Hands-on with Ricoh GX200: imaging aspect a disappointment
June 25, 2008 | Filed under Digital Cameras, Electronics
This is the Ricoh GX200 and it’s the brands follow up to 2007’s GX100, this camera shows us Ricoh’s commitment to producing quality compact digital cameras that are great for portability and have manual control. You will not see many people carry a DSLR everywhere and that’s where the Ricoh GX200 comes in, it’s the ideal alternative for your pocket.
New features to the Ricoh GX200 model include a 1/1.7inch 12MP CCD sensor and the lens has been redesigned so that it matches the resolution of the sensor, although it does still feature the useful 24-72mm zoom range.
The Ricoh GX200 has been given a hands-on review by Trusted Reviews and they found that the imaging aspect is a disappointment; the features are similar to its predecessor with purist sensibility, a 3x zoom lens and Raw shooting. In their verdict they had this to say “Ricoh has tried to make a camera for the enthusiast photographer, a camera that the pro or enthusiast could slip into his pocket for a day and make sure he can still get a great shot. Design wise, the company has pulled it off.
The tough little camera is a beauty to hold and a joy to use, and I couldn’t wait to see the pictures. It’s the imaging aspect that’s a disappointment though, and really lets the camera and Ricoh’s ambitions down. The 12MP sensor and processing combination is frankly poor. In fact I question the wisdom of such densely populated sensors on compact cameras. The small pixels are bound to produce more noise and processing will only get you so far.
Ultimately, the camera works well at lower ISOs and does have some fantastic features, such as the best EVF and monitor yet in a compact, the b/w conversion and square format are fun and the accessories available add up to a nice little system. It’s just not as good as it should be”.
Read the 9-page review.
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I’d be very concerned about Ricoh camera quality. I purchased a Ricoh Caplio R7. The R7 has needed to be repaired twice under warranty in the past two months.