Hi Bob,
We both have the GXR and NEX-7. Do you see the 12 MP difference?
The Ricoh files always surprise me in crispyness and sharpness, but one have to really experience it in the bigger prints.
Somehow especially your first photograph of the pond strikes me as crisper then the ones in the NEX thread about the same subject.
Kind regards,
Michiel
Hi Michiel,
There is a suprising amount of sharpness in the GXR that is not at first apparent in the NEX-7. Easily seen in the raw file however it does not always pan out as being the better file...depending upon subject matter. And both of those NEX files are hard to evaluate ... one too far away the other .... poor focus point. I have added a couple more in that thread in order not to cross post - these show a bit more detail for sharpness...tree reflection in water in one and perhaps the far bank in the other. I tend not to oversharpen and personally think the second GXR picture borders on too crisp.
The resolution overall of the NEX-7 does not just give a bigger file...it seems to have somewhat more subtle tonality and is a more robust file with regards to PP in my eyes. The Ricoh has such sharpness and good color that little is needed...but beware pushing the file much as it tends to breakdown a bit more quickly.
Initially I felt I would be dropping the NEX cameras in favor of the GXR but after a trip to the coast and this recent wooded scene I feel somewhat more strongly in favor of the NEX. The subtle tones and DR of the NEX-7 are very surprising...street scenes do not usually have enough high frequency visuals to see it...need a big expanse of water, hills, trees etc.
YES the NEX-7 menus are unbelievable ... poorly designed but once you configure the programmable buttons you rarely need them while shooting. I treat the camera like an ALPA TC....on a monopod set distance on lens (MF Lenses) and then fine tune with magnification on critical elements. Once the scale is set you rarely need to redo it for a given setting.
Please understand that the GXR is not going away...it will see a lot of time for evening, travel, portraits etc...
NOW if the Fuji X100 would just get a decent manual focus mode and peaking...great lens wonderful bokeh and colors and fabulous sharpness.
The main weakness of the NEX-7 is color cast....I have learned how to correct in RAW without a reference file to a great extent so it is now a lesser issue. And the NEX file takes a fair amount of capture and output sharpening without becoming too brittle.
Glad that I have them both...wish the GXR would upgrade sensor and screen.
Bob