Ricoh GR Wide Angle Adaptor (GW-3): Out of the Box Impressions

Yes, I am really enjoying the new GR. It easily fits in the messenger bag I tote back and forth to work, it fits in a jacket pocket and it fits in my jersey pocket when cycling. Some of the recent additions though go against one of the GR’s greatest strengths, its compact size. I’m OK with that on occasion and it’s nice to have the option to strip it down whenever needed. On this rainy evening my wife and I took a drive over to the local camera shop and picked up the GW-3 Wide Conversion Lens. It has a conversion factor of 0.75 so the 28mm lens becomes equivalent to a 21mm fov when attached. I’m pretty happy at 35mm, 28mm is a little stretch, but 21mm is definitely out of my comfort zone, but there are some advantages to shooting street photography at 21mm. On first impression I was surprised how heavy the lens is and once attached it does make the GR a little front heavy. Here are a few photos of what it looks like mounted.

Front view of the GW-3 conversion lens attached to the Ricoh GR.
Front view of the GW-3 conversion lens attached to the Ricoh GR.
It adds about the same amount of bulk as the GH-3 hood, but of course is much heavier than adding the hood.
It adds about the same amount of bulk as the GH-3 hood, but of course is much heavier than adding the hood.
Another view of the GW-3 conversion lens.
Another view of the GW-3 conversion lens.
Not sure what I think of the rubber hood yet.
Not sure what I think of the rubber hood yet.

Based on a few around-the-house photos I am impressed that a relatively inexpensive conversion lens would give you such good quality. Photos posted have been corrected for exposure, color and distortion in Lightroom.

Since we were already at the camera shop I thought I'd pick up a few extra packs  of Fuji Instax 210 Wide film.
(Shot with Ricoh GR and GW-3 Wide Conversion Lens) Since we were already at the camera shop I thought I’d pick up a few extra packs of Fuji Instax 210 Wide film.
(Shot with Ricoh GR and GW-3 Wide Conversion Lens) Two egg ham and cheese omelet coming up.
(Shot with Ricoh GR and GW-3 Wide Conversion Lens) Two egg ham and cheese omelette coming up.
(Shot with Ricoh GR and GW-3 Wide Conversion Lens) Two egg omelet coming up.
(Shot with Ricoh GR and GW-3 Wide Conversion Lens) These local eggs have rich dark yokes and taste great.
Titanium, carbon and rubber, a great combination.
(Shot with Ricoh GR and GW-3 Wide Conversion Lens) Titanium, carbon and rubber, a great combination.

Below is an uncorrected DNG file. The distortion is pretty easy to see here, but is corrected with a couple clicks and takes just a few seconds. 20141011-R0000837

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