The Ricoh R8 is a new 10 megapixel digital camera with a 7.1 wide-angle zoom lens. The R8 offers the Smooth Imaging EngineIII image processing engine, CCD-shift vibration correction, face recognition and 1cm macro mode. Other new features of the Ricoh R8 include a large 2.7-inch, 460,000-pixel HVGA LCD, 1:1 aspect square format function, and a complete redesign when compared to the previous R7 model. Available in silver or black and two tone, the Ricoh R8 will be available in March for £249.99.

Ricoh Press Press Release

7.1x Optical Wide-Angle Zoom Compact Digital Camera with 10 Megapixel CCD and Enhanced Photography Functions

Tokyo, Japan - February 19, 2008 - Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) has developed and introduced the new R8 compact digital camera featuring a 7.1x optical wide-angle zoom lens (28-200 mm in 35 mm focal length), a high-resolution 10 megapixel CCD, and enhanced photography functions.

The new R8 combines a new 10 megapixel CCD with the popular Smooth Imaging EngineIII image processing engine of earlier models, to take high-definition photography to a higher level.

The R8 also offers various other enhanced capabilities for fun and easy photography, such as a large 2.7-inch, 460,000-pixel HVGA LCD and the same 1:1 aspect square format photography function that has proven extremely popular on Ricoh’s Caplio GX100 (launched April 2007) and GR DIGITALII (launched November 2007) models.

In addition to the specification improvements, the R8 has also undergone a complete redesign. This new model combines ease of use and technical specification in a body that is contemporary and stylish and has been designed based on the concept ” a tool you will want to use every day”.

In creating the R8 as a tool for taking photographs, great care has been given not only to styling and coloring but also to its operability, portability, comfort in hand, and its solid, high-quality feel.

Main features of the new R8

1. High-picture quality, low-noise photography is achieved with the high-resolution 10 megapixel CCD and the Smooth Imaging EngineIII image processing engine.
  • An effective 10 megapixel CCD has been newly installed. Working together with the popular image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine III, this new CCD makes possible high-quality images that have both high-resolution and low noise.

2. High-resolution 2.7-inch, 460,000-pixel HVGA LCD
  • The new 2.7-inch, 460,000-pixel high-resolution LCD has a wide viewing angle and high contrast for distinct, easy viewing even outdoors. When thumbnail images are displayed, even the small 1/20 size images are clearly reproduced.

3. Based on the “a tool you will want to use every day” concept, the R8 has been given a totally new design emphasizing its beauty as a photographic tool.
  • Styling that intensifies a simple, functional beauty and eliminates design frills. A rubber grip that fits well in the hand and is easy to hold, an easy-to-operate mode dial. The many features of the R8 combine to achieve both functional beauty and ease of use.
  • In addition to its compact pocket size, the mounting of two strap eyelets has further increased portability.
  • The R8’s solid, high-quality feel has been further enhanced by the top cover emphasizing a solid, metal feel; the lens barrel end and rings finished with metal spin processing, and the spin processed mode dial and release button.

4. Ricoh’s original double retracting lens system has made it possible to equip the R8 with a 7.1x wide-angle zoom lens for a body with both operability and portability.
  • Measuring only 22.6 mm at the thinnest point, the body features a 7.1x fully retractable wide-angle zoom lens with a 28-200 mm range.

5. Expanded shooting functions for richly expressive photographs.
  (1) Square format photography
    The R8 has a shooting function for an image size aspect ratio of 1:1. This square format photography has proved very popular on Ricoh’s Caplio GX100 (launched April 2007) and GR DIGITALII (launched November 22, 2007) models. The resulting composition has quite a different feel from the standard rectangular vertical or horizontal format. This format can also be quite convenient for blog photographs.
  (2) Expanded functionality for the ADJ. (Adjust) button
    Already given enhanced usability in the Caplio R7 (launched September 2007), the ADJ. (Adjust) button has further evolved in the R8. Integrating the ADJ. (Adjust) button functions with those previously controlled by the cross-key has made menu operations even faster and simpler.
  (3) Fix minimum aperture function provided
    When the fix minimum aperture function is on, shooting is done at the smallest aperture, which gives a deep depth of field in the resulting photograph.
  (4) AF/AE Target shift functions provided
    Enhanced capabilities have been given to the AF target shift function which was previously only available for macro photography. While shooting, it is possible to shift the target for AF or AE or both without moving the camera.
  (5) Zoom lever usability improved
    With zoom lever operation it is possible to switch between two zoom speeds. This enables the full capabilities of the 28-200 mm 7.1x wide-angle zoom lens to be utilized.

