Ricoh Japan have already announced this new model - now it’s the turn of Ricoh UK to introduce the Caplio R1V, which will be available in retail from February. Price to be confirmed.

Ricoh UK Press Release

Successor to the popular Caplio R1, the Caplio R1V is a powerful 5.0 megapixel digital camera with a 28mm wide-angle, 4.8x optical zoom in an exceptionally slim 25mm body

Northampton 2004. Ricoh is extremely proud to announce the launch of the Caplio R1V 5.0 megapixel digital camera, the successor to the award winning Caplio R1. The Caplio R1V features an innovative lens retracting system that enables 4.8x optical zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle shooting capacity to be housed in a 25mm ultra slim, aluminium body. The lens generates the finest quality images capable of being offered by this class of compact digital cameras. Moreover, with the world’s fastest shutter response* and Ricoh’s exceptional 1cm wide macro technology, the Caplio R1V incorporates all the latest high-end features to satisfy even the most discerning professional. At the same time, it offers user-friendly functionality that everyone who enjoys taking pictures will love. Even more impressive, is that the Caplio R1V’s powerful features are encased in a sleek body as thin as 25mm and weighing just 150 grams.

*As of

, 2004 for all auto focus digital cameras.

Main Features

■ 28mm wide-angle lens presents nearly infinite possibilities.
The versatility of the Caplio R1V’s 28mm wide-angle lens makes taking photos even more exciting and enjoyable. The lens is perfectly suited to capturing the beauty of wide-open landscapes. A large number of people can also fit into group photos without the photographer having to stand backs an unreasonable distance. Furthermore, when space is limited and the subject would normally fill the viewfinder obscuring the background, the Caplio R1V’s wide-angle lens has the scope to incorporate the background into the shot. Its 75-degree angle of view enables near-panoramic swaths of scenery to be included on a single image—far more than is possible with the 62 degrees offered by conventional 35mm digital cameras. The applications and advantages of the 28mm wide-angle lens are innumerable

■.An innovative lens mechanism allows a 4.8x optical zoom to be housed in an ultra thin 25mm body.
Underlying Caplio R1V’s stunning picture-taking abilities is its unique lens design, which incorporates a retracting system that allows a part of the lens group to slide out from the cone and become thin enough to fit in the compact body. This amazing innovative mechanism is the key to achieving the powerful 4.8x wide-angle optical zoom lens (equivalent to a 28-135mm telephoto lens on a regular 35mm camera) to be encased in a 25mm body. Coupled with a 3.4x digital zoom lens for an outstanding 12.2x zoom, distant objects seem startlingly close. A superior lens structure, featuring nine glass elements placed in seven groups, effectively controls and balances wide-angle zooming for clearer images than ever before. And, a superb 5.0 megapixel CCD and the “smooth imaging engine,” Ricoh’s unique image processor, ensure sharp, rich colours and clean high-quality images, even in large print formats.

■ Super quick shutter response to capture the perfect moment.
Because picture-perfect moments are too precious to miss, Ricoh has relentlessly pursued the world’s fastest shutter response time. Incredibly, it takes only less than 0.8 seconds for the Caplio R1V to be ready to shoot photos after it is turned on. Moreover, the release time is almost instantaneous—as short as 0.05 to 0.1 seconds, calculated from the time the user presses the shutter button, and a miraculous 0.003 seconds or less from the time the focus is locked. This assures that the Caplio R1V will be ready when an exquisite picture-perfect moment presents itself. A hybrid auto focusing system also ensures the camera to capture quality images of fast-moving objects. Furthermore, with a shooting interval of 0.9 seconds or less, continuous shooting is smooth and stress-free.

■ Creative photography with 1cm “wide” macro mode.
Whether the smallest detail of a flower petal or the intricate pattern of a butterfly’s wings, Ricoh’s impressive 1cm macro technology facilitates close-up shots from a distance of just 1cm. Combined with the 28mm wide macro, the Caplio R1V incorporates more background or depth into macro shots. The AF target shift function conveniently enables the user to pan around the image and locate the desired focus point without moving the camera. This feature is especially handy when using a tripod. Additionally, in telemacro mode, a built-in flash illuminates objects as close as 13cm while negating whiteout effects, ensuring vivid, clear macro shots. The Caplio R1V and a little creativity are all it takes to produce professional-looking macro images.

■ Three power source options put an end to battery problems.
The Caplio R1V virtually guarantees an end to missed photo opportunities due to recharging or running out of batteries and backups. In addition to the long-life lithium ion rechargeable battery (optional) and the AC adapter (optional), the Caplio R1V features the unique ability to switch to widely available AA size alkaline batteries or nickel metal hydride batteries. It can shoot as many as 500 images* between recharges when using the lithium ion battery, and up to 200 images* when using AA alkaline batteries.

*Under normal usage conditions (50% flash and zoom usage, LCD on, 30 seconds between shots, reviews of all photos)

Price and Availability.
The Caplio R1V will be available in retail from February. Price to be confirmed.

For further details on the Caplio R1V or any other products in the Ricoh range:
Ricoh UK – EPMMC

Nao Evason
Telephone: 0208 2614031
Fax: 0208 2614220
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ricohpmmc.com

Ricoh Caplio R1V Major Specifications:

Specifications
CCD 5.19 pixes (effective 5.02 million)
RESOLUTION Still: 2560x1920 / 2048x1536 / 1280x960 / 640x480
Text: 2560x1920 / 2048x1536
Motion: 320x240, 160x120
RECORDING MEDIUM Internal 12MB / SD Memory card, Multi-Media card
FOCAL LENGTH 4.6 to 22.2mm (28-135mm equiv.)
SHOOTING RANGE Approx. 0.3m-Infinity (Macro: Approx. 0.01m-Infinity)
Telemacro: Approx. 0.13m-Infinity
RECORDING MODE Still / Motion / Continuous / S-Continuous / M-Continuous / Scene (Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Text, Night Scene, High – sensitivity)
PICTURE MODE Fine / Normal
SHUTTER Still: 8, 4, 2, 1 - 1/2000sec. (mechanical / electronic shutter)
Motion: 1/30 - 1/2000sec. (electronic shutter)
ISO SENSITIVITY Auto, ISO64, ISO100, ISO200, ISO400, ISO800
MONITOR DISPLAY 1.8” TFT LCD
BUILT-IN FLASH Auto / On / Slow Synchro / Off / Red-Eye Reduction
FOCUS Auto Focus / Manual Focus / Fixed Focus (snapshot)
EXPOSURE MODE Multi Light Metering (256 segments), Center-weighted, Spot
EXPOSURE ADJUSTMENT Manual Exposure Compensation (+/- 2.0 EV in 1/3EV steps)
WHITE BALANCE Auto / Fixed (Outdoors, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, One Push)
INTERFACES PC: USB / Video Out
BATTERY AA-size Dry Alkaline batteries, Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (option)
WEIGHT Approx. 165g (excluding battery, SD Memory Card, hand strap)
DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 100.2mm x 55.0mm x 25.0mm (excluding projections)

Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Caplio R1V Standard Package Contents;
USB Cable, AV Cable, Software CD (Win/Mac), AA Alkaline batteries (2) and Instruction manual