Ricoh Unveils GR Digital III With Fast Lens
Ricoh may not be the first brand you think of when it comes
to digital
cameras, but the company has some good offerings. Take the new GR Digital III,
for instance. This new camera features a fast 28mm, f/1.9 lens. That’s
something you don’t usually see on a point-and-shoot digital camera.
The GR Digital III also uses a new 10 megapixel CCD sensor and image processing engine that is designed to reduce noise without loss of resolution or saturation. Another cool feature of the GR Digital III is its burst speed of up to five RAW shots a second—that’s comparable to DSLRs. The high-resolution, 920,000 dot 3-inch LCD on the back is pretty impressive too.
Look for this camera to be available in the UK sometime next month for approximately $875. Given all of the cool features the GR Digital III has to offer, hopefully it will come to the US before too long as well.
The GR Digital III also uses a new 10 megapixel CCD sensor and image processing engine that is designed to reduce noise without loss of resolution or saturation. Another cool feature of the GR Digital III is its burst speed of up to five RAW shots a second—that’s comparable to DSLRs. The high-resolution, 920,000 dot 3-inch LCD on the back is pretty impressive too.
Look for this camera to be available in the UK sometime next month for approximately $875. Given all of the cool features the GR Digital III has to offer, hopefully it will come to the US before too long as well.
Ricoh announces the GR DIGITAL III
A milestone in digital camera evolution: Large-aperture F1.9 GR Lens and even greater image quality
Tokyo, Japan, July 27, 2009—Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and
CEO: Shiro Kondo) today announced the release of the GR DIGITAL III camera. A
Successor model to the GR DIGITAL II, The GR Digital III achieves a whole new
level of image quality.
The GR DIGITAL II (November 2007) achieved superb image quality by packing superior resolution, low noise, and low colour aberration performance into a thin, compact body. In the 20 months since its release, the GR Digital II it has been very popular with a wide range of customers, especially professional photographers and experienced amateurs.
The new GR DIGITAL III takes the GR line’s traditional high image quality to an even higher level with a new image processing engine, a new CCD, and the newly developed 28 mm/F1.9 GR Lens. Performance has also been enhanced in areas such as quick shooting, operability, and power of expression.
In order to fully respond to the needs of our customers for the GR DIGITAL III, Ricoh will continue to offer the customization services (fine tuning of shutter release button sensitivity, AE/AWB, etc.) that we have provided since the introduction of the GR DIGITAL.
The new GR Digital III will be available at £529.99 inc from the middle of August.
The GR DIGITAL III
1. Newly developed large-aperture lens.
The adoption of the new F1.9, f-6.0 mm (equivalent to 28 mm for 35 mm film cameras) lens for the GR DIGITAL III takes compact-body cameras into a new realm of images. This lens makes it possible to shoot with a faster shutter speed than could be used on previous models, or to shoot with the same shutter speed but at a lower setting for ISO sensitivity.
Despite the large F1.9 aperture, the new lens achieves a resolution level equivalent to that of the F2.4 GR Lens.
The use of a newly developed lens drive system has made it possible to achieve greater image quality in macro photography.
2. Taking the GR DIGITAL concepts another step forward, the GR DIGITAL III achieves even greater image quality.
The new image processing engine GR Engine III is installed. Using newly developed noise reduction technology, it enables highly sophisticated noise processing to be done while maintaining superior resolution, tone characteristics, and saturation.
The new high-sensitivity CCD (1/1.7 inch, approx. 10 megapixels) achieves high-sensitivity properties through the use of a new process. The combination of the newly developed GR Lens and GR Engine III significantly increases shooting performance in low-light scenes.
3. Even faster shooting capabilities for capturing fleeting shutter opportunities.
Algorithm improvements have reduced focusing time in low-light scenes. With the Pre-AF function, focusing speed is further accelerated by adjusting the focus to match the movement of the subject.
The new “full-press snap” function shoots at a preset distance for a one-push full-press of the shutter button.
Up to five RAW images can be recorded in consecutive shooting* and bracketing.
*When noise reduction is OFF. When it is Weak or Strong, the maximum is four images.
4. Enhanced expression capabilities make good use of GR Lens performance.
Shutter speed priority AE is now available in addition to aperture priority AE.
A more extensive range of image settings enables the photographer to control hue and saturation. This makes it easy to create images with a wide variety of coloration.
When photographing subjects with mixed color temperatures, the multi-pattern auto white balance function makes it possible to achieve optimum colour reproduction.
5. Large, high-visibility 3.0-inch VGA LCD monitor.
The 3.0-inch, 920,000-dot VGA LCD monitor provides high resolution, a wide viewing angle, excellent colour reproduction, good visibility outdoors, and a surface that resists soiling. The sRGB comparison for colour reproduction range is 100%.
The micro-thumbnail display function displays 81 thumbnail images on a single screen.
6. Operability further enhanced.
The My Settings on the mode dial have been expanded to three sets. The number of Fn (function) buttons on the back of the camera body has been expanded to two.
