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The Ricoh Caplio R3 is official after a couple of weeks of rumors. As we reported previously - the Ricoh Caplio R3 is a 5.13 megapixel camera with a double retracting 7.1x wide angled Optical Zoom lens. This gives user of the R3 the equivelent of a 28-200mm zoom. The lens fully retracts into the body of the camera making the whole unit a very compact camera.
The Ricoh Caplio R3 has vibration correction to combat camera shake, allows macro photos at up to 1cm and Ricoh boasts a shutter lag of just 0.09 seconds. The LCD on the rear of the R3 is 2.5inches which is big enough to display 12 thumbnail prints at once on the screen in playback mode.
The Ricoh Caplio will be available in Black and Silver - stay tuned for price and availability.
Trusted Reviews has a review of the Ricoh Caplio R3 digital camera where they write - 'The Ricoh Caplio R3 is an attractively designed and well made camera with a highly unusual list of features, outstanding performance and a very reasonable price tag. The 28-200mm equivalent optical zoom and anti-shake system make it unique, and the exceptionally good macro performance is an added bonus. Picture quality could be better, but on the whole not bad.'
DP Expert reviews the Ricoh Caplio R3 and writes - 'Ricoh’s Caplio R3 is a little 5 megapixel point and shoot camera with a zoom range from 28mm to 200mm film equivalent. This is a long range for a compact camera, making it ideal for the tourist who doesn't want to carry a digital SLR and a bag of lenses.... The Ricoh Caplio R3 is competing with the Canon Ixus 55 which does have an optical viewfinder. Image quality from both cameras is excellent and the Ricoh has the advantage of the 28mm wide angle lens and the vibration correction. Try them both.'
PhotographyBLOG reviews the Ricoh Caplio R3 and writes - 'The Ricoh Caplio R3 is one of the most usable, intuitive and well-designed digital cameras that I have ever reviewed, but at the same time, however, the images that it produces are some of the worst that I have seen. This is even more inexcusable on the R3 because it only has a 5 megapixel sensor, albeit smaller in physical size than the sensor in the GX8. If only Ricoh could solve this seemingly eternal problem and give us a camera that creates good, or even merely average, photographs.'
DigiCamReview has posted a review of the Ricoh Caplio R3 and writes - 'The Ricoh Caplio R3 is a stylish digital camera with a 7.1x wide-angle optical zoom lens packed into a very compact metal body. The 5 megapixel camera features a 2.5" screen and built in vibration correction - this helps produce blur free photos in low light or at full zoom. The camera is very good feature wise, with quick access to options and speedy performance, however the camera is let down by average image quality - as the images produced have high noise, are generally soft, and have higher than average purple fringing. If having a lot of zoom power in a very compact camera is a priority then this is definitely worth considering, but if image quality is a top priority then this camera is best avoided. Ricoh are to be commended for innovation in providing such a large amount of zoom with image stabilsation in such a small and speedy camera, and for that reason I'm giving this camera an above average rating.'
The Caplio R3: A pocket-sized digital compact that combines the 7.1x optical zoom with vibration control.
London 2005. Ricoh announces the launch of the Caplio R3 compact digital camera. This new model features a 7.1x optical wide zoom - the largest in its class * – and a vibration correction function.
* Among digital cameras lighter than 150g as of Aug 29th
With a smaller body, the new Caplio R3, has a 7.1x (28—200 mm) wide-angle, high-powered zoom lens - the biggest in its class. The lens was created by adopting the newly developed Double Retracting Lens System, an advance on the highly successful Retracting Lens System, the original lens storage system engineered by Ricoh for its innovative products. Moreover, to address blurred images caused by hand movement inherent to long focal ranges, the Caplio R3 avoids this problem in telephoto, macro, or indoor shots with the addition of a vibration correction function.
By letting part of the lens assembly protrude from the camera body during lens storage, the wide-angle, high-powered zoom lens is even more compact.
Ricoh has historically manufactured products based on the concept of Expandability. In addition to the wide-angle high powered zoom, the new Caplio R3 expands the range of shooting even further by employing such enhanced features as 1cm macro function - Ricoh’s specialty - and quick response times.
