Ricoh Caplio GX100 Digital Camera |
Ricoh Company, Ltd. is one of the largest copier manufacturers in the
world. But the company is not only known for office equipments but the
company was founded in 1936 also as a maker of cameras. Then it was film
SLRs, today they produce a complete line of digital compact cameras
dedicated for beginners to high end models intended for serious
hobbyists.
Ricoh cameras are probably among the cameras today that are often
underrated. Most people who are out in the market today for digital
compacts find brands like Nikon, Canon, and Sony as more appealing.
However, you should know that Ricoh is a pretty good company and they
produce quite a number of digital cameras that can compete with the top
rollers in the industry.
The Ricoh Caplio GX100, for example, was announced as successor to
the GX8 and it actually belongs to the high end digital compact market.
Among its direct competitors are Panasonic FX100 with 12Mp, 3x optical
zoom and Leica lens, and the D-Lux 3 of Leica which has 10Mp and a 4x
optical zoom. Admittedly, Ricoh can’t really compete with the D-Lux3.
Owning a Leica is pretty damn different, the prestige alone and the ego
that comes with it can kill you.
Anyways, the GX100 can stand on its own due to a few, interesting,
and innovative features. This Ricoh is a 10Mp compact, with a 3x zoom
lens, and a range equivalent to 24-72mm on a 35mm camera. You get it
now, don’t you? The GX100 has a range equivalent to a 24-75mm on a 35mm
camera. The magic number is "24". As far as I know, this is the only
digital compact that has that wide a range. Most are equipped with 35 or
36mm at the short end. Believe me, the 24mm makes a lot of difference
when you’re out shooting interiors or landscapes. Plus, the resolution
is sharp at the corners at the 24mm equivalent too.
It has a fast F2.5 maximum aperture at wide end, low distortion, high
quality construction and excellent battery life. The camera has a 1cm
macro feature along with other features of a digital SLR.
The GX100 also holds the distinction of the very first digital
compact to offer an optional removable electronic viewfinder. The
viewfinder slips into the flash hot shoe and tilts upwards through 90
degrees. Weird but true. However, despite the innovations and the
uniqueness Ricoh has exhibited on the GX100, it pains me to say that it
has a couple of let downs, some of which was within their capacity to
eliminate or reduced.
The camera is ugly. Forgive me for saying that but the body’s design
is, and I’m being kind here, unusually deformed. Also, it is quite
unfortunate that noise is an issue at all sensitivity settings over ISO
80 and ISO 400. The LCD screen although measures 2.5 does not provide
sufficient brightness to be viewed in bright light.
The slip-on viewfinder despite being unique is actually not that
great. The camera focuses very slow in macro mode, at the long end of
the zoom, as well as in low light. The GX100 is a little expensive
compared to the competition. The Panasonic FX100 costs £289 while the
Leica D-Lux 3 sells at £490. The GX100 has a retail price of u back
£349.
The GX100 is not the best digital compact and Ricoh still won’t be
able to compete with the top producers in the market with this one. This
is a camera where you need to work on a bit to get the optimal results.
But still, the GX100 do offer a pretty unique 24mm view for a digital
compact which can give a little creative edge.
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