Latest – Review by September (added 03 September’08)
Ricoh R8 features:
- 10 megapixel
- 7.1 optical zoom
- 2.7 inch LCD
- ISO 64-1600
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Reviewers Conclusions & Verdicts – (updated 03 September’08)
GoodGearGuide
“We should also note that the 2.7in LCD screen is nothing short of exceptional. There is no viewfinder on the R8, but the 470,000 pixel display means that this really isn’t an issue.”
Rating: 
ePhotozine
“I took great pleasure using the Ricoh Caplio R8 with it’s ease of use and decent features. It also looks good on the arm with the vintage styling. It’s just a shame that the performance isn’t up to scratch. I reported that the images have a look like they’re over sharpened giving a painted look.”
Rating:
T3 has reviewed the Ricoh R8 and they write -
“Macro mode trounces others on the market, getting as close as 1cm. Pictures aren’t quite as pleasing, they seem a little softer, although there’s bags of detail – even in shadow areas. You can zoom in movie mode, although the staggered zoom makes for a jerky ride.”
Rating:
ITReviews has reviewed the Ricoh R8 and they write -
“This isn’t the sexiest compact camera in town, neither is it the cheapest. But if you can get past the outer aesthetics, the Ricoh R8 is a reliable, swift and, more importantly, intuitive model to use. Although it doesn’t have the most durable casing, and easily wears unless you treat it with kid gloves, there’s pretty good scope for putting your own spin on the Auto shooting features. This isn’t a camera for you if you want control over shutter speed and aperture, however, and noise levels are high.”
Rating: 
DCExpert has reviewed the Ricoh R8 and they write -
“We subjected the Ricoh R8 to the tourist test – taking it around town snapping the sorts of things that any traveler might photograph in a foreign city. The results are consistently good, helped in no small part by the outstanding, distortion-free lens. There are plenty of noise reduction artifacts visible at full image size, so this is not a camera for making A3 prints or for severe cropping of the picture. On the other hand enlargement up to 5 by 7 cm will be better than acceptable.”
Rating:
DigicamReview has reviewed the Ricoh R8 and they write -
“The Ricoh R8 looks and feels great, and is capable of taking some great photos. The camera has a sharp wide angle 7.1x optical zoom lens, and is almost ultra compact, similar in size to other ultra compact cameras such as the IXUS 90 IS. Ricoh appear to have moved this camera upmarket with a newly designed body, and improved hand grip and control dial. The camera features built in anti-shake which helps keep pictures sharp, and has one of the sharpest screens I’ve ever seen. The camera still suffers from a poorly positioned flash, and noticable noise levels at all ISO settings. However, if you can look past the noise and can work with the camera – then it is capable of producing some excellent results. “
Rating:
DCResource has reviewed the Ricoh R8 and they write -
“Photo quality is where the Ricoh R8 needs the most improvement. On the positive side, the R8 generally took well-exposed photos, with accurate color. Photos are very sharp — perhaps a bit too much — and purple fringing is kept to a minimum. The R8’s photos have above average noise, noise reduction, and what appears to be sharpening artifacts. Noise tends to stay in shadow areas at low ISOs, though I noticed some vertical banding appearing at higher sensitivities. Noise reduction starts eating away at details at ISO 64, with fine details looking quite smudged. Combine that with the sharpening artifacts (jagged/fuzzy edges), and the R8’s photos look over processed. These issues won’t appear in 4 x 6 prints, but for large prints and on-screen viewing, they’ll be hard to miss. The camera also had trouble with white balance under unusual lighting (or at least my studio lamps), and redeye was considerable.”
Rating:
PCW has reviewed the Ricoh R8 they write -
“One minor quibble is that the selected shooting mode isn’t displayed on this TFT, so you have to check the top of the camera before shooting.
When it comes to image quality, we were neither overly impressed nor disappointed: We have seen better from compact cameras, but also a lot worse, and the R8’s excellent ease of use should help you achieve some pleasing photos.”
Rating:
PCAdvisor has reviewed the Ricoh R8 they write -
“If you want a small camera with a big lens and screen, the Ricoh R8 is worth considering, especially if you need up to 7x optical zoom from a compact camera. A much improved rear screen adds to this sturdily built camera.”
Rating:
PhotographyBlog has reviewed the Ricoh R8 they write -
“Ricoh have set out to make the new R8 a worthy addition to its professional range of compact digital cameras. Both the consumer Caplio branding and slightly awkward design of its predecessor have been dropped, replaced with a much more serious, well-thought out and simplified approach that really pays dividends. The Ricoh R8 is a lovingly-designed point and shoot camera that is as nice to use as it it to look at, instantly appealing to anyone who wants a fast, responsive and compact camera with an incredibly versatile 7x zoom lens and a wealth of innovative features.
