Spencer Platt: Ricoh GR digital
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U.S. News asked seven top photographers to choose the compact digital camera they like best.
Agency: Getty
Notable award: World Press Photo award
Favorite compact camera: Ricoh GR digital
"My favorite camera at the moment, besides the Canons that I use for everyday news photography, is the Ricoh GR digital. This is the digital version of a film camera that had a cult following among some photo enthusiasts. The camera has a fixed 28-mm lens, which is a complete novelty in small compact digital cameras. Why is it a bit pricey for what you get? It is possibly the most aesthetically pleasing digital camera on the market. I find myself constantly having to let people play with it.
"The most important element for me is that it is small and I can move around relatively unnoticed with it. The auxiliary viewfinder is wonderful and only enhances its classic design. While grain is certainly a problem with any image over 200 ISO, you need to accept the limitations and not let them get between you and your subject. There seems to be this penchant among many photographers for finding the perfect digital camera, when they should just embrace what is out there and use the flaws to their advantage. The beauty about this camera is how there is simply no excuse to never have it on you. For someone like me who spends his weekdays working as a wire service photographer, there is a tendency to put the camera down when you are off. The Ricoh GR has reignited my passion for street photography and images that arise from the most banal situations. I never leave home without this little machine. My concern is that they will be discontinued as I can't believe the market is that large for them."
Price check: Andorama and Amazon, $579.95