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Ricoh, that merry maverick of the camera world, has taken another step in the "luxe compact" category with the Caplio GX100 ($599, exclusively at Adorama), essentially a zoom-lensed version of the Ricoh GR Digital we tested in May 2006, with the added benefit of sensor-based image stabilization.
The new camera also jumps to 10MP, from the 8MP of the GR, and it shows in our resolution tests. From ISO 80 to ISO 200, resolution averages 2075 lines for a clearly Excellent rating. It declines through ISO 1600, where, at about 1700 lines, it still qualifies as Excellent.
Color accuracy is also Excellent, and noise fairly well controlled through ISO 400. But noise increases to Unacceptable at ISO 800 and becomes still worse at ISO 1600 -- typical of small-sensor, high-megapixel compacts. (The Ricoh does better in noise control than the equivalent Canon and Nikon.)
Image stabilization helps offset this shortcoming, as it provides up to 2 extra stops without needing a tripod in our tests using DxO Analyzer 2.0.
Besides sharp shots, there is a lot to like in the GX100. The 3X zoom lens is equivalent to 24-72mm, a wide-angle range we'll take any day over the 35-105mm typical on compacts. Want wider? The DW-6 converter lens ($140, at Adorama) gives you a 19mm equivalent.
If you're wondering how you see that field of view through an optical viewfinder, the answer is you don't -- the GX100 body has no viewfinder. But you can add an accessory finder, the VF-1 ($170, at Adorama; $100 when purchased in a kit with the camera), which gives you a 100 percent accurate view with any focal length -- because it's an electronic, not optical, viewfinder.
The finder image is on the grainy side, and the edges of the frame are a challenge for eyeglass wearers, but it shows you full information, can be tilted up to 90 degrees for low-angle or close-up shooting, and is much easier to see in bright light than the LCD. And the 19mm converter requires no additional setup in the menus, as the lens automatically signals the camera's electronics when it's screwed into place.
The GX100's magnesium-alloy body looks as if it could be run over by a truck with no ill effects. The thickened end of the camera provides a secure, comfortable grip.
The controls could serve -- or should serve -- as a model for other manufacturers. There is both a command dial on the front and a command toggle switch on the back. In manual mode, the front dial controls aperture, while the rear toggle sets shutter speeds. An on-screen (or in-finder) linear scale guides you to the correct exposure. Press the rear toggle, and you can quickly access controls such as exposure comp and white balance.
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