Ricoh unveils wide-angle cam with hot-shoe viewfinder
updated 10:30 am EDT, Wed March 28, 2007
Ricoh Caplio GX100
Ricoh on Wednesday surprised photographers with its Caplio GX100. Bridging the gap between point-and-shoot and digital SLRs, the GX100 centers around a fixed but wide-angle 24-72mm equivalent lens with 3X optical zoom. The optics provide a better way of composing wide shots and can go wider still with a 19mm conversion lens, Ricoh says. Also separating it from most compacts is a hot-shoe that can be used for either an external flash or an external, electronic viewfinder as an alternative to the 2.5-inch LCD. Ricoh's self-made viewfinder pivots by up to 90 degrees and offers 100 percent coverage of the shot and operates similar to a DSLR by providing status info through the eyepiece.
Other elements of the camera are suitably advanced, with the 10-megapixel sensor being supplemented by vibration reduction, a native RAW mode, and sensitivity up to ISO 1600. The camera maker plans to ship the GX100 to Europe in late April for £400 ($786) after tax.
