Ricoh announces the CX2

The Ricoh CX2

Ricoh Co. Ltd. announces the release of the CX2, a new digital camera featuring a high magnification 10.7x (28-300 mm) optical wide-angle zoom lens in a compact body only 29.4 mm thick. The CX2 is capable of 5 frame/second high-speed continuous shooting of still images with the maximum number of pixels.  

The new CX2 inherits many popular features from its predecessor, the CX1 (introduced March 13, 2009), such as the high image quality and expanded dynamic range made possible by image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine IV and a high-speed image processing CMOS sensor. At the same time, it enhances functions that expand photo possibilities in a number of areas, including a 10.7x optical zoom lens that expands shooting capabilities from wide-angle through telephoto range, high-speed continuous shooting (approx. 5 frames/sec. at maximum number of pixels) functions so you won't miss the target scene, and the easy-to-use AF functions Pre-AF and Continuous AF.  

New scene modes such as "high-contrast B&W mode" and "miniaturize mode" have been added to stimulate shooting creativity, and various CX1 model functions have received enhancements, such as the addition of face recognition to easy shooting mode and the addition of an AUTO option for automatically defining the range expansion effect in dynamic range double shot mode.  

With its expanded range of functions for the relaxed enjoyment of photography, the CX2 represents the further evolution of the compact digital camera as "a tool you will want to use every day." 

The CX2 will be available at SRP £299.99 inc 



Main features of the new CX2

1. With a 10.7x optical zoom lens (28-300 mm) in a compact body only 29.4 mm thick, the CX2 shoots freely all the way from wide-angle to telephoto.

・ Ricoh's original retracting lens system made it possible to fit the newly developed high magnification 10.7x optical wide-angle zoom lens in a 29.4 mm body that is both easy to carry and easy to operate.

・ With 28 mm wide-angle to 300 mm telephoto coverage, this high magnification zoom lens can handle a wide range of shooting situations, including powerful telephoto shots as well as wide-angle shooting of both expansive landscapes and interior scenes with limited distance between camera and subject.

・ The zoom function can be switched to high-speed zoom by continuing to turn the zoom lever. 

2. More advanced high-speed continuous shooting functions enable you to get the shot you want.

・ With the enhanced continuous shooting mode, it is possible to do high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 5 frames/second for still images with the maximum number of pixels.

・ For the M-continuous plus shooting function, which saves consecutive images shot before the finger is removed from the shutter release button, a mode has been added that makes it possible to shoot at the maximum number of pixels. To fit the scene being photographed, you can select from two modes: M-Continuous Plus (9M) for 15 images (5 frames/sec.) taken in as little as three seconds and M-Continuous Plus (2M) for 30 images (30 frames/sec.) taken in about one second.

* M-Continuous Plus (9M) image size is fixed at N3456 (9M).

* M-Continuous Plus (2M) image size is fixed at N1728 (2M).

* The consecutively shot images are recorded as a single MP file (a file format with multiple still images in a single file).

・ With ultra-high-speed continuous shooting, the CX2 shoots 120 images (120 frames/sec.) during an interval of about one second after the shutter release button is pushed, or 120 images (60 frames/sec.) during an interval of about two seconds.

* Image size is fixed at N640 (VGA).

3. High image quality from Smooth Imaging Engine IV and a high-resolution CMOS sensor.

・ The CX2 has the image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine IV and a high-speed image processing CMOS sensor. Together they can shoot high-quality images with high resolution and low noise.

・ Residing on a customized circuit of the image processing engine, the pixel output interpolation algorithm reduces whiteout in high-contrast situations, thereby recreating beauty as seen.

・ Dynamic range double shot mode makes it possible to record images with an almost naked-eye impression; it has a new AUTO option where the camera automatically defines the optimal exposure difference. Now it is even easier to enjoy the benefits of dynamic range expansion of up to 12EV.

・ Multi-pattern auto white balance makes it possible to recreate natural as-seen colours even in people-photography scenes that were difficult to shoot with past auto white balance functions, such as scenes with both shadow and sunlight and scenes mixing flash and natural light (or fluorescent light, etc.).

4. New modes to stimulate creative photography.

・ As the name implies, "high-contrast B&W mode" shoots images with higher contrast than normal black & white mode. This makes it possible to record images with a grainy feel such as that created by using ultra-high-sensitivity film in a film camera or by push processing film at the development stage.