So why, you may well ask, has the Ricoh R8 only earned our Recommended award, despite scoring 5 in two areas? There’s one big problem with this camera – noisy images.”
Rating:
TrustedReviews – 01 April’08 – has reviewed the Ricoh R8 and thought it was expensive. Here’s a summary of their review -
“It may be a little on the pricey side but its build quality is excellent and the menu system is a real pleasure to use. With a good lens you would expect this camera to produce great images but oddly enough the picture quality is not up to the other competitors in the field. So if you’re looking for top notch photos you can blame it on the tiny sensor overcrowding problem and you might be interested in looking at the little brother R7.”
Rating:
PhotoReview – 26 March’08 – has reviewed the Ricoh R8 and felt the video quality was unimpressive. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Tests revealed image resolution was higher than most small sensor digicams they had reviewed. Dynamic range on the hand displayed over saturated highlights and loss of shadow detail which is characteristic of small sensor cameras. One cool feature is the skew correction which identifies the borders of a document when it is photographed and will crop and straighten it, which comes in handy when you’re photographing documents.”
Rating:
ComputerActive – 20 March’08 – has reviewed the Ricoh R8 and it’s a small camera with a BIG zoom lens. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Image quality was really good and the reviewer was impressed with the quality of the LCD. However, in low light the camera jacks up the ISO and the resulting photos are a little heavy on digital noise side. One little complaint is if you tweak the cameras settings then turn the camera off and then on again it forgets all your changed settings.”
Rating:
DPReview – 17 March’08 – has reviewed the Ricoh R8 and indicate the face detection feature just plain does not work. Here’s a summary of their review -
“What the right hand giveth the left taketh away is a statement that defines the R8. As the review notes if you are at all interest in this camera you better do your due dligence and visit your local camera store to take it for a test drive. If you take lots of flash pictures or video forget the R8 – Ouch! One cool feature not found on many compacts is a manual focus which can come in really handy. Looking at controls and menus they are intuitive and as the review notes, simply superb.”
Rating:
ThinkCamera – 02 February’08 – has reviewed the Ricoh R8 and feels this is just not your average camera. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Ricoh’s R8 is the type of camera that inspires you to take better pictures. Outstanding build quality combined with terrific image quality with little to no noise up to 400 make this a photographers camera. Of course like all things there are some irritating features like the missing hot shoe but all in all in really a nice camera and deserves a high score.”
Rating:
Actual Owner Feedback
“While we were traveling around in Tokyo, having her hands on my new Ricoh toy, my wife quit taking pictures with her Nikon Coolpix S4 which has been in use over two years. Besides, my daughter, an industrial designer in Chicago, has good comments on the pictures I took.”
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com
Videos
Promotional Video
Sample Test Photos
[Sample Photos at DCResource]
[Sample Test Photos at PhotographyBlog]
[Sample Test Photos at TrustedReviews]
[Sample Test Photos at DPReview]
[Sample Test Photos at Ricoh]
Specifications
[Official Ricoh Specifications]
Owners Manual
Press Release
Tokyo, Japan — February 19, 2008 — Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) has developed and introduced the new R8 compact digital camera featuring a 7.1x optical wide-angle zoom lens (28–200 mm in 35 mm focal length) and a new high-resolution 10 megapixel CCD.
The new R8 is the successor model to the Caplio R7 (launched September 14, 2007), which also had a slim body and 7.1x optical wide-angle zoom lens (28–200 mm in 35 mm focal length). By combining a new 10 megapixel CCD with the earlier model‘s popular Smooth Imaging Engine III image processing engine, the R8 takes high-definition photography to a higher level.
The R8 also offers various other enhanced capabilities for fun and easy photography, such as a large 2.7-inch, 460,000-pixel HVGA LCD and the same 1:1 aspect square format photography function that has proven extremely popular on Ricoh‘s Caplio GX100 (launched April 2007) and GR DIGITAL II (launched November 2007) models.
In addition to the specification improvements, the R8 has also undergone a complete redesign. This new model combines ease of use and technical specification in a body that is contemporary and stylish and has been designed based on a concept “A tool you want to use every day.” In creating the R8 as a tool for taking photographs, great care has been given not only to styling and coloring but also to its operability, portability, comfort in hand, and its solid, high-quality feel.
