Recent rumours indicate there will be an announcement for the next generation Ricoh GR Digital that could be as soon as the end of July. These images of the rumored new GR Digital have been circulating around the Internet for some time. They look real but since they are from this Chinese website, the authenticity is suspect.
There are two versions of the back layout. The simple one is for the supposed GRD 10M version and the other one with additional buttons for user settings called GRX Digital 2. I don’t really care what the new GR Digital will look like or what features it will have. All I know is that I will be reserving one on the day of the announcement. After using my GR Digital for more than a year and a half and taking over 15,000 photos. I can still say that I would not choose any other pocket camera out there. My GRD has seen better days though. I lost the removable ring around the lens and the response of the motors seems to have gotten slower. I called the Ricoh Camera centre in Ginza and to get an estimate on having it refurbished but don’t want to be spending ¥20-30,000 when the new GRD is just around the corner. The guy I talked to confirmed that there were rumours but he wouldn’t confirm that the rumors were true. According to some forums, production of the GRD was discontinued on 7/4. The GRD and accessories for the GRD are being marked down and stores are clearing stock. This indicates that a new model may definitely be on coming out soon!! Can’t wait!
VERY interesting Roy but for me the Chinese link just opens to show a couple of forward slashes. Also the 2 pics showing the backs are of the same camera and not a comparison pair. Can you correct please? Thanks.
The World is waiting for a new GR!
Derek, I fixed that image once but it reverted back. Strange. Should be ok now. Let me know if you still see the same ones.
Thanks Roy.
It’s all being poo-poo’d by the DPReview Ricoh forum
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1013&message=23974189 as old news but no smoke without fire eh?
This version of the Chinese link should work. Note the date.
http://itbbs.pconline.com.cn/topic.jsp?tid=6869546&lastUpdate=04-11.09
Was in the Seoul Ricoh service center today and staff said the GR2 would be out sometime this fall (sorry, that’s all i could find out with my limited Korean). When i was there late last year they said that GR2 would be 10mb, have a zoom lens and be cheaper, so not sure if this became the GX100. I am suspicious of these chinese pics cos the GRX2 back looks way too crowded for a Ricoh and both have rubber grips, something I am sure will not be as they have already replaced them (in the back only) on the GX100 (which my friend bought a few days ago). Have not looked at another dica since I got my GR early last year, so am very interested to see it’s successor (hopefully with a faster lens & controllable flash).
pockette, yeah I agree that there are too many buttons on these images for a Ricoh. I’m not really concerned about what the new GR will look like since I know I will get it anyways. I just want to know when it will be coming out. End of the month announcement seems about right for a fall release.
Derek, yeah I knew those images have been around since April. I just decided to post them along with the other rumors I have been hearing.
Hi Roy, just wanted to say hello and found your blog site by chance via dpreview. I am scheduled to be in and around Tokyo this October for a few days, first time in Japan. Can you suggest some places to visit in Tokyo ? I am also thinking of getting the GX100 or with any luck, the new GR.
regards
Steven
Hello,
if it’s true, it’s really disappointing:
10 MP on a little sensor like the GX100…