In summary
Shots from the test camera were slightly contrasty but colour accurate and sharp. Flash coverage was modest and the white balance performed best with the custom setting. Low light shots had a scattering of stuck pixels at all ISO settings. Capture lag averaged 0.25 seconds, extending to 0.6 seconds with subjects that were difficult to focus. . . [more]
Full review
Ricoh’s Caplio 300G carries a JIS Level 7 waterproof rating for depths between 0.15m and 1m. Its plastic body shell is also dustproof and elastomer padding protects the lens against impact shock. The knurled mode dial has five settings (playback, auto shooting, scene, movie and set-up) and a central on/off button. The shutter button has a dimpled rubberised coating. An accessory shoe is provided for external flash units. The back panel carries the zoom rockers and four-way controller plus menu, delete/self-timer, OK and display buttons. The control suite is similar to that of the Caplio RX and, like other Ricoh digicams, the 300G can use either a rechargeable battery (supplied) or two AA cells.
Shots from the test camera were slightly contrasty but colour accurate and sharp. Flash coverage was modest and the white balance performed best with the custom setting. Low light shots had a scattering of stuck pixels at all ISO settings. Capture lag averaged 0.25 seconds, extending to 0.6 seconds with subjects that were difficult to focus. The Continuous shooting mode captured shots at 0.3 second intervals, while S Continuous and M Continuous recorded 16 frames within two seconds and presented them as one frame.
Strengths
- Rugged construction
- Easy to operate
- Close focusing to 1cm
Weaknesses
- LCD difficult to use in bright light
- Viewfinder unsuitable for use with glasses [BG05]
Specifications
Image sensor: 5.27 x 3.95mm CCD with 3,340,000 photosites (3.24 megapixels effective)
Lens: 5.5-16.5mm f2.6-4.7 zoom lens (equivalent to 35-105mm in 35mm format)
Zoom ratio: 3x optical, 3.4x digital
Dimensions (wxhxd): 135 x 66 x 66mm
Weight: 310g
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Ted’s Cameras
1800 186 895
Big range of cameras and photographic products with stores in most states and online.
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