Ricoh CX1

Last update 16 November’09 – Review and Sample Photos @ LetsGoDigital

Ricoh CX1 is a CMOS-based zoom compact camera and it features 9 megapixels, 28-200mm equivalent zoom range, high-speed continuous shooting (up to 120 frames per second at 640×480 pixel resolution), additional technologies to boost dynamic range first of which is a multiple exposure mode that produces in-camera HDR images, the second is a system that uses red and blue data to calculate a green value when the green channel over-exposes, 3 inch LCD, and an ISO range from 80 to 1600.

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Review Index – (updated 16 November’09)

LetsGoDigital
“No joke, Ricoh knows how to design a very cool compact camera. The CX1 presents itself outstandingly. Super cool, and no non-essential buttons. This is they type of camera you can haul along with you and not be aware that it’s even there. On the downside the photo quality was pretty bad. Noise reduction is way too aggressive and results in a lot of digital noise, even at lower ISOs.”
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Trusted Reviews
“The Ricoh CX1 is a very accomplished camera from one of the veteran names in the industry. It combines excellent build quality, a versatile specification, class-leading performance and superb image quality with a range of innovative features and easy-to-use handling, all for a very reasonable price, and even includes a two-year warranty. It’s impossible not to be impressed.”
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Alpha Mount World
“I found many of the features to not only work as advertised but that do have a practical purpose to the design as well. I would definitely recommend the Ricoh CX1 to the gadgety new-to-photography person who would appreciate a well built, easy to use and well thought out design. By giving the photographer more control over the output, and by designing a camera that doesn’t get in your way, the CX1 promotes a quick learning curve to a new photographer. It is also very stylish (coming in 3 colors schemes, Black, Silver, and Champagne Rose), which seems to be more of a design feature than an attention seeking gimmicky outer skin you see so often with other designs.”

DCRP
“Ricoh has done a good job creating a camera that has the tools that photographers want (well, except for manual controls). Unfortunately, they aren’t spending enough time on the most important feature a camera can have: good photo quality. If the CX1 had a decent noise reduction system, then it would be a really compelling product. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, so we’ll have to hope they do better next time. The bottom line here is that you’re better off spending your hard-earned cash on something else.”

Ricoh GR Diary
“The back of the camera is where some of the biggest changes have taken place. First the excellent LCD screen from the R10 has again been improved and is now one of the best screens you can find on any camera.”

GoodGearGuide
“While Ricoh may not come to mind when contemplating a compact camera, the CX1 is definitely worthy of some attention. It produces superb images, feels good to use and has plenty of great features to play with.”
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IT Reviews
“Ricoh has managed to pack a lot under the stylish hood of the CX1, including some welcome new features like very high-speed continuous shooting and increased dynamic range, plus multi-targeting AF and WB.”

Steves Digicams
“Ricoh has put together an awesome little compact camera. The CX1 was a pleasure to use, in fact there were Very few things that I could find “wrong” with this camera. It offers image quality that is not matched by most of it’s competition, not to mention blazing fast shooting performance.”

DPExpert
“This is a pleasure to use, although we wished for more manual controls. The concepts of extended dynamic range and depth of field are concerns of the serious photographer. No point-and-shooter is going to care about these refinements. Yet the camera is set up as though the p-and-s brigade are the intended customers. We look forward to seeing these useful innovations applied to Ricoh’s better class of camera. That will be a winner. As it is we have no hesitation in recommending the CX1.”