Main Features for Caplio R3:
7.1x wide zoom lens, largest in its class, in a 26mm body!
The newly developed Double Retracting Lens System allows part of the lens assembly to protrude from the camera body during lens storage. This enables the body, a mere 26 mm, to have a 28–200 mm 7.1x wide zoom lens. (The Caplio R2 has a 28–135 mm 4.8x lens.)
The highly versatile Caplio R3 delivers outstanding results in practically any photographic situation, whether it’s capturing a panoramic landscape in one shot, wide-angle images in a room where everything is very close, or the fine details of distant objects.
28 mm wide angle (focal length) 200 mm telephoto (focal length)
Vibration Correction Function, based on Ricoh’s original CCD shift method.
Whenever it detects excessive camera motion, the vibration correction system, developed from Ricoh’s original CCD shift method, moves the CCD in the opposite direction to counterbalance camera shake, resulting in sharp pictures that would have been blurred otherwise.
As it is not necessary to incorporate the vibration correction system into the lens, many lens design options, were available, facilitating the design of a slim body and a wide to long telephoto range lens.
The Caplio R3 shows its effectiveness best in high-powered telephoto, macro, or indoor shots without using flash. Once again the vibration correction function allows for sharp images that would not be possible otherwise.
The macro function, a Ricoh specialty, has been strengthened.
The camera’s macro mode, can take a macro shot of an object from just 1 cm away.
The new zoom macro function automatically sets the focal distance of the lens at the optimum distance for capturing an image of each object as large and close as possible.
If AF Target Selection is used, it is even possible to focus on objects within the frame without moving the camera. By determining the optimum field of view, taking into consideration such information as the size or contrast of the object, focusing accuracy becomes that much higher when shooting in macro.
The skew correction function.
Through an original algorithm, which automatically detects trapezoids in images and corrects them to rectangles, images of such things as blackboards, documents, or time schedules shot at any angle can be corrected so that the image looks as though it were shot from the front. The camera is most effective in business environments where blackboards, overhead projector, OHPs, time schedules; signs, etc. cannot be shot from the front.
The popular high-speed response capability enables stress-free shooting.
Release time lag (the time from the instant the shutter button is fully pressed—without using focus lock—until exposure actually starts) is as fast as approx. 0.09sec. on average. Quick responses are essential in order to capture picture-perfect but near-instantaneous moments such as the expressions and movement of children or pets. Now stress-free, near-instantaneous shots are possible.
Time calculated from the instant the focus is locked (half-press) until exposure actually starts is a miraculous 0.007 seconds on average.
Shooting interval and start time are both rapid, approx. 0.5 and 1.1 seconds, respectively (measured while the flash is off).
The long-life rechargeable battery, a standard accessory, lets you shoot approx. 310 pictures.
Thanks to the power-saving features of the internal circuit, it is possible to capture up to 310 separate images under CIPA standards using the standard accessory rechargeable battery even while using the large LCD display.
The 5.13 million square pixel CCD and original image processing system enables shooting of high-definition pictures.
The CCD is effective up to 5.13 million square pixels with the Smooth Imaging Engine image processing system. Combined with the vibration correction function, representative, superior, high-definition images can be created. It is possible to select a 35mm aspect ratio (the horizontal to vertical ratio of the image) of 3:2.
High operational performance.
The Caplio R3 has an easy-to-see 2.5-inch large-scale LCD monitor.
During playback, 12 pictures can be displayed simultaneously on the large screen. While checking previous and subsequent pictures, the screen can be separated into three parts to allow fast forwarding and rewinding.
The brightness of the LCD can be increased to maximum with a single touch and visibility can be adjusted to suit well-lighted areas.
A design combining style with portability.
The design combines functionality and texture with such features as a comfortable grip, easy-to-use controls, high-grade materials, surface finishing, and a compact body of 95 mm (W) x 53 mm (H) x 26 mm (D).
Price and Availability:
The Caplio R3 will be available in both black and silver colour. Price to be confirmed.
Posted by Darren in our Miscellaneous category on September 07, 2005