6. Enhanced image editing functions enable images to be manipulated in the camera.
  (1) Image brightness and contrast correction (level compensation)
 
• Still image brightness and contrast can be corrected with either auto or manual modes, with the corrected image being recorded in the camera. With manual correction, the image is corrected by adjusting the histogram.
  (2) Image color tone correction (white balance compensation)
 
• By adjusting green, magenta, blue, and amber tones, still image color tone can be corrected, with the corrected image being recorded in the camera.
  (3) Trimming of still images
 
• Still images can be trimmed and the resulting image saved in a separate file. This is convenient when doing direct printing with PictBridge, etc.

7. Dual vibration correction functions, macro functions, and face recognition mode are provided.
  • The R8 contains Ricoh’s original CCD-shift vibration correction function which compensates for camera shake when it is detected. This reduces the blurring that tends to occur in situations such as telephoto and macro photography.
  • Ricoh’s popular and powerful macro functions are included, enabling shooting of objects as close as 1 cm with wide macro and as close as 25 cm with telemacro.
  • Face recognition mode automatically identifies faces in a scene and optimizes focus, exposure, and white balance for the faces.

Ricoh R8 – Major Specifications

No. of Effective Pixels (Camera):
Approximately 10 million pixels

CCD:
1/2.3-inch CCD (total pixels: approx. 10.30 million pixels

Lens:
Focal length: f=4.95-35.4 mm (equivalent to 28-200 mm for 35 mm fi lm cameras. With Step Zoom set,
option of seven fi xed lengths: 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 85 mm, 105 mm, 135 mm, and 200 mm)
F Value: F3.3 (Wide) - F5.2 (Telephoto)

Shooting Distance Range: Standard: Approx. 30 cm - infi nity (Wide), approx. 1.0 m - infi nity (Telephoto)
(From lens tip)
Macro: Approx. 1 cm - infi nity (Wide), approx. 25 cm - infi nity (Telephoto) (From lens tip)

Zoom Magnifi cation:
Optical: 7.1x zoom (equivalent to 28-200 mm focal length for 35 mm cameras),
Digital: 4.8x, Maximum: 34.1x (equivalent to 960 mm) when used with optical zoom
Auto Resize: 5.7*1, Maximum: 40.5*1 (equivalent to 1130 mm) when used with optical zoom

Focus Modes:
Multi AF (CCD method) / Spot AF (CCD method) / Manual Focus / Fixed Focus (Snap) / Infi nity (focus
lock, AF auxiliary light)

Vibration Correction Function:
CCD shift method vibration correction function

Shutter Speed:*2
Still image: 8, 4, 2, 1 - 1/2000 sec. / Movie: 1/30 - 1/2000 sec.

Exposure Control:
Exposure Metering Mode: Multi Light Metering (256 segments), Centre Weighted Light Metering, Spot
Metering (TTL-CCD metering method)

Exposure Mode: Program AE

Exposure Compansation: Manual Exposure Compensation +/-2.0EV (1/3EV Steps), Auto Bracket
Function (-0.5EV, ±0, +0.5EV)

ISO Sensitivity (Standard Output Sensitivity):
AUTO, AUTO-HI, ISO64 / ISO100 / ISO200 / ISO400 / ISO800 / ISO1600

White Balance Mode:
AUTO / Outdoors / Cloudy / Incandescent / Incandescent 2 / Fluorescent / Manual, White Balance
Bracket Function

Flash:
Flash Modes: Auto (fi res automatically in low-light conditions and when the subject is backlit), Redeye-
Reduction, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Soft Flash, Flash Off / Flash Range: Approx. 20 cm - 3.0 m
(Wide-angle), approx. 25 cm - 2.0 m (Telephoto) (ISO Auto, distance from the front of the lens)

Monitor:
2.7-inch Transparent Amorphous Silicon TFT LCD (approx. 460,000 pixels)

Shooting Mode:
Auto Shooting Mode / Scene Modes (Portrait / Face / Sports / Landscape / Nightscape / High Sensitivity
/ Zoom Macro / Black&White / Sepia / Skew Correction / Text), My Setting Mode / Movie Mode

Picture Quality Mode:*3
F (Fine) / N (Normal)

No. of Pixel recorded:
Still image: [4:3] 3648x2736, 3264x2448, 2592x1944, 2048x1536, 1280x960, 640x480
[3:2] 3648x2432 / [1:1] 2736x2736
Movie: 640x480, 320x240 / Text: 3648x2736, 2048x1536

