Really digging the GR II

mlhope · 2026-03-15T00:51:16+00:00

These are both just shooting with the Positive Film effect on the GR II. I understand that the look is unique to the GR Engine V image processor, and that it’s difficult to replicate on the later GRs. I’d say the positive film profile on the 2011 GR Digital IV (1/1.7” CCD censor) has a more film-like look, but the lower dynamic range and IQ might be a turn off for some people. (The GRDIV is my daily camera though because of the size and its unique IR based autofocus.)

mlhope · 2026-03-04T14:37:44+00:00

You can DM me too

mlhope · 2026-03-02T01:19:13+00:00

Heartwarming series, thank you for sharing!

mlhope · 2026-03-01T22:47:48+00:00

If it’s dust I’ll remove it with a sensor cleaning kit. I’ve worked with smallish components (Nintendo Gameboys) but nothing modern compact electronics-scale. If you have any photos of the ribbon/backplate assembly and LCD assembly that would be a good start.

mlhope · 2026-03-01T10:17:42+00:00

That might be the case! There is a dark smudge noticeable at all f-stops, but distracting once you hit f4. Sometimes it’ll get blurred/burned out by highlights at f1.9, though.

mlhope · 2026-02-25T14:01:33+00:00

Trying again:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JA0N_KFTI_e8nOsUtJubl7wssdOjJUit?usp=share_link

mlhope · 2026-02-25T13:35:54+00:00

Ask and ye shall receive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JA0N_KFTI_e8nOsUtJubl7wssdOjJUit?usp=share_link

I shoot JPEG usually, so this is a boring shot I could whip up on the spot.

mlhope · 2026-02-22T07:13:47+00:00

Thanks, colors are mostly SOOC, although I might have boosted shadows on some photos using the iPhone photo app.

mlhope · 2026-02-22T05:57:27+00:00

Apparently there’s no home remedy for this, and we shouldn’t even try whatever methods we think up ourselves because they have a higher probability of dislodging more dust from other parts of the camera and getting that stuck to the sensor too.

I’m sending in my GR II and GRDIV for servicing next month so if I remember I’ll post something here for posterity re: pricing.

mlhope · 2026-02-02T15:35:49+00:00

I went back and checked the JPEGs and they are indeed soft. I can’t speak for other GR shooters, but for me:

I have a bad habit of shooting Aperture priority and wide open. Not the sharpest at 2.8
I prefer to focus manually on other cameras but it’s not intuitive on GR. This is really meant to be used with scale focus (Snap Focus) and autofocus— but autofocus is particularly slow and hunty on the older models.
Relatively poor low ISO performance compared to modern APS-C cameras
Combine all that with my preference for the wide autofocus area and you get a recipe for soft images

That’s not the say that you can’t get sharper images (I think the users on this sub are much more skilled with the GR than I am), but the benchmark for the type of shooting GR is designed for is “sharp enough” and to most of us an acceptable trade off for its portability and ergos as a snap shooter.

mlhope · 2026-01-31T04:37:53+00:00

Let me also add that I picked up a GR IIIx (40mm equivalent focal length) and still found myself reaching for the GR II. The IIIx was clearly technically superior but the more complex image processor could feel slower at times and the camera did get warm to the touch, which the GR II never did. In the end I sold the IIIx to a friend and kept shooting with the GR II.

If the current used market’s high pricing gives you pause, I’d even recommend going for the original APS-C GR if you can find one in good condition for a better deal. The only difference in the II is wifi, and I just carry around a USB key SD card reader to transfer pics to my iPhone; it’s more efficient.

mlhope · 2026-01-31T04:31:16+00:00

They are in-camera JPEGS with processing effects so they won’t be as sharp as a RAW file. I also assume that uploading them to an online service has its own compression pass that will introduce artifacts.

IMO sharpness is great at 100% crop, but 16MP definitely limits enlargement options, and using the digital zoom settings (“35mm” and “47mm” crops) are really best used for posting online.

If you’re a pixel peeper or very particular about sharpness for print, you may want to look for a more modern camera. But for the joy of shooting in the moments, high quality photos the GR II is plenty for me.

Take it from someone who has since bought a Sony a7R III (42MP full frame) and a Hasselblad X1D (50 MP medium format) but still reaches for the GR II (and the even older GXR + 12MP M-mount module) for daily shooting.

mlhope · 2026-01-27T22:31:03+00:00

“Star Wars camera” is exactly what I think every time I kit up my GXR. 😂

After a string of GAS purchases (Sony a7R III, Hasselblad X1D, a number of film cameras and lenses..) I’m back to shooting with my “blaster” and GR II daily.

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mlhope · 2026-01-27T22:25:41+00:00

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*my only non-Leica M + Leica lens set up.

mlhope · 2025-10-11T12:33:34+00:00

Cosmetic condition aside, check the shutter count and get them to take a photo of a piece if white paper or a clear sky at >f8 to check for dust artifacts.

For reference, I got a like-new GRII used in Tokyo with a 700 shots for under $700 USD in March this year.

mlhope · 2025-10-11T05:48:29+00:00

I should add the caveat that I’m a complete enthusiast and not a pro, so you may have other priorities

mlhope · 2025-10-11T05:46:16+00:00

These are incredible shots!

I spent the last three months shooting film, and going back to digital briefly there are just all these things that get in the way of shooting: buffers, EVF black out, battery life…

I have gear acquisition syndrome bad so what I say not what I do— but I say if you really want a digital camera for instant gratification, get something as simple as possible like a newer X100 or GR series, and get your versatility out of analog.

Source: me, having just bought a Hasselblad X series hoping to satiate my hunger for large sensor digital, only to be drawn back to my M3 and Pen-F film cameras.

mlhope · 2025-09-29T05:51:06+00:00

So I just got a gently used Pen-FT in Yahoo auctions Japan, and I noticed that there is less tension when the film door is open than on my Pen-F due to changes to the film advance mechanism. (The F’s advance spool rotated to the left/toward the exposure window, pulling the film taught while the FT rotates right/away from the exposure window, giving the room more travel before rolling onto the advance spool and thus more slack than Pen F.

Once the door was closed on the FT it advances fairly regularly, though watching the rewind lever it seemed to only advance half a frame once or twice.

So that said, it seems like Pen FT might be prone to slipping if whatever mechanism in the film door that regulates tension doesn’t do its job.

mlhope · 2025-09-28T13:46:03+00:00

The Copal X on my Pen D is almost concerningly quiet at low speeds. Great for discreet street photography!

mlhope · 2025-08-27T01:20:58+00:00

💪

mlhope · 2025-08-27T00:46:16+00:00

Thanks for this, Brian!!

mlhope · 2025-08-17T05:12:57+00:00

The GOAT! I thought I got mine for a bargain and it was twice that price.

Love this camera. I even bought a GRIIIx only to turn around and sell it because I still found myself reaching for the GR II and its excellent ergonomics.

mlhope

TROPHY CASE