Main features of the new Ricoh R8
1. High-picture quality, low-noise photography is achieved with the high-resolution 10 megapixel CCD and the Smooth Imaging Engine III image processing engine.
An effective 10 megapixel CCD has been newly installed. Working together with the popular image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine III, this new CCD makes possible high-quality images that have both high-resolution and low noise.
2. High-resolution 2.7-inch, 460,000-pixel HVGA LCD
The new 2.7-inch, 460,000-pixel high-resolution LCD has a wide viewing angle and high contrast for distinct, easy viewing even outdoors. When thumbnail images are displayed, even the small 1/20 size images are clearly reproduced.
3. Based on the “A tool you will want to use every day” concept, the R8 has been given a totally new design emphasizing its beauty as a tool.
Styling that intensifies a simple, functional beauty and eliminates design frills. A rubber grip that fits well in the hand and is easy to hold. An easy-to-operate mode dial. The many features of the R8 combine to achieve both functional beauty and ease of use. In addition to its compact pocket size, the mounting of two strap eyelets has further increased portability.
The R8‘s solid, high-quality feel has been further enhanced by the top cover emphasizing a solid, metal feel; the lens barrel end and rings finished with metal spin processing, and the spin processed mode dial and release button.
4. Ricoh‘s original double retracting lens system has made it possible to equip the R8 with a 7.1x wide-angle zoom lens in a compact body with both operability and portability.
Measuring only 22.6 mm at the thinnest point, the slim body features a 7.1x wide-angle zoom lens with a 28–200 mm range.
5. Expanded shooting functions for richly expressive photographs.
(1) Square format photography
The R8 has a shooting function for an image size aspect ratio of 1:1. This square format photography has proved very popular on Ricoh‘s Caplio GX100 (launched April 2007) and GR DIGITALII (launched November 22, 2007) models. The resulting composition has quite a different feel from the standard rectangular vertical or horizontal format. This format can also be quite convenient for blog photographs.
(2) Expanded functionality for the ADJ. (Adjust) button
Already given enhanced usability in the Caplio R7 (launched September 2007), the ADJ. (Adjust) button has further evolved in the R8. Integrating the ADJ. (Adjust) button functions with those previously controlled by the cross-key has made menu operations even faster and simpler.
(3) Fix minimum aperture function provided
When the fix minimum aperture function is on, shooting is done at the smallest aperture, which gives a deep depth of field in the resulting photograph.
(4) AF/AE Target shift functions provided
Enhanced capabilities have been given to the AF target shift function which was previously only available for macro photography. While shooting, it is possible to shift the target for AF or AE or both without moving the camera.
(5) Zoom lever usability improved
With zoom lever operation it is possible to switch between two zoom speeds. This enables the full capabilities of the 28–200 mm 7.1x wide-angle zoom lens to be utilized.
6. Enhanced image editing functions enable images to be manipulated in the camera.
(1) Image brightness and contrast correction (level compensation)
Still image brightness and contrast can be corrected with either auto or manual modes, with the corrected image being recorded in the camera. With manual correction, the image is corrected by adjusting the histogram.
(2) Image color tone correction (white balance compensation)
By adjusting green, magenta, blue, and amber tones, still image colour tone can be corrected, with the corrected image being recorded in the camera.
(3) Trimming of still images
Still images can be trimmed and the resulting image saved in a separate file. This is convenient when doing direct printing with PictBridge, etc.
7. Vibration correction functions, face recognition mode, and macro functions are provided.
The R8 contains Ricoh’s original CCD-shift vibration correction function which compensates for camera shake when it is detected. This reduces the blurring that tends to occur in situations such as telephoto and macro photography.
Face recognition mode automatically identifies faces in a scene and optimizes focus, exposure,
and white balance for the faces.
Ricoh’s popular and powerful macro functions are included, enabling shooting of objects as close
as 1 cm with wide macro and as close as 25 cm with telemacro
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Had a Ricoh before and wanted the R8 after losing my G8.
Terrible mistake!!! Brand new camera=broken Zoom within the first hour!!! When zooming, at max zoom, lens went all screwy, image blurred, lens automatically reverted to standard image!!! Wide angle broke also within the first hour after leaving the shop!!! Terrible shadows in each corner of each image!!! Even using the flash each picture turns out with a shadow in each corner, as if one is looking through a a keyhole or something.
Took it back to the shop, they denied it was their problem and said they could send it to Ricoh if I paid for the shipping and maybe in a month or three it would come back!!! Shi*ty service, terrible example of Ricoh’s self-vaunted “Expert” retailer network.
Stay away, stay far away from the R8.