Cristian Sorega has an enlightening series of comparisons between the Ricoh GRD I, GRD II, GX100, and Panasonic LC1 over at Ricoh GR-Diary. Check it out if you're interested in any of these cameras but especially if you're wondering how the GRD I and GRD II compare.

Links:
GRD I vs GRD II - Teaser no. 1
Black and White Comparison
RE
Color Comparison - Part 1
Color Comparison - Part 2

Ricoh has an admirable record of issuing firmware updates that add new features to released products. Today, Ricoh released the version 2.10 firmware update for the GR Digital II, which adds the following features:

• [Correcting the White Balance in Shooting Mode]
You can set the white balance correction manually in the shooting mode.
• [Correcting the White Balance in Playback Mode]
You can compensate the white balance in a captured image manually.
• [WB Correct] for [ADJ Lever Set. 1/2/3/4] and [Function Button]
You can register the [WB Correct] in an ADJ lever setting and the Fn button.
• [Detailed Information Display in Playback Mode]
You can see the WB comp. value and the image setting value in the display.
• [Auto Aper. Shift] in Aperture Priority Mode
You can have the Auto Aperture shift feature in the A mode.
• [Reduction Image Noise]
You can choose a noise reduction option depending on the ISO sensitivity.
• [ISO Sensitivity Display]
The ISO sensitivity is displayed at your half-pressing the shutter release button, when you set [AUTO] or [AUTO-Hi] in the ISO sensitivity.

A bug fix is also included with the update:
• With the [AutoRotate] is enabled (ON), if a playback image is rotated and make it enlarged, a histogram in the display may not appear properly.

Details are available in a PDF document.

[Via PhotographyBLOG]

Ricoh GR Digital II / Version 2.10 Firmware Update

Last week Ricoh released the first function-enhancing firmware update for the GRDII (v2.0). But, according to Ricoh, there is an issue with the recommended external flash by Sigma. They have temporarily suspended the download of the new firmware update.

"Due to unforeseen problems with the first function enhancing firmware for use in the GR DIGITAL II (v2.00) we he have suspended with immediate effect any further downloads. The problem occurred when using the recommended external flash (made by Sigma) in the continuous shooting mode.
For those users who would like to switch their firmware back from V2.00 to V1.12, please download V1.12 again from the download page on our site. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Update! April 8, 2008
Ricoh released a new version of the GRDII firmware. You can find the V2.01 firmware here.