I believe that the dust is in the lens mechanism, not on the sensor. The sensor itself is fairly easy to reach - see the instructions that were posted earlier in this thread. But taking the lens assembly apart is a different and much more complex project.
I am now on my 3rd GR, having sidelined the previous cameras because of the dust issue. I am not going to acquire a 4th. Even though the investment in 4 GRs is only a fraction of that in a similarly specd Leica...
FlyPenFly wrote:
Nice, these pictures make me want one for sure especially for my coming trip to Vietnam. I don't want to take my FF Nikon gear with me.
The dust spots though are a little troubling.
Debating internally if I'm better off rebuying the 18mm F2 for my X-E1 or picking up a GR. I mostly shoot F8-F10 landscapes these days.
Your X-E1 might stay in the bag quite a lot if you get a GR. It doesn't only have a great lens and nice colors, it's very fun to shoot. The lens is sharp from corner to corner at f/7.1. I rarely stop down further (only for DOF).
FlyPenFly wrote:
Any reports on the Coolpix A having the same kind of dust problems?
Can't answer this, but I had the Coolpix A for a while, and IMO it has slightly more pop to the images, I think the bokeh @ 2.8 is slighty nicer than the GR. Ergonomics goes big time to the GR though, Personal preference, of course.
deadwolfbones wrote:
I guess I'm lucky. I haven't been very careful with mine and I've put a ton of exposures on it. No dust yet.
I've been lucky too. I even dropped mine in dust and gravel, but I was able to brush it all off and only got a very slight scratch on the display.
I keep my GR in a Lowepro Ridge 30 which fits perfectly (with thumb rest attached). Haven't noticed dust on my exposures (knock on wood).
AhamB wrote:
I've been lucky too. I even dropped mine in dust and gravel, but I was able to brush it all off and only got a very slight scratch on the display.
I keep my GR in a Lowepro Ridge 30 which fits perfectly (with thumb rest attached). Haven't noticed dust on my exposures (knock on wood).
So I spoke with the GR product manager over at the PhotoPlus show this week in NYC. He basically said that he is aware of the dust issue in some GRs and GR2s - although his own GR has not shown any dust - and that he has informed the manufacturer. It is apparently a technical design error, and it would make sense that the manufacturer would consider to have a next iteration weather sealed (although I'm not sure how to do that with a moving lens mechanism).
Scored a Ricoh Caplio GX100 on eBay for super cheap. It's GR-ish entry-level compact with the same 10MP sensor used in the GRD3/4 (?) and a 24-72mm lens.
The GX100's zoom lens isn't on the same level as GR's fixed lens, but it's still quite decent. Color photos on this camera are underwhelming--washed out and splotchy. They remind me of old color webcam photos, so I just have it on B&W mode forever for now on. Auto-focus performance is horrific in low-light, as expected of any fine Ricoh camera.
Fun little point-and-shoot to toss in a backpack and snap some random artsy pics while out and about... when quality and performance aren't a concern. No worries of losing or damaging the precious GR.
All of the JPEGs below were shot at ISO800 with minor cropping and exposure adjustments. No fancy dodging and burning and stuff like that. Hope you like them.
It doesn't only have a great lens and nice colors, it's very fun to shoot. 
The lens is sharp from corner to corner at f/7.1. I rarely stop down further (only for DOF).