・ The new "miniaturize mode" shoots scenes with the top and bottom areas of the image blurred. This makes it possible to shoot actual scenes but record images that recreate the impression given when photographing miniatures.

・ The new "manner mode" enables you to turn off the flash, the AF auxiliary light, and operation sounds without changing the camera settings. This is convenient when shooting in museums and other public buildings. 

5. Easy shooting mode which can be enjoyed by a simple operation now has a function for automatic face recognition.

・ When faces are detected during shooting, the CX2 shoots the image with the focus, exposure, and white balance optimized for the faces. Compared to the previous model, there have been increases in recognition speed and number of faces detectable. A maximum of eight subject faces can now be detected.

・ When shooting subjects up close, the camera automatically switches to macro mode so macro photography can now be enjoyed without the inconvenience of having to switch modes.  

6. Pre-AF and Continuous AF functions quickly and accurately focus on the subject.

・ With Pre-AF, the camera automatically adjusts the focus even when the shutter release button is not half-pressed. Quick shooting is possible since the focus is adjusted in response to subject movement.

・ With Continuous AF, if subject movement is detected while the shutter release button is half-pressed, the camera automatically adjusts the focus to match the subject movement.

7. High-definition 3.0-inch 920,000-dot VGA LCD monitor.

・ The large, high-resolution LCD monitor has a wide viewing angle and high contrast. The screen has a fluorine coat to prevent soiling, a hard coat to prevent scratches, and an anti-reflection coat to give excellent visibility even outdoors in bright sunshine.

・ With sRGB comparison of 100% for colour reproduction range, the monitor vividly reproduces image colours.  

8. A wide range of functions inspired by the "A tool you will want to use every day" concept.

・ With the macro photography functions you can get as close to the subject as 1 cm for wide-angle and 28 cm for telephoto. Equivalent to 31 mm focal length for 35 mm cameras

・ A comfortable and easy-to-hold grip shape.

・ Electronic level utilizing an acceleration sensor.

・ Image sensor shift blur reduction function to reduce hand-motion blurring.

・ Three grid guides useful for framing images while shooting.

・ Image flag function to enable the quick display of specific images from among those in the camera. The maximum number of flags has been increased from 3 to 20. 

All of the focal lengths in this release are converted to the equivalent values for a 35 mm film camera.

The "dynamic range" of a digital camera is range of light intensity that the camera is able to process.

The term "MP file" used in this document refers to "Extended MP files" conforming to the "multi-picture format" standardized by the CIPA. (The file extension is MPO.) With MP file images recorded by the CX2, a selected frame can be extracted and saved as an individual JPEG image within the camera.



CX2 - Major Specifications

No. of Effective Pixels: Approximately 9.29 million pixels

Image Sensor: 1/2.3-inch CMOS (total pixels: approx. 10.29 million pixels)

Lens:

Focal length: f=4.9-52.5 mm (equivalent to 28-300 mm for 35 mm film cameras. With Step Zoom set, option of eight fixed lengths: 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 85 mm, 105 mm, 135 mm, 200 mm, and 300 mm) 

F-aperture: F3.5 (Wide) - F5.6 (Telephoto) 

Shooting Distance: Normal shooting: Approx. 30 cm - infinity (Wide), approx. 1.5 m - infinity (Telephoto) (from the front of the lens) 

Macro: Approx. 1 cm - infinity (Wide), approx. 28 cm - infinity (Telephoto), approx. 1 cm - infinity (Zoom Macro) (from the front of the lens) 

Lens Construction: 10 elements in 7 groups (aspheric lens: 4 elements and 5 surfaces)  

Zoom Magnification:

Optical: 10.7x zoom (equivalent to 28-300 mm focal length for 35 mm cameras)  

Digital: 4.8x up to 51.4x (equivalent to 1440 mm) when used with optical zoom  

Auto Resize: 5.4x up to 57.8x (VGA image size, equivalent to 1620 mm) when used with optical zoom

Focus Mode: Multi AF (contrast AF method) / Spot AF (contrast AF method) / Continuous AF / Multi-Target AF / Manual Focus / Fixed Focus (Snap) / Infinity (AF auxiliary light)

Motion Blur Reduction: Image sensor shift method image stabilizer

Shutter Speed: (varies depending on Shooting Mode and Flash Mode) : Still image: 8, 4, 2, 1 - 1/2000 sec. / Movie: 1/30 - 1/2000 sec.

