St. Louis Art Fair 2025 & Additions to the Family

I picked up a couple new cameras this weekend, with one contributing some images below: the Ricoh GRIIIx HDF and in the opposite direction, a Pentax 6x7 MLU.

I think I’ll skip the EXIF data for these two iPhone shots.

I added a rubberized case and a small metallic thumb grip to the GRIIIx that fits in the hot shoe—although I also ordered a 3D printed waist level viewfinder which mounts to that shoe (the flange you see at the camera’s top left), and I imagine will spend more time there. The Ricoh GR series is based on an APS-C sensor (Advanced Photography System-Cropped), which is smaller than the traditional 35mm forma. The equivalent focal length of its fixed lens is 40mm in 35mm format, and the HDF stands for Highlight Diffusion Filter.

My first film camera. This particular model was most likely made in the mid 70s, and features a small button on the left of the lens mounts that allows for MLU (mirror lock-up). I put a full roll of Kodak 100 Ektar through it at the fair today—ten exposures. I braced for a whole new workflow but other than getting used to manual focus I felt at home right away. I love the way the controls feel, the grid in the prism viewfinder, the heft and sturdiness.

50mm | f/3.5 | 1/16000 | ISO 1250

50mm | f/11 | 1/2000 | ISO 5000

50mm | f/8| 1/2000 | ISO 500

50mm | f/8 | 1/800 | ISO 250

40mm | f/8 | 1/200 | ISO 200 (shot on the GR IIIx)

I edited these the same as I do the shots from the Canon R6ii, but you can tell there’s difference in the inherent color profiles between their sensors. At least to my eye the profile runs slightly cooler and even though there’s no filter on, the light in general seems softer.

40mm | f/7.1 | 1/200 | ISO 200. (shot on the GRIIIx)

40mm | f/10 | 1/200 | ISO 200

40mm | f/5.6 | 1/500 | ISO 200