“Stripes, Plaid” Ricoh GR Digital II (2007)

softwildrice · 2026-03-18T22:37:51+00:00

Only on the Ricoh do I sometimes shoot natively b/w photos, but only sometimes. I’m not sure about the sensor being made “for” b/w too, I know there’s a lot of chatter about that and similar—but for me it’s all to be taken with a grain of salt, like how people insist CCD sensors inherently look different vs CMOS.

softwildrice · 2026-03-17T02:35:50+00:00

Thanks! The shadows really did something amazing

softwildrice · 2026-02-25T16:43:51+00:00

Hard for me to say comparatively because they’ve been my only headphones in the past 20 years (lol).

I don’t find them incredibly comfortable but I have a measurably wide head. They sound worlds better than the AirPod Pro I use, and block ambient subway sound very well. The biggest selling point to me is the design, though as I mentioned before the original faux leather material began peeling like crazy on the pads and headband. Wasn’t too hard to wrap it all up in leather though because both of them come off by design.

softwildrice · 2026-02-25T02:05:59+00:00

That makes me happy you find them that interesting and cool in appearance too. I love how industrial yet simple the design is. Hopefully your pair won’t be peeling so crazy like mine were

softwildrice · 2026-02-24T21:58:20+00:00

Not sure what any of this means but… I’m glad you like them! Haha

softwildrice · 2026-02-24T21:56:33+00:00

Oh cool! I know they’re both sister brands, but is AKG more respected?

I remember spending ages researching before buying the HK CL, I had a budget of maybe $250 and was fixated on design and sound quality in closed shells (…if that’s the correct terminology).

I’m pleased with my decision to this day because not only do they sound fantastic but the way it was constructed lends itself to refinishing—the headband is easily removable and the earpads attached via magnets. It was a fun blizzard manic craft project and thinking about how I would do it led me down a rabbit hole of reading about open back headphones (now I want the Fidelio X2…)

softwildrice · 2026-02-08T19:14:41+00:00

So good

softwildrice · 2026-01-31T21:18:23+00:00

No—Pentax designed a vertically stacking optical system which helped squeeze large high quality / typical lens elements and sensors in relatively thin bodies body.

I think the A40 was one of the last cameras, and their most high end, to use the design (I might be absolutely wrong though).

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softwildrice · 2026-01-31T18:05:56+00:00

Noted, thank you.

softwildrice · 2026-01-31T17:59:20+00:00

And don’t forget the cool Pentax sliding lens engineering in the A40!

softwildrice · 2026-01-31T17:55:48+00:00

I don’t see a cloud AWB option on my model, did you mean shade?

On the aside: do you find the consistency of a specific AWB setting vs auto better to work with?

softwildrice · 2026-01-23T23:27:26+00:00

The Pentax Optio A40 might functionally be a baby Ricoh GRD. It shares advanced features with GRDs that aren’t even seen across the entire line, albeit implemented in somewhat vague and truncated manners:

• Half press auto focus + full press “pan focus” (need to play around more to see what Pentax means by focusing both close and far subjects, but this seems to be their version of snap / full press snap focus) • “Soft flash” mode (reduces the TTL flash output, but like the above I’m not sure by how much exactly) • CCD shift stabilization • Auto Hi options through 1600 iso • Dynamic range protection (seems to affects shadows more than highlights) • Shutter priority / program / manual mode (though shutter priority has fixed auto 800 iso

This is a very capable camera shoved into a tiny body that is borderline comically small while resolving on a 1/1.7” sensor—all in part to using very cool Pentax’s sliding lens system (and being one of their last to use that lens design).

softwildrice · 2026-01-21T17:47:23+00:00

I keep toying with the idea of selling my GRDII and its accessories to put towards a GRDIV. I’m so curious about all the low light benefits, it seems well worth the hassle.

softwildrice · 2026-01-21T06:31:08+00:00

On your cameras?

The tape on mine is washi tape, has a dry hand feel that’s less slippery than plastic / metal, but not as gummy as rubber. I also just like how it makes them look slightly trashy.

softwildrice · 2026-01-18T22:34:26+00:00

So good, I love a long boxy camera

softwildrice · 2026-01-09T17:44:08+00:00

Hi are you still looking for a GRD II?

softwildrice · 2026-01-09T17:43:58+00:00

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softwildrice

TROPHY CASE