RICOH GR 21mm (L39)
Review and Photo example Ricoh GR 21mm(L39).
Table of contents
Gallery
- Digital photo examples taken with LEICA M8
Review
The GR 21mm is one of the lenses released by RICOH for the Leica L39 screw mount.
This lens was sold experimentally in L39 mount as a prelude to the release of the GR 21mm film camera.
The lens configuration is the same as the film GR 21mm, but it’s interesting that you wouldn’t think so when you look at how compact a film camera is. I think the reason why the lens is large is because of the new focus ring for manual focus, aperture ring, and a function linked to the Leica L/M rangefinder.
When using the GR 21mm as a full-frame 35mm lens, there is severe vignetting, but when used with the example LEICA M8, the unique periphery is cut off and it becomes a fairly normal lens. I feel that the lens has a high degree of perfection due to its high resolution in the center and low distortion.
I used it about five years after its release, so the lens was solid, the helicoid was smooth, and the aperture ring clicked into place, making it easy to operate.
Although it is a 21mm wide-angle lens, the front and rear bokeh is smooth, and it is a lens that can produce flawless photos at any shooting distance. However, as long as I used the LEICA M8 with film, the highlights were not sticky and I had to be careful with exposure. I feel like the latest camera in 2023 will be able to save a lot of money by expanding the dynamic range, but since the resolution is higher, there is a concern that the roughness of the lens will be visible.
The lens has a brightness of F3.5 even when the aperture is wide open, but if you use ISO400 film, you can take decent night shots. As of 2024, it is out of print, but in the 2000s, ISO400 reversal film was sold.
The GR 21mm has entered the 2020s, and more than 20 years have passed since its manufacture, making it a second-hand item. There are some cases where there are problems with basic parts of the lens, such as cloudy lenses, broken balsam, and rattling of the lens barrel. A conscientious used camera store will probably have a note to that effect, but I feel that you need to be careful when dealing with individuals. I don’t know the actual transaction price, but the price tag is bullish and I’m afraid.
I liked the GR21 among the L39 mounts because it produced unique images, but I ended up selling it because it had the same role as the cheaper Color Skoper 21mm and CONTAX G 21mm L mount modifications. As mentioned above, it is an old lens, so I have no intention of acquiring it again and using it.
The complete product comes with a square hood, 21mm finder, and focus lever.
In particular, the focus lever was rarely worn and no one used it, so it is often out of stock unless it is in a dead stock box.
Attached with the Zeiss Ikon
Specification
| Items | GR 21mm | GR 28mm | |
| Focal length(mm) | 21 | 28 | |
| Max aperture | 3.5 | 2.8 | |
| Min aperture | 22 | 16 | |
| Leaf blade | 10 | ← | |
| Lens Construction | 9elements in 6groups | 7elements in 4groups | |
| Min distance(m) | 0.5 | 0.7 | |
| Lens length(mm) | 25.5 | 23 | Distance from L-mount surface |
| Max diameter(mm) | 49.5 | 49.5 | Excluding focus knob |
| Filter Size(mm) | 40.5 | 40.5 | |
| Weight(g) | 200 | 180 | Taken from the reference link |
| Production numbers | 1700 (Black: 700) (Silver: 1000) | 3000 (Black: 1000) (Silver: 2000) | |
| Release date | 1999 | 1997 | |
| Price(Yen/No-tax) | 115,000- I think it was, but no source. | 98,000- |
Reference links
- Mapcamera Introduction article
- Leica Lenses of the World Part2 (P104,P106) Japanese Lens Introduction Book
Update history
- 2024.02.23
- 2023.10.15+
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