Ricoh have released a new firmware update, version 2.0, for the GR DIGITAL II compact digital camera. Ricoh’s function-enhancing firmware updates are developed in response to opinions and requests received from a large number of customers. The function-enhancing firmware and instructions for using these functions can be downloaded free of charge from the Ricoh website.

Add the following features.
• Switching shooting modes in My Settings mode
At My Settings mode, you can switch shooting modes with the menu setting without turning the mode dial.
• Magnified Playback using Up-down Dial/ADJ. Lever
You can use also the up-down dial to enlarge an image during the playback mode, not only with the enlarged view button.
• [Level Sound] in [Operation Sounds]
You can choose [Level Sound] in [Operation Sound].
• [On]/[Off] for the [Power Button Lamp]
When the power is turned on, you can now make a setting to light the power button lamp or not.

Modified/added the following items.
• Supports the flash from Sigma, [EF-500 DG ST/SUPER].
• Improved the white balance when you take a picture with the [Flash Synchro] in flash modes.
• Modified the phenomenon that the information will not be displayed when the following combinations; setting the display off and the [Info Disp] on, and then switching the macro mode.
• Modified the phenomenon that if being selected the [CL-BKT] in the [Auto Bracket], and if taking a picture with a long exposure time (15 seconds or longer) in the M mode, the color bracket processing will not completed and any keys will not work.

Ricoh Press Release

Ricoh releases first function-enhancing firmware update for GR DIGITAL II

Usability enhanced based on customer requests in a firmware update program continued from the GR DIGITAL

Tokyo, Japan – March 24 – Ricoh Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Shiro Kondo) announced today that it will release on March 27 the first function-enhancing firmware update for its GR DIGITAL II, a high-resolution compact digital camera launched in November 2007.

Successor model to the GR DIGITAL, which proved very popular in the two years following its October 2005 launch, the compact GR DIGITAL II achieves a level of image quality capable of satisfying professional photographers, experienced amateurs, and photo aficionados. Ricoh’s function-enhancing firmware updates are developed in response to opinions and requests received from a large number of customers via GR BLOG, surveys submitted at customer registration time, etc. They make it possible to update already purchased GR DIGITAL II cameras with the latest functions. For the earlier GR DIGITAL model, a total of five function-enhancing firmware updates were released (the first on March 24, 2006), and these popular updates were utilized by many people. This is the first such update for the GR DIGITAL II.

The function-enhancing firmware and instructions for using these functions can be downloaded free of charge from the Ricoh website.

(1) It is now easier to switch shooting modes when shooting in My Settings Mode.
My Settings Mode enables the photographer to make the desired shooting settings in advance. This update enhances camera usability by making it possible to switch shooting modes without turning the mode dial when shooting in My Settings Mode.

(2) It is now easier to display enlarged images in playback mode.
For image playback mode, this update makes it possible to change the image magnification level using not only the Enlarged View button but also the up-down dial. In addition, it is also possible to keep the image enlarged when advancing to the next image using the ADJ lever. These functions are convenient to use when checking image content in playback.

(3) It is now possible to specify only the level sensor sound and beep sound even when operational sounds (such as start sound and shutter release sound) are turned off.
This expands the possibilities for shooting using the level sensor.

(4) It is now possible to specify whether the power button LED lamp should turn on.
The power button LED lamp normally turns on when the power is on, but it is now possible to switch to a setting where this lamp is always off.

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