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Average rating:
4.33
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User reviews
(3)
4.33
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| Quick links: | Announcement | Forum |
| Announced: | Jan 10, 2006 |
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Average rating:
4.33
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Opinion: Very few 28mm cameras in this price bracket, let alone ones that optically zoom out to 200mm. Very small and more importantly lightweight. Easy to use with more features than you might expect for such a low cost camera. Basically does exactly what you expect for much less than you expect, worked straight out of the box (once battery charged). So far I've had over 200 pictures before a recharge (probably 25% with flash) and images at highest quality still under 2MB. I bought this over the Canon S80 at twice the price and spec because of size and weight and do not regret because it's always with me due to these facts. It might not have the image quality of the Canon but I never miss a photo because I can't be bothered with the size and weight of the camera.
Problems: Supplied software is very frustrating if you want to burn a VCD of a slideshow (I've still not got this to work). Otherwise base software gets images from camera to PC OK but does nothing else. Lightness and smallness can be a handling proble, I dropped mine and lenses popped out, but popped back in and work fine. Image quality is good but not fantastic, some softness when enlarged, but to be honest it's fine for any print you're likely to produce from a 5MP image and you can only see these effects (and noise) on the PC at high zoom. No real problems with noise under daylight or close flash, only noticeable with poor light (high ISO) and when over-enlarged, certainly no worse than my Nikon and better than some Olympus's I've used. Vibration reduction not as effective as I expected, but better than nothing.
Opinion: Compact with Wide Lens...
Good speed of operation, fairly good picture quality for 4x6 prints. A good tradeoff of
compact size and wide lens vs. image quality @ 100%. Great travel / backup camera.
Fantastic macro capability. Quick access to ISO, EV comp, WB (customisable). Li-Ion
battery lasts forever. Really fast to startup, focus, shoot. LCD quite good in sunlight.
The 28mm lens really is fun after using other digicams with 38mm "wide" lenses.
Problems: Noise at higher ISO settings - not a problem if printing @ 4x6" but noticeable at
100%. Blades protecting lens are flimsy. Needs exposure compensation in bright sun
to avoid blown highlights - as does flash at close range in the dark (perhaps a
firmware fix, ricoh?) Telephoto focus not always accurate.
Opinion: The one feature that made me buy this camera is the 28mm equivalent wide angle. This allows for far more creative composition.
Other pluses include the excellent battery & camera power useage. I would normally automatically buy a spare battery to go with a new camera but I haven't needed to this time.
It is available in black rather than the ubiquitous grey/silver.
The image qualiy is perfectly adequate. I haven't done any side by side comparisons but have noticed no problems.
The controls are well laid out & work intuitively. I've used the camera in virtual darkness and been able to change settings & review pictures with little problem. Always a sign of good design. It shows that Ricoh is an experienced camera maker.
The R30 is quick to start up and has no serious shutter delay lag.
I've experienced no noise problems having made 1 second exposures by campfire light & at cancerts.
Macro, flash, white balance & exposure compensation settings are all quick & easy to change.
Overall I highly rate the camera & would give it my recommendation.
Problems: The zoom has no markings on the scale. I prefer to use the zoom as several prime lenses and choose the right focal length for the picture, then compose the shot. The lack of markings makes this harder.
The lens zooms in steps & appears not to refocus in video mode.
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 | 22.3 megapixels 3.2" screen Full frame sensor |