Recording Media:
SD memory card (3.3V: 32, 64, 128, 256, 512 MB, 1GB, 2GB), SDHC memory card (4GB, 8GB), Multi-
Media card, Internal memory (approx. 24 MB)

Storage Capacity (Number of Pictures):*4
Still image: 3648x2736 (F: 6, N: 11) / 3648x2432 (F: 7) / 2736x2736 (F: 8) / 3264x2448 (N: 13) /
2592x1944 (N: 21) / 2048x1536 (N: 32) / 1280x960 (N: 58) / 640x480 (N: 219)
Movie:*5
640x480: 15 frames/sec. (36 sec.), 320x240: 15 frames/sec. (1 min. 10 sec.) /
640x480: 30 frames/sec. (18 sec.), 320×240: 30 frames/sec. (36 sec.)

Recording File Format:
Still Image: JPEG (Exif ver. 2.21)*6
Text: JPEG (Exif ver. 2.21)*6
Movie: AVI (Open DML Motion JPEG Format compliant)

Other Major Shooting Functions:
Cont / S-Cont / M-Cont, Self-Timer (operation time: approx. 10 sec. / 2 sec.), Interval Timer (Shooting
interval: 5 sec. - 3 hours (5 sec. steps)*7, Colour Bracket function, Fix Min. Aperture, AF/AE Target
Shift, Record Dual Size, Histogram, Grid Guide, Enlarge Photo Icon, Playback Image Rotation function

Other Major Playback Functions:
Grid View, Enlarged Display (maximum 16x), Resize, Level Compensation, White Balance Compensation,
Trim

External Interface:
USB 2.0 mini-B, High-Speed USB, Mass storage compatible*8 / Audio Out / Video Out

Video Signal Format:
NTSC, PAL switchable

Power Supply:
Rechargeable Battery: DB-70 1x, AC adapter (AC-4f optional)

Battery life:
Based on CIPA Standard: Using the DB-70, approx. 270 pictures*9

External Dimensions:
102.0 mm (W) x 58.3 mm (H) x 26.1 mm (D) / (22,6 mm) (D) (excluding projecting parts)

Weight:
Approx. 168 g (excluding battery, SD memory card, strap), Accessories approx. 26 g (battery, strap)

Operating Temperature Range:
0ºC-40ºC

*1. VGA image size
*2. Shutter speed upper and lower limits vary depending on Shooting Mode and Flash Mode.
*3. The picture quality modes which can be set vary depending on the image size.
*4. Estimated number of still images it is possible to record and estimated amount of movie recording
time.
*5. The maximum length for one instance of movie recording is 90 minutes or the fi le size upper limit of
4 GB.
*6. Compatible with DCF and DPOF. DCF is the abbreviation of the JEITA standard “Design rule for
Camera File system.” (It does not guarantee perfect inter-camera compatibility.)
*7. With fl ash off
*8. Mass storage driver is compatible with Windows Me, 2000, XP, Vista, Mac OS9.0-9.2.2, and Mac
OSX10.1.2-10.5.1.
*9. Shooting capacity was measured using CIPA-standard parameters. This is only an estimate, and
performance may vary according to usage conditions.
* Windows is a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.A. and other
countries.
* Mac OS is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries.

Ricoh Press Release

Ricoh strengthens its line-up of 10 megapixel CCD compact digital cameras
Release of the high-end oriented R8 and, the R50 with an emphasis on portability

Tokyo, Japan - February 19, 2008 - Ricoh Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Shiro Kondo) has announced the release, on March 7, of two new compact digital cameras featuring a high-resolution 10 megapixel CCD: (1) The high-end R8 which is equipped with enhanced functions such as a 7.1x optical wide-angle zoom lens (28mm-200mm*), and (2) the compact R50 which features a 5x optical zoom lens (36mm-180mm*).

For detailed information, see the press release corresponding to each camera.

The basic concept of Ricoh cameras is to “expand the range of photo shooting”. A digital compact camera that enables the user to immerse themselves beyond the limits of time and space to capture that decisive moment. Photography that focuses on spontaneity and supports candid photography culture. With the release of these new products, Ricoh has broadened its line-up of 10 megapixel CCD compact digital cameras and, furthermore, hopes that a wide range of users can enjoy photography in their own way.

Beginning with these new models, Ricoh will no longer use the “Caplio” product family name that has been utilized up to now. New product names will consist only of the model letter and number combination. This is being done because it is seen as a better fit for our development and product concept of creating “practical tools.” Under the Ricoh brand, we will continue working to enhance the capabilities of each series: GR DIGITAL, GX, and R.

*Equivalent to 35mm camera focal length

Your Comments