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SINGAPORE: Seasoned photographers often crave rugged, compact and light cameras that boast a high degree of manual control.
The Ricoh GX100 was released about 18 months ago to quench the thirst for such high-end digital compact cameras. Now, its successor has arrived!
Packed with an upgraded 12-megapixel CCD image sensor, a new Smooth Imaging Engine III processor, a larger RAW file buffer, a 24-to-72mm (equivalent of 35mm) optical lens and a sharp 2.7-inch liquid crystal display, the GX200 already looks pretty formidable on paper alone.
And its looks are even better than its specs. The black metallic body not only looks cool, it also has the most user-friendly and intuitive design I have seen on a digital compact camera.
Photographers who use DSLR (digital single-reflex) cameras will be immediately at ease with the controls on the GX200.
With its front up-down dial, rear adjustable lever and a top mode dial coupled with a four-way directional pad and menu button, it’s easy to change settings. The rubberised grip also makes the camera a pleasure to hold.
With such an excellent button layout, you need great manual controls to complement it and the GX200 doesn’t disappoint, with only Shutter-Priority missing.
You can also choose from spot auto-focus to macro-focus of up to 1cm. I haven’t seen such flexibility in a digital compact camera that weighs only 238g!
Included in the GX200 VF kit is an electronic viewfinder (EVF) VF-1, which you place on the flash hotshoe to allow you to take photographs without using the LCD. You can easily change between using the LCD and EVF with a single button.
Although it’s not as easy to view as the LCD, the VF-1 is a must-have if you are into street photography.
Another must-have accessory, which is not included in the package, is the self-retaining lens cap LC-1 that opens and closes automatically when the lens protrudes and withdraws.
Powering up and shutting down the camera takes a zippy one second each.
Shutter lag is minimal, with a quick auto-focus. However, in low-light conditions, the lens tends to zoom in and out before locking onto a focus.
Thankfully, you no longer have to wait six seconds before you can shoot another RAW image. The GX200’s RAW buffer allows up to five continuous RAW images.
Other than shooting in the normal 3:2 format, you can also shoot in 1:1 square format, which is great for portraits.
You can shoot in black and white (B&W) or sepia and even customise the B&W settings.
Images shot on the GX200 are good, with accurate auto white balance replicating nice colours and smooth skin tones.
Chromatic aberration is minimal at its 24mm wide angle, but you there is some barrel distortion at this focal length.
The GX200’s Achilles’ heel is in its noise performance, as the inflated megapixel count probably introduces noise.
Noise starts to surface from the shadow areas on ISO settings as low as 200. At ISO 400, you can see noise artifacts, but they are still bearable.
At ISO 1600, the chroma noise basically turns the image into a watercolour fiesta — though this can be useful in B&W mode, where the noise echoes the grains of the classic Kodak T-Max B&W film.
Another drawback of the GX200 is its price. At a whopping S$1,159, the GX200 VF kit is more expensive than some entry-level DSLRs with kit lens.
Nonetheless, it ticks all the boxes in the photographers’ wish list of a lightweight, high-end digital compact camera with great build, swift operation, intuitive controls and superb manual functions. - TODAY/sh
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