Ricoh GXR A16 24-85 mm: Canon G1 X Alternative?

Although you'd be forgiven for forgetting it still exists, the Ricoh GXR system is still alive and kicking with new modules released from time to time. After a 28-300 mm superzoom module and one for Leica M-mount lenses, Ricoh has outed a new module—the A16 24-85 mm—with an APS-C sensor and a powerful zoom.

A large-format sensor, a motorised zoom, a beefy body from the Lada school of design ... no, we're not talking about the Canon G1 X, but the GXR A16 24-85 mm, Ricoh's latest camera presented not long after sister company Pentax outed the K-01.

Strictly speaking, though, it's not a 'new camera', as the A16 24-85 mm is actually a new module for Ricoh's GXR system—a camera back onto which can be loaded various interchangeable modules containing both a lens and a sensor. Ricoh has released modules with a large-format sensor and a 28 mm fixed-focus lens, a 50 mm macro lens or an M mount, as well as modules with a small sensor and 24-72 mm or 28-300 mm lens. The A16 24-85 mm is therefore the first module with a large sensor and a zoom lens.

The sensor used in this module is new too, however, as instead of the 12-Megapixel sensor previously used in Ricoh's modules (and seen in the likes of the Nikon D5000 and Pentax K-r), the new module uses a 16-Megapixel APS-C (no doubt the excellent model used in the Nikon D7000, Pentax K-5 and Sony NEX-5N). However, Ricoh is still sticking to 720p video.

The lens has an equivalent focal range of 24-85 mm with aperture worthy of an SLR kit lens: f/3.5 at wide angle and f/5.5 at telephoto. The zoom is motorised so there's unfortunately no mechanical ring.

We just can't help but compare this camera with the Canon G1 X—the first compact camera to use a large-format sensor and a zoom lens. Canon's model is a fair bit slimmer when switched off, as the GXR with this new module is almost 95 mm thick. It's a little taller too, but it does have a viewfinder (even if it could be better quality) and a swivel screen.

The Ricoh camera has a bigger sensor and a better wide-angle (24 mm compared with 28 mm) than the G1 X, but Canon's camera boasts a focal length of 112 mm compared with 85 mm for the Ricoh. The GXR module has a few nice extra features too, like an option to lock the focus and bypass the autofocus to take a picture more quickly.

For those of you who already own a GXR back, the A16 24-85 mm module will set you back around £450. Otherwise, a kit with the GXR body and the new module will sell for £600.