Just a week out from Photokina, Ricoh has announced an update to its tough water- and dust-resistant camera range in the new 12.1-megapixel G700 model.

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September 15, 2010: Just a week out from Photokina, Ricoh has announced an update to its tough water- and dust-resistant camera range in the new 12.1-megapixel G700 model.
Developed for use in difficult environments such as those encountered in on-site work situations, the G700 is even more water- and impact-resistant than its predecessor, the G600. It is capable of withstanding a 2.0 m drop (1.5 m when wide conversion lens is attached) and will tolerate immersion in water for up to two hours at depths up to 5.0 metres. In addition, the G700 features newly added chemical resistance to ethanol and hypochlorous acid as well as strengthened security functions such as password-protected camera operation.

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The tough new Ricoh G700. (Source: Ricoh.)
Ideal for use in environments such as construction, public works, and disaster sites as well as medical facilities and production sites where equipment must be cleaned and disinfected, the G700 inherits the previous model’s 5x optical wide-angle zoom lens (equivalent to 28-140 mm for a 35 mm camera) and 10 m flash range. It can be used in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius and has large, strategically-placed button controls that are easy to operate with gloved hands.
A 3.0-inch 920,000-dot VGA high-definition monitor makes it easy to compose and evaluate shots and a new light sensor can automatically adjust brightness based on the ambient light level. The electronic level function used in the GR Digital models has been ported across to the G700. The new model is also compatible with the SanDisk Corporation SD WORM (write-once read-multiple) card standard for original document management by police, etc.
A new camera memo function makes it possible to record memos in the image data by selecting information from a list prepared on a PC. Memo information can be combined with photographed images. One and two dimensional (QR codes, etc.) bar codes can be read with the lens and recorded in a camera memo. The lithium ion battery provided is rated for approximately 360 shots/charge (CIPA standard). If the battery runs out, readily-available AAA-size alkaline batteries can be used instead.
The G700 is scheduled for local release in November at an RRP of $1,099. For more information, visit http://www.ricohcameras.com.au/ or phone Tasco on (02) 9938 3244.