This machine claims to show your Ricoh GR right into a “broad format XPan”

Properly, I feel this needs to be the dumbest snake oil nonsense product I’ve seen to date this 12 months. Being offered by the “Ding ding dong crazybtplay Store” on AliExpress, these masks declare to show your Ricoh GR right into a Hasselblad XPan.

In fact, the declare is ridiculous. However, the product goals to allow you to see and shoot ultra-wide format panoramic pictures together with your Ricoh GR, GR II or GR III. It does this by putting a masks over your lens, basically cropping on the level of seize.

How does it work?

Primarily, there’s a base ring that sticks to your digicam and three magnetic masks. These masks connect to that ring to dam a part of the digicam’s view. Clearly, this doesn’t flip your GR right into a Hasselblad XPan. It doesn’t even flip it right into a digital model of the Hasselblad XPan. All it does is masks the digicam’s view. You’re nonetheless restricted by width to the 28mm full-frame equal focal size.

The precept is that it means that you can see an ultra-wide panoramic-style format composition in your LCD extra simply. In fact, on account of physics, these masks don’t present a stable, sharp masks. The pictures are nonetheless blurry on the perimeters the place the sting of the masks covers the body.

Additionally they don’t truly crop the picture file both. You continue to have to load every of your pictures into your picture modifying software program you utilize to crop them manually. From an modifying standpoint, nothing has modified. These do nothing however black out the highest and backside sections of your pictures with a blurry edge.

However, why?

As talked about, the purpose of the product is solely a compositional support. An support that wouldn’t be required if Ricoh offered the choice to overlay customized ultra-wide format composition masks on the LCD itself. Or in the event that they gave you the choice to specify a customized facet ratio overlay within the settings.

It’s not a horrible factor to need to have. Different cameras supply a number of facet ratios, and if you happen to’re related to an exterior monitor, you’re in a position to masks facet ratios often as much as about 2.35:1.

The Ricoh GR doesn’t have an HDMI output – and neither do the GR II or GR III – in order that’s not even an choice. However even when they did, strolling round with just a little compact digicam and an exterior monitor isn’t precisely a sensible resolution. It doesn’t make you all that inconspicuous when attempting to shoot road pictures – the first supposed use for the GR sequence cameras.

So, what’s the answer?

The apparent resolution to not waste $30 on these masks is to easily use a few items of tape. One covers the highest a part of the LCD, whereas the opposite covers the underside. This may provide the similar impact with out spending any cash.

Which means that you’re unable to see different essential parts on the LCD. Components like your publicity settings and the way a lot battery life is left. However, it does accomplish the identical purpose, compositionally talking.

In the event you don’t need to stick tape onto the again of your LCD, you can make your individual masks. All you’d have to do is lower out a round piece of paper. Then, lower a slit throughout the center and stick it on the lens. This, too, would obtain the identical impact.

However I’m going to return to my earlier “Purchase, why?” query. Positive, it’d assist to make your life just a little simpler if you happen to’re simply beginning out attempting to determine composing ultra-wide format pictures in your GR, however even with out these, studying to see that composition turns into second nature after just a little apply, even when viewing all the LCD.

Whichever methodology you utilize, you continue to should crop in submit, so I’m not likely seeing the purpose of this. It simply seems to be like one more pictures gimmick that shouldn’t be taken all that severely.

Worth and Availability

In the event you’re a Ricoh GR shooter that also desires to present these a strive, they’re obtainable to buy on AliExpress. They’re listed as having a daily value of $30 however they’re at present on sale for $23.21.

It ought to be famous that the “machine” has not been no the Ricoh GR IIIx (buy here), which has an extended 40mm full-frame equal discipline of view.

[via Pentax Rumors]