around town.  Who is he? His name is Nelson Garcia, and he did this mural with the help of his wife Xochiltl. Watch this Youtube video interview and find out more about them, their philosophy, and their work.  

It really is a privilege that someone of this artistic caliber lives and works in our community, and has decided to give back to his city by expanding his canvas by doing murals on sides of buildings. And if you have a chance, take your bike and ride around town and explore the Strathcona area of Vancouver, and you too can view these incredible murals in person!!

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Basement Jam Session

If I had the opportunity I'd jam once a week, but alas I seem to only do it once or twice a year.  This was set up at a buddy's basement and we had a short but good time.  It was the perfect trio set-up: guitarist, bassist, drums. This is the ideal band line-up for me. Jimi Hendrix and the Experience, The Police, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, Rush, Primus, Wide Mouth Mason and many jazz trios as well. I only had my iPhone and it was very dimly lit, so the picture is very grainy and fuzzy looking, but you get a sense of the mood.  Hopefully we'll jam again.......next year!!

My Guitars Gently Weep

Haven't posted in a bit, so I thought I'd take a picture of some of my guitars that are hanging in a hallway that leads to the garage. Not the most glamorous place to be hanging, but it makes it easy for me to grab a guitar and practice every day. My favorite is the dark brown Ovation in the middle, as it was a wedding gift from my wife.... I was playing with it in a store and I just couldn't put it down, so my wife (then fiancee) bought it for me. When? Feb 22, 1998. Thanks babe.

I still can't put it down sometimes when I pick it up. You can tell I play it often by zooming in and looking at the space below the sound hole. Can you see my finger nail dust accumulating below the strings? Gross right? Sorry, but I do clean it once a week......

Shot with my DSLR and 35mm F1.4 lens.....

Japanese Bob Dylan Busking in Shinjuku

I love street musicians. I love the whole concept of it all. The guts it takes to throw yourself out there and try to win over someone's musical taste in like 5-10 seconds, or else they can just walk away. This fellow had this Bob Dylan type singer-songwriter vibe going, and his harmonica playing was really good!!

I was actually impressed, and this is coming from a huge Dylan fan, an avid guitarist, and singer-songwriter!! But did you notice something about the audience? I couldn't help but notice that every woman who passed by all gave him a chance.... I mean every woman. Every age group, every height, every fashion type, every hair colour. They all cranked their heads as they passed by. Not that he was ugly, but he was by no means a Brad Pitt. I think a guy holding a guitar and singing his heart out has a certain appeal to women? I don't know....

Day 22: I Dig Music

Some of the pictures I've taken reflect the things I enjoy: bike riding, eating, and obviously photography. Some pictures don't, like flowers and pets.....However, one of my biggest passions is actually music. If I had to give up all hobbies and only choose a single one, I'd say that music would be it. I love listening to music, I love playing music, I love writing music..... I dig music...... Anyway, finally, a music themed picture has made my blog.

I was visiting a newly re-opened cafe near my work, and owner clearly enjoys music as well. She has 3 guitars and a piano in her very small cafe, including guitar plectrums (aka picks) at the bottom of every glass sugar package holders at every table!! I quickly took this picture with very little thought to composition, although it worked out okay I think. You can see the over exposed picture of a guitar to the top left of the picture.

What drew me to take this picture was of course the piano, but I love the two Beatles' song books, which ended up being the focal point of the image. Notice the book cover is similar to the Let It Be album cover, but instead of 4 pictures of the John, Paul, George and Ringo on it, it's 4 pictures of screaming, crying fans. Way to sell the books.... weird cover choice for a song book.....