A function has been added for assigning names to My Settings sets and storing and retrieving them. A maximum of six sets can be defined and stored.
7. Expandability further enhanced with addition of new options.
The 21 mm wide conversion lens GW-2 and hood and adapter GH-2 will be sold.
The available soft cases are the GC-3 for the body only and the GC-4 quick-shooting case type compatible with the GV-2 viewfinder.
There are also plans to introduce the GF-1 external flash, which can handle TTL flash using auxiliary flash, in the autumn of 2009.
8. Function to be expanded using firmware.
Even after the GR DIGITAL III is introduced, we will continue to add new functions through the release of new firmware. By updating their firmware, GR DIGITAL III owners can continue to utilize the latest functions.
The GR DIGITAL II (November 2007) achieved superb image quality by packing superior resolution, low noise, and low colour aberration performance into a thin, compact body. In the 20 months since its release, the GR Digital II it has been very popular with a wide range of customers, especially professional photographers and experienced amateurs.
The new GR DIGITAL III takes the GR line’s traditional high image quality to an even higher level with a new image processing engine, a new CCD, and the newly developed 28 mm/F1.9 GR Lens. Performance has also been enhanced in areas such as quick shooting, operability, and power of expression.
In order to fully respond to the needs of our customers for the GR DIGITAL III, Ricoh will continue to offer the customization services (fine tuning of shutter release button sensitivity, AE/AWB, etc.) that we have provided since the introduction of the GR DIGITAL.
The new GR Digital III will be available at £529.99 inc from the middle of August.
The GR DIGITAL III
1. Newly developed large-aperture lens.
The adoption of the new F1.9, f-6.0 mm (equivalent to 28 mm for 35 mm film cameras) lens for the GR DIGITAL III takes compact-body cameras into a new realm of images. This lens makes it possible to shoot with a faster shutter speed than could be used on previous models, or to shoot with the same shutter speed but at a lower setting for ISO sensitivity.
Despite the large F1.9 aperture, the new lens achieves a resolution level equivalent to that of the F2.4 GR Lens.
The use of a newly developed lens drive system has made it possible to achieve greater image quality in macro photography.
2. Taking the GR DIGITAL concepts another step forward, the GR DIGITAL III achieves even greater image quality.
The new image processing engine GR Engine III is installed. Using newly developed noise reduction technology, it enables highly sophisticated noise processing to be done while maintaining superior resolution, tone characteristics, and saturation.
The new high-sensitivity CCD (1/1.7 inch, approx. 10 megapixels) achieves high-sensitivity properties through the use of a new process. The combination of the newly developed GR Lens and GR Engine III significantly increases shooting performance in low-light scenes.
3. Even faster shooting capabilities for capturing fleeting shutter opportunities.
Algorithm improvements have reduced focusing time in low-light scenes. With the Pre-AF function, focusing speed is further accelerated by adjusting the focus to match the movement of the subject.
The new “full-press snap” function shoots at a preset distance for a one-push full-press of the shutter button.
Up to five RAW images can be recorded in consecutive shooting* and bracketing.
*When noise reduction is OFF. When it is Weak or Strong, the maximum is four images.
4. Enhanced expression capabilities make good use of GR Lens performance.
Shutter speed priority AE is now available in addition to aperture priority AE.
A more extensive range of image settings enables the photographer to control hue and saturation. This makes it easy to create images with a wide variety of coloration.
When photographing subjects with mixed color temperatures, the multi-pattern auto white balance function makes it possible to achieve optimum colour reproduction.
5. Large, high-visibility 3.0-inch VGA LCD monitor.
The 3.0-inch, 920,000-dot VGA LCD monitor provides high resolution, a wide viewing angle, excellent colour reproduction, good visibility outdoors, and a surface that resists soiling. The sRGB comparison for colour reproduction range is 100%.
The micro-thumbnail display function displays 81 thumbnail images on a single screen.
6. Operability further enhanced.
The My Settings on the mode dial have been expanded to three sets. The number of Fn (function) buttons on the back of the camera body has been expanded to two.
A function has been added for assigning names to My Settings sets and storing and retrieving them. A maximum of six sets can be defined and stored.
7. Expandability further enhanced with addition of new options.
The 21 mm wide conversion lens GW-2 and hood and adapter GH-2 will be sold.
The available soft cases are the GC-3 for the body only and the GC-4 quick-shooting case type compatible with the GV-2 viewfinder.
There are also plans to introduce the GF-1 external flash, which can handle TTL flash using auxiliary flash, in the autumn of 2009.
8. Function to be expanded using firmware.
Even after the GR DIGITAL III is introduced, we will continue to add new functions through the release of new firmware. By updating their firmware, GR DIGITAL III owners can continue to utilize the latest functions.
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Via: Photography Blog | News Archive
| Tags:
DSLR,
camera,
digital camera,
cameras,
Ricoh,
GR Digital III
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