Three New Ricoh Digicams

August 29, 2006: Ricoh has unveiled three new Caplio cameras in the lead-up to Photokina 2006, offering higher resolution, improved performance and some exciting new functions.
The new Caplio 500SE (RRP $1399), which is due for release in October, has been designed for outdoor adventurers, lifestyle extremists and workers in demanding environments and comes with a Bluetooth 2.0 module and EDR interface, which allows interaction with GPS technology. Photographers can embeds location data into image files and use the supplied Ricoh mapping software to synchronise each image with the latitude and longitude where the photo was taken. When downloaded to a computer, this data will show them the exact location on a map. This feature will be valuable to scientists, geologists, insurance assessors and technical support staff because it allows them to automatically pinpoint the place where shots were taken and convey this information to others.
Bluetooth connectivity also allows other technology to be harnessed, including barcode applications, and wireless links to PDAs, printers and other Bluetooth connected devices. The camera itself is impressively specified, with an 8-megapixel sensor, 3x wide-zoom lens (28-85mm equivalent optical zoom with close focusing to 1 cm) and a tough body that is water, dust and shock resistant. The zoom lens remains within the camera body for added protection and the Caplio 500SE boasts a 2.5-inch high-resolution LCD monitor and optical viewfinder. It can withstand a fall of up to one metre and boasts JIS 6 dust resistance and JIS 7 water resistance.
The Caplio 500SE’s built-in flash has an effective range of 10 metres for wide-angle images and 6.5 metres in telephoto mode. This can be extended further by adding an external flash. An anti-blur mode increases the ISO sensitivity, allowing users to shoot at faster shutter speeds. It also claims a 1.2-second start-up time and shot-to-shot intervals of 0.1 seconds. The supplied lithium-ion battery is capable of shooting 400 continuous shots (CIPA standard) when fully charged. The camera can also be used with AA batteries or an AC adapter. (Major specifications will be posted when they become available.)

Replacing the popular Caplio R4 is the new Caplio R5, which has a 7-megapixel CCD sensor and 7.1x wide zoom lens (28-200 mm optical zoom in 35 mm format). Available in silver, black or red, the Caplio R5 features a new Auto Resize Zoom that allows digital zooming with minimal loss of picture quality by cropping the 7-megapixel image. The new Smooth Image Engine II processor provides clear images up to ISO 1600 sensitivity with minimal image noise. The Caplio R5 boasts a 2.5 inch LCD with a higher 230,000 pixel resolution plus a new AVI movie function, that lets users record at VGA quality at 30 fps until memory is full.
CCD shift vibration correction detects and compensates for camera shake caused by hand movement. The R5 also offers 1 cm macro focusing. Other handy features include fast start-up and shot-to-shot times, continuous shooting at 2.8 fps to memory capacity and the ability to record up to 380 shots with a fully-charged battery. The Caplio R5 will go on sale in September at an RRP of $599.
MAJOR SPECIFICATIONS: CAPLIO R5

Sensor: 1/2.5-inch primary colour CCD with 7.41 million pixels (7.24 megapixels effective)
Lens: 4.6-33mm, f3.3-4.8 zoom lens (28-200mm for 35mm format) with seven fixed Step Zoom steps: 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm, 135mm, and 200mm)
Zoom range: 7.1x optical up to 25.6x digital (equivalent to 720 mm) when used with optical zoom; Auto Resize Zoom: 4.8x to34.1x
Recording Mode: Still – Continuous, S-Continuous, M-Continuous, Scene (Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Nightscape, Skew Correction, Text, Zoom Macro, High Sensitivity, My Setting 1, 2s), Movie
Recording Media: SD/MMC, Internal Memory (26MB)
LCD Monitor: 2.5-inch Transparent Amorphous Silicon TFT LCD (approx. 230,000 pixels)
Dimensions (W x D x H): 96.0 x 55.0 x 26.0 (excluding projections)
Weight: Approx. 140g (without battery, SD memory card, and hand strap); Accessories (battery, hand strap) approx.30g
Battery: Rechargeable Battery (DB-60) x 1, AC adaptor(AC-4c); Shooting Capacity approx. 380 pictures (based on CIPA Standard).

At entry level is the 6.16-megapixel Caplio RR660, which is on sale now at an RRP of $299. Weighing only 130 grams, the RR660 sports a 2.4 inch colour LCD monitor and a 3x optical zoom lens, which supports close-up shooting to 5 cm. Up to 4x digital zoom is available. Six scene modes are provided for novice users and video clips can be recorded at QVGA resolution with 20 fps.

MAJOR SPECIFICATIONS: CAPLIO RR660
Sensor: 1/2.5-inch primary colour CCD with 6.36 million pixels (6.16 megapixels effective)
Lens: 5.5-16.5mm, f2.8-4.8 zoom lens (34-102mm for 35mm format)
Zoom range: 3x optical up to 12x digital
Shutter speeds: 1-1/1000 sec
Recording Mode: Still (Auto, Program, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night), Video (320 x 240 20fps)
Recording Media: SD/MMC, Internal Memory (16MB)
LCD Monitor: 2.4-inch T TFT LCD (approx. 110,000 pixels)
Dimensions (W x D x H): 87.0 x 25.5 x 60.0
Weight: Approx. 130g (without battery, SD memory card, and hand strap)
Battery: AA alkaline or NiMH

Phone 1 300 363 741 for stockist information or visit www.ricoh.com.au for details of the above products.