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Ricoh have announced an upgrade of their 500SE camera to include GPS readiness.
This waterproof and shockproof 8 megapixel camera with 3x optical Zoom is built to withstand the elements but having GPS track log and the ability to record positions that images are taken in make is a useful camera for many applications.
Add to this it's array of connectivity options (wifi, bluetooth etc) and it'd be a handy camera to have.
Ricoh 500SE GPS Ready Camera - Promotional Material Extracts
Ricoh understands the needs of the GIS professional.
The 500SE provides the definitive streamlined process to integrate quality images into mapping software applications. From the flood waters of New Orleans to the sands of Iraq, the Ricoh Geo-imaging solution has passed the test of time in the most demanding of conditions. To understand how your workflow can benefit from Geo-imaging, dial 909-890-9040 for more information.Reliable, Durable, Proven
Wireless Imaging Simplified
Bidirectional communication capabilities allow for instant transfer of images to mobile devices via Bluetooth or WiFi*. Alternately, the camera accepts NMEA data from external Bluetooth-enabled GPS devices.
*WiFi version required.
Geo-coded Images and Video
The 500SE’s large LCD provides precise real-time WGS-84 or MGRS position information derived from either the camera’s detachable GPS module or from external GPS devices. As content is captured, this data is embedded into the media file’s header.
Designed to Deliver
Machine reliability and image quality are the foundation of the 500SE’s design. Built to withstand the harshest of outdoor environments, the 500SE is easy to operate and captures stunning 8MP images and superb video in any condition.
Embedded Attribute Data
In addition to storing GPS data in image and video, the 500SE provides a user-defined data-dictionary for tagging the media with workflow-related information. This ‘meta-data’ becomes attributes in any GIS system and may be automatically imprinted on the images.
Automatic Map Integration
Geo-coded images and video are automatically converted into ‘layer files’ by available GIS plug-ins. Hovering over a point displays a thumbnail with the user-defined attributes, while clicking on the point opens the full-size image.
Camera Shake Blur Reduction
The 500SE reduces camera shake blur by combining high ISO settings with fast shutter speeds. Now you can shoot with greater confidence in dark situations.
Powerful Built-in Flash
The built-in flash unit allows clearer shooting in a wider range of situations. Its powerful illumination extends 0 meters in wide-angle shots and 6.5 meters in telephoto shots.
Large, Easy-to-view 2.5-inch LCD Screen
The large LCD screen features an anti-reflection coating to preserve screen readability in high ambient light environments. You can easily adjust screen brightness to optimize image clarity. There is also an optical viewfinder, so you can use whichever is right for the situation, for more reliable photography.
Wide Coverage with 28mm Wide-angle Zoom Lens
Ricoh’s 28mm wide-angle zoom lens can capture larger areas than the 35mm lenses of conventional digital cameras. When there is limited space to maneuver, you can more easily capture an entire building or construction site with the 500SE.
Vivid 1cm Macro Photography
Capture subjects as close as cm away in the macro wide-angle mode or 0cm away in the tele-macro mode. The built-in flash unit illuminates subjects as close as 20cm from the camera.
Large Buttons and Dials
All buttons and dials are large enough to ensure you can easily operate the camera even when wearing gloves.
Barcode Memo Function for More Convenient Data Management
Keep memos as part of your photo information. Memos are particularly handy for distinguishing numerous similar photographs and can dramatically heighten management efficiency.
Ricoh 500SE GPS Ready - Major Specifications
CCD - Effective 8.3 million pixels (8.30 million square pixels), 1/.8-inch primary-color CCD
Lens- Focal length f: 5.8-7.4mm (equivalent to 28-85mm for 35mm film cameras), Step-zoom intervals: 4 steps (28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm), Aperture F: 2.5(W)-4.3 (T)
Recording Media - SD Memory CardTM (3.3V 32/64/28/256/52MB/GB),
Recording Mode - Still mode (Continuous, S-Continuous, M-Continuous), Scene mode (High-sensitivity, Fire, Skew Correction, Text, Zoom Macro), Motion mode, Sound mode
LCD Monitor - 2.5” translucent amorphous silicon TFT LCD (approx. 53,000 pixels)
Dimensions (W x D x H) - 33.0 x 78.5 x 74.0mm (excluding projections)
Weight - Approx. 430g (excluding battery, SD Memory Card, hand strap), Accessories (battery, hand strap) approx. 50g
Power Source - Rechargeable battery (DB-43) x , AA battery x 2 , AC adaptor (AC-4d)
Bluetooth Specifications - Communication scheme: Bluetooth® standard version 2.0+EDR, Output: Bluetooth® standard Power Class 2 Supported Bluetooth® profiles: BIP, OPP, SPP
Wireless LAN specifications - Interface standard: IEEE802.b/g Security: WEP (64/28 bit), WPA-PSK (TKIP/AES), WPA2- PSK (TKIP/AES)
GoodGearGuide has a review of the Ricoh 500SE and writes, "The images produced by the 500SE's 8 megapixel sensor are reasonable, but not outstanding. They were crisp and clear, with good levels of detail, although purple fringing was a problem in some areas and the camera did have a tendency to blow out highlights. ... Unfortunately, the 500SE wasn't impressive in our colour tests. With a score of 9.37 in Imatest's colourcheck test, it was a little behind most compact cameras, which usually score between 6 and 8. Surprisingly, reds were relatively accurate, but yellows, greens and blues were noticeably inaccurate. Colours were slightly undersaturated, which was particularly noticeable across yellows and greens in our tree shots. ... While it has its share of flaws, the combination of rugged, waterproof design with GPS capabilities and an 8 megapixel sensor makes the Ricoh Caplio 500SE an attractive proposition for outdoors photographers."
DigicamReview has a review of the Ricoh Caplio 500SE and writes, "The camera has good image quality - the camera has good detail and very good colour (accurate, and quite natural) and there was little to no noticeable corner softness in the images - despite the wide-angle lens. Images have good saturation and contrast, although with fairly high noise even at the lower ISO settings. The higher ISO settings of ISO400 and above are probably best avoided as detail is noise is very high. Indoors photos were good, although noise was noticeable in some shots and red-eye occurred occassionally. Purple fringing was very rarely noticed, and wasn't a problem in the majority of shots. The camera was good at focusing indoors thanks to the focus assist lamp. I did not notice any vignetting, barrel or pincushion distortion. There is a very good range of image sizes, and compression options, although no choice regarding aspect ratio. Auto white balance, metering, and exposure seemed to be very good. The camera gives you good control over image quality with custom white balance, sharpness, colour depth, manual focus etc, although it would be nice to see a few more options."
GeoInformatics has a review of the Ricoh Caplio 500SE and writes, "Due to its robustness and Bluetooth communication ability, which is a pro in day-to-day surveying, the price of the Ricoh is steep when compared to other, equivalent, digital cameras. Some aspects of the camera were slightly disappointing but overall the camera can be a good addition to a GIS surveyor’s equipment. What would truly improve the usability of the camera is the inclusion of a small digital compass for heading reference. Alta4 has promised that a clip-on GPS unit with compass will become available in the second quarter of 2007 for a price of around EUR 200."
Posted by Darren in our Miscellaneous category on January 19, 2007