Continuous Shooting: Values measured under Ricoh measurement conditions using a Panasonic PRO HIGH SPEED 8GB SDHC memory card. The continuous shooting speed and number of pictures will vary depending on the shooting conditions, the type of recording media used, the condition of the recording media, etc.

Continuous shooting speed: approx. 5 frames/sec. (F3456, F3:2, F1:1 shooting time; shooting speed after 60 pictures is approx. 3 frames/sec.) 

Continuous shooting capacity: 999 pictures

Exposure Control:

Exposure Metering Mode: Multi (256 segments), Centre Weighted Light Metering, Spot Metering  

Exposure Mode: Program AE  

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

ISO Sensitivity (Standard Output Sensitivity): AUTO, AUTO-HI, ISO80 / ISO100 / ISO200 / ISO400 / ISO800 / ISO1600

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

Flash: 

Built-in flash mode: Auto (during low light and when the subject is backlit), Red-eye-Reduction, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off  

Built-in flash range: Approx. 20 cm - 3.0 m (Wide), approx. 25 cm - 3.0 m (Telephoto) (ISO Auto/ISO 400, from the front of the lens)  

Flash compensation: +/-2.0EV (1/3EV Steps)

Monitor: 3.0-inch Transparent LCD (approx. 920,000 dots)

Shooting Mode: Auto Shooting Mode / Easy Shooting Mode / Dynamic Range Double Shot Mode / Continuous Shooting Modes (Continuous, M-Continuous Plus, Ultra-High-Speed Continuous) / Scene Modes (Portrait / Sports / Night Portrait / Landscape / Nightscape / High Sensitivity / Manner / Zoom Macro / High-Contrast B&W / Miniaturize / Skew Correction / Text) / My Settings Mode / Movie Mode

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

No. of Pixels Recorded:

Still image/multi-picture: [4:3] 3456x2592, 3072x2304, 2592x1944, 2048x1536, 1728x1296 (M-Cont Plus), 1280x960, 640x480 / [3:2] 3456x2304 / [1:1] 2592x2592  

Movie: 640x480, 320x240

Text: 3456x2592, 2048x1536  

Recording Media: SD memory card (32, 64, 128, 256, 512 MB, 1GB, 2GB), SDHC memory card (4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB), Internal memory (approx. 88MB)

Estimated Storage Capacity (Pictures/Time):

Still image/multi-picture: 3456x2592 (F: 24, N: 42) / 3456x2304 (F: 27) / 2592x2592 (F: 33) / 3072x2304 (N: 53) / 2592x1944 (N: 72) / 2048x1536 (N: 109) / 1728x1296 (N: 143)(M-Cont Plus) / 1280x960 (N: 175) / 640x480 (N: 705)  

Movie: 640x480: 15 frames/sec. (1 min. 42 sec.), 320x240: 15 frames/sec. (4 min. 19 sec.) / 640x480: 30 frames/sec. (51 sec.), 320x240: 30 frames/sec. (2 min. 12 sec.) The maximum length for one instance of movie recording is 90 minutes or the file size upper limit of 4GB.

Recording File Formats:

Still Image: JPEG (Exif ver. 2.21, Compatible with DCF and DPOF)

Multi-picture: CIPA DC-007-2009 Multi-Picture Format  

Movie: AVI (Open DML Motion JPEG Format compliant)  

Compression method: JPEG Baseline method compliant

Other Major Shooting Functions: Continuous, Self-Timer (operation time: approx. 10 sec. / approx. 2 sec. / custom self-timer), Interval Timer (Shooting interval: 5 sec. - 1 hour (5 sec. steps) with flash off, Colour Bracket function, Focus Bracket function, AE/AF Target Shift, Histogram, Grid Guide, Electronic Level

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

Interface: USB 2.0 (High-Speed USB) Mini-B, Mass storage compatible / AV Out 1.0Vp-p (75Ω )

Video Signal Format: NTSC, PAL switchable

Power Supply: Rechargeable Battery: DB-70 x1, AC adapter (AC-4g option)

Battery Consumption: Based on CIPA Standard: Using the DB-70, approx. 290 pictures (when LCD Dim is on, 270 if LCD Dim is off)

External Dimensions: 101.5 mm (W) x 58.3 mm (H) x 29.4 mm (D) (excluding projecting parts)

Weight: Approx. 185 g (excluding battery, SD memory card, strap), Accessories approx. 23 g (battery, strap)

Operating Temperature Range: 0ºC-40ºC