Blue and Red

GRD II, f2.8, 1/160, ISO 100, RAW

Last day in Budapest and hottest day so far, just doing some walking around the shops and visiting the Parliment. A very nice touch is that you can get in for free if you have a EU passport, other EU countries should take an example of this.
Took this picture on Vaci utca, the main shopping street. They had their portraits drawn and he saw me when I took a picture from further away and was no too happy. Moved in closer to get this shot after which he gesticulated with his hand and started smiling. Street photography is fun since he reactions of people can be quite unexpected and sometime it is nice to let people see that you take a picture.

Color in Budapest

GRD II, f2.4, 1/40, ISO 80, RAW

GRD II, f6.3, 1/250, ISO 80, RAW, 40mm

Ok, I break my rule again of posting only one picture per day but I could not decide between those two and I needed some color on my pictures from Budapest. Ok, the first picture might not be full of color and more b&w but it does have some color ;).
I really like the mood in the first picture and the symmetry in the second picture, I chose a slower shutter speed for it since I wanted minimal motion blur in it.
Budapest is a very nice place with great food and great architecture, there is a lot to see and a lot to take pictures of. The biggest issues it has is with graffitti everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE in the city and no bike lanes means you have to dodge bikes all the time.
As for my camera comparisons I have to say that even with all annoyances the GRD II is still the better camera. I used it more simply because the IQ is better, it is faster, more responsive and the screen is great. The screen must be one of the best I have seen in cameras but this also brings the biggest issue along. When reviewing pictures on it (or the jpgs on the UMPC) I could not help but notice how good and crisp the GRD I, GX and GX100 images look (even on their own screens) and how disapointed I was when looking at the GRD II images. The jpgs are really bad and completely useless, especially in low light. Where I have no problems using the GRD I up to ISO 1600 and use the jpg after running it through Noise Ninja it is impossible on the GRD II.
Another most annoying thing is that the screen on the GRD II freezes when focusing (yes, exactly like the crappy screen on the DP1) but for some strange reason only when in spot or multi AF and when there is daylight. Let me explain, the screen does not freeze in low light (and the GRD II focuses very fast and accurate in low light) nor does it freeze when focusing in a room in daylight as long as you don't point it to the window. At the same time it freezes when used in the shade outside even if there is no bright light visible. Ricoh needs to address this since it obviously does not need to freeze since it does not do it all the time. This should not happen and I criticised the DP1 for it and will criticize the GRD II even more since I expect better from Ricoh.

Shoes on the Danube Bank

GRD, f2.4, 1/760, ISO 100, JPG b&w, 40mm

"The composition entitled 'Shoes on the Danube Bank' gives remembrance to the people shot into the Danube during the time of the Arrow Cross terror. The sculptor created sixty pairs of period-appropriate shoes out of iron. The shoes are attached to the stone embankment, and behind them lies a 40 meter long, 70 cm high stone bench. At three points are cast iron signs, with the following text in Hungarian, English, and Hebrew: "To the memory of the victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944-45. Erected 16 April 2005."

This was quite a striking image and a shot I had to take with the GRD I for the b&w quality. I know I said it before but it is in my opinion the best you can get from any camera and this shot needed to be in b&w for me to work. I used the 40mm lens and the lens wide open to get a shallow DOF but overdidi it slightly with the contrast and had to pull back the highlights to give the water more texture.
I know, I have posted only b&w pictures from Budapest but I promise tomorrow's picture will be in color ;).

Steaming Hot

GRD II, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 100, RAW, 40mm

Took this picture while walking in the castle in Budapest with the GRD II and the 40mm lens.
Been using the GRD II and I mainly with the 40mm adapter lens or standard 28mm. Here unlike Tokyo I did no make much use of the 21mm lens since I generally did not need such a wide angle, people were further away and buildings not as tall. I really like the possibility to use the 40mm or 21mm adapter lenses on the GRD II. The only downside is that it does take some time to swap the lenses around and this is where the GX100 shines and especially since it has a longer reach. The downside is that at 28mm or 50mm the GX100 lens is not as fast so it struggles in low light.
The old GX got some use with the 85mm end of the zoom but overall was too much to carry around every day so stayed in the hotel on most days. It is a very nice camera overall and I would like to use it more but it simply can not match the GRDs and it's too bulky to carry around most of the time.
What I found out is that I took most picturs with the camera I had in my hand. I just made the camera I had out work for the shot as good as possible. The GRD I came out when I needed a "perfect" b&w image, the GR1 when the batteries on the GRDs were dying or for more calculated shots, the GX (when available) when a longer reach was needed and the GRD II when speed of operation, good colors and ease of use. The GX100 performed in all instances vey well and would make a great compromise between these cameras if only the lens were a f2-f2.4 or constant f2.8 lens. It is very versatile though and produces some very nice images.

View over Budapest

GRD II, f2.4, 1/30, ISO 228, RAW, 40mm

Don't worry, I have not stopped pestering you with my daily rubbish and pics. And nothing happened to me or my cameras, all 4 are well off and take pictures ;). Had to abandon my weekly theme since I went on a surprise trip to Budapest. This made it difficult to post on time. All pictures will be uploaded as soon as I get to it but latest on Wednesday when I'm back. Will also post my experiences from the trip and with using my 4 cameras and a GX100 at times.