Digicam Review
” The Ricoh CX1 may seem like other Ricoh cameras before it – however the new 9 megapixel CMOS sensor adds some important features – namely extremely quick continuous shooting. With 4fps at full resolution the camera can shoot quicker than most budget Digital SLRs! High speed shooting also allows Ricoh to provide an impressive Dynamic Range mode – this uses the speed of the camera to take two shots of different exposures – combines the two and produces an image with greatly increased dynamic range.”
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RegHardware
“The CX1 has some handy features – such as various continuous shooting modes and a nice 7.1x optical zoom – and handles well. But we aren’t convinced that features such as Multi-target Auto Focus and Dynamic Range Double Shot mean that its high price tag offers good value for money.”
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ePhotozine
“It’s a shame that the image performance still isn’t up to scratch. I like to see smooth images when shooting up to ISO200 but I can’t get a result I’m happy with from a Ricoh. Make sure you open up the colour test chart image to full size. It was taken at ISO200 and shows some of the pixellation from the noise control.”
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Pocket-lint
“A highly specified, well crafted camera with a host of very clever features that work, the Ricoh CX1 is a machine for the more advanced user and offers image quality to match for those that know what they’re doing. Yes it has all-auto and scene modes to use but that would be missing the point of this camera, a camera that is, it must be said, rather excellent.”
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Buy-n-Shoot
“Within it’s price range, the Ricoh CX1 is a solid unit both literally and performance-wise that ought to be considered as a contender for your business. Its minimalist appearance denies the extent of its capabilities and as a complete package it has a lot to offer the photography enthusiast looking for a unit that will perform under a variety of conditions.”
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CNET UK
“The Ricoh CX1 is a clever, quirky camera that offers plenty for keen photographers to experiment with. The high-resolution LCD screen is excellent, as is the 4fps full-resolution shooting, but its high-dynamic-range mode is imperfect and the lens’ 7x zoom range is good rather than exceptional.”
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Photo Review
“Colour accuracy was relatively poor in our Imatest tests, with no hues coinciding with their ideal positions and some dramatic shifts in hue and saturation, particularly in the red to cyan band. Skin hues were also noticeably off-the-mark.”
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PhotographyBlog
“If image quality is of prime importance, then the Ricoh CX1 is well worth a look. It produces very good out-of-the-camera JPEG images, with excellent dynamic range as promised in the DR mode and improved noise performance. If you don’t mind the lack of manual controls, the CX1 makes a great pocket camera for the keen photographer, although I’m sure we’ll see the same technology appear in a future GR or GX model…”
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Owner Feedback

Coming soon…

Sample Photos

[Sample Photos @ LetsGoDigital]
[ISO Performance Photos @ Trusted Reviews]
[Sample Photos @ Alpha Mount World]
[Image Gallery @ DCRP]
[Sample Images @ Steves Digicams]
[Sample Images @ Digicam Review]
[Sample Images @ RegHardware]
[Sample 1600 ISO Shot @ ePhotozine]
[Sample Photos @ Pocket-lint]
[Sample Photos @ CNET UK]
[Sample Photos @ PhotographyBlog]

Specifications & Camera Profile

[Specifications]

Owner’s Manual

[Owner's Manual]

Firmware Updates

Firmware 1.16
Fixes:
- If you take pictures with M-Cont. Plus, an MP file may be recorded with missing a partial frame(s).
- In Focus Bracketing, a self-timer feature may not work properly.

Press Release

Tokyo, Japan, February 19, 2009—Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) today announced the development and release of the CX1, a new digital camera with a 7.1x optical wide-angle zoom lens (28-200 mm in 35 mm film equivalent focal length). The CX1’s expanded dynamic range of 12 EV equivalent makes it possible to capture high-contrast scenes in a way not possible with earlier models.

With new image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine IV and a new high-speed image processing CMOS sensor installed, the CX1 achieves greater image quality while at the same time expanding dynamic range with its dynamic range double shot mode.

In addition, functions such as multi-pattern auto white balance (sets white balance based on the light sources of segregated areas of the image) and multi-target AF (shoots consecutive images at seven focal distances automatically defined by the camera) enable the new CX1 to create beautiful images giving an almost naked-eye impression.

The CX1 has a large 3.0-inch 920,000-dot VGA monitor and high-speed continuous shooting functions at approximately 4 frames/second that make it even easier to enjoy photography. This is a digital camera that takes the design concept “A tool you will want to use every day” to a new level of perfection.

