Ricoh releases G600 outdoor digital camera

Ricoh on Tuesday announced its newest digital camera, the G600, which is water- and dust-resistant. The camera is meant for outdoor sports use and as such, is rugged enough to withstand a near five-foot drop. To earn a MIL Standard 810F rating, the 5x optical zoom lens is all internal so it never protrudes from the body, making it invulnerable to damage when dropped. The 10-megapixel G600 is otherwise optimized for harsh conditions, with big buttons that can be operated with gloved hands and a rating for use in temperatures ranging from 14F to 104F. The new camera is also able to shoot movies and take photos at under up to 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

The G600 takes SD or Multi-Media memory cards in addition to 52MB of internal capacity. A large and clear 2.7-inch LCD provides a clear image of the subject and, thanks to a light sensor, has an automatic brightness setting. For dark environments, a maximum 3200 ISO setting can be set when the flash is not effective or needed.

A 25-foot effective flash range is reduced to just over 21 feet in telephoto mode, but a hotshoe allows an external flash to be fitted. Up close, the Macro setting allows objects just 0.4 inches away to be captured as clear images.

The included rechargeable battery's life is rated at 360 shots, but two AAA batteries can alternately power the camera when a wall outlet isn't available for recharging.

The G600 will be sold in the UK and Ireland starting in May, for an equivalent of nearly $700. Ricoh made no announcements as to a US release date and pricing.

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