1. Greater image quality from a new image processing engine and new image sensor.
- The CX1 has the new image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine IV and a new high-speed image processing CMOS sensor. In high-sensitivity shooting conditions, these enhancements result in greater resolution than previous models and also reduce noise without compromising color reproduction.
- The addition of a customized circuit to the image processing engine has made it possible to include a pixel output interpolation algorithm that expands the CX1’s dynamic range by up to 1 EV compared to conventional methods. This reduces whiteout in high-contrast situations and recreates the beauty seen by the eye.
2. Dynamic range double shot mode for excellent reproduction of both light and dark areas.
- The transformation of the image processing engine and the image sensor has enabled the CX1 to do high-speed continuous shooting. This, in turn, has made it possible to create dynamic range double shot mode, which takes high-speed consecutive shots of two still images with different exposures and then records an image that combines the properly exposed portions of each. Expanding the dynamic range up to a maximum equivalent to 12 EV, this mode makes it possible to record images that give an – It is possible to also record a normal image in addition to the expanded-dynamic-range image so you can check the results immediately after shooting.
3. The multi-pattern auto white balance function gives the optimum color reproduction when shooting subjects mixing different color temperatures.
- For scenes with both shadow and sunlight and scenes mixing flash and natural light (or fluorescent light, etc.) during flash photography, this function can define white balance to fit the light source of each segregated area of the image. This enhances image quality in people-photography situations that were difficult to shoot with the old auto white balance function.
4. High-definition 3.0-inch 920,000-dot VGA monitor.
- The large, high-resolution LCD monitor has a wide viewing angle and high contrast. The screen has a fluorine coat to prevent soiling, a hard coat to prevent scratches, and an anti-reflection coat to give greater visibility even outdoors in bright sunshine.
- The optimum fonts are used for high visibility on the VGA monitor, and greater camera operability is achieved with an enhanced setting-screen design easily readable at a glance. There is also an 81-image playback screen display function useful when checking images during playback.
- Image framing during shooting is now easier as a result of the addition of a shooting information display frame which does not superimpose shooting information over the image itself.
5. With the multi-target AF function, the camera automatically finds seven focal distances and shoots at each one in succession.
- The camera automatically decides seven focus points and does high-speed consecutive shooting of seven images while shifting the focus to each point. After shooting, you can select the image with the preferred focus. This function is effective for scenes (such as flowers) where there is a narrow range for a sharp focus.
- The consecutively shot images are recorded as a single MP file (a file format with multiple still images in a single file).
6. Enhanced high-speed continuous shooting functions catch the decisive movement of moving subjects.
- In continuous shooting mode, it is possible to do high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 4 frames/second for still images with the maximum number of pixels.
- Continuous shooting speed will vary depending on shooting conditions, card type, card condition, etc.
- The M-continuous plus shooting function does continuous shooting that saves the 30 images (30 frames/sec.) taken during the one second or so before the finger is removed from the shutter release button or the 30 images (15 frames/sec.) taken during the two seconds before. By taking your finger from the shutter release just after the decisive moment has passed, you can be sure that you caught it.
- Image size is fixed at N1728 (2M).
- The consecutively shot images are recorded as a single MP file (a file format with multiple still images in a single file).
- With ultra-high-speed continuous shooting, the CX1 shoots 120 images (120 frames/sec.) during an interval of about one second after the shutter release button is pushed, or 120 images (60 frames/sec.) during an interval of about two seconds.
- Image size is fixed at N640 (VGA).
- The consecutively shot images are recorded as a single MP file (a file format with multiple still images in a single file).
7. A 7.1x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 28-200 mm focal length for 35 mm cameras) in a body optimized for ease of use as a photographic tool.
- Ricoh’s original double retracting lens system has made it possible to fit a 7.1x optical wide-angle zoom lens in a body that is both easy to carry and easy to operate.
- This lens can handle a wide range of shooting situations, including powerful telephoto shots as well as wide-angle shooting of both expansive landscapes and interior scenes with limited distance between camera and subject.
8. Popular macro photography functions.
- With the macro photography functions you can get as close to the subject as 1 cm for wide-angle* and 25 cm for telephoto. *Equivalent to 32 mm focal length for 35 mm cameras
- When shooting up close in easy shooting mode, the camera will automatically switch to macro mode so you can enjoy macro photography without the inconvenience of mode switching.
9. A wide range of functions inspired by the “A tool you will want to use every day” concept.
- Electronic level utilizing an acceleration sensor.
- Image sensor shift blur reduction function to reduce hand-motion blurring.
- Face mode that automatically identifies subject faces and optimizes face focus, exposure, and white balance.
- Easy shooting mode for photographic fun with simple operations.
- Minimum shooting distance display function that shows on the monitor the minimum shooting distance, which changes depending on the zoom setting.
- Aspect ratio (vertical/horizontal ratio) 1:1 square format photography function.
- Image flag function to enable the quick display of specific images from among those in the camera.
- The ability to switch from frame to frame with the still image display remaining enlarged in playback mode.

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