Ricoh announces RICOH LENS P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC*. A new GXR camera unit with a 10.7x optical zoom lens (28-300 mm) and RAW high-speed continuous shooting at up to 5 frames per second

10 May 2010: Ricoh has today confirmed a third interchangeable unit for its revolutionary GXR camera system will be available to Australian customers from June 2010.

Incorporating a 10.7x optical zoom lens, a back-illuminated CMOS sensor and a newly developed noise reduction function, the RICOH LENS P10 unit offers 28-300mm wide angle shooting and continuous shooting speeds of up to 5 frames per second when shooting in RAW.

The back-illuminated CMOS sensor serves as the eye of P10. Using an innovative structure to more efficiently capture light coming through the lens, this sensor greatly increases sensitivity while also reducing noise. When combined with a new noise reduction function which enables the photographer to specify the level of correction, night and indoor scenes can be recreated with smooth tonal gradations and vivid colours.

To further improve performance in varied lighting conditions – those combining light and shade - the P10 unit also incorporates the acclaimed dynamic range double shot and multi-pattern auto white balance modes as offered by Ricoh’s award-winning CX series of compact digital cameras.

However, while the P10 unit borrows these features, it goes a step further by handing photographers complete control through options such as aperture priority AE, shutter priority AE, program shift mode, flash synchro settings as well as the ability to shoot in RAW. Advanced focus functions include Pre-AF, Multi-target AF and ‘full press snap’ whereby focus is automatically locked on subjects at a distance predetermined by the photographer, without the need for a half-press.

Ricoh has also made an effort to increase shooting options with the addition of a 1280 x 720 pixel HD movie function. Adding to its cinematic appeal, the P10 offers a number of aspect ratios including 16:9 which creates images in a size that delivers maximum impact on a wide-screen television. The P10 unit also offers photographers the opportunity to get up close with their subject with a macro function capable of shooting at distances as little as 1cm.

Available from selected camera specialists from mid-June 2010, the RICOH LENS P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC* is expected to retail for RRP $499. Options include a soft case and a self-retaining lens cap.

A GXR P10 Kit including the GXR camera body and P10 interchangeable camera unit will also be available for RRP $749, representing a significant saving of $449.

*The "VC" designation indicates that this unit utilises a Vibration Correction function developed independently by Ricoh.

About the Ricoh GXR

The GXR is an interchangeable unit camera system in which lenses are changed by using a slide-in mount system to attach camera units to the body. In a world-first design, the lens, image sensor and image processing engine are integrated into the camera units so the body itself does not contain an image sensor. When released in December 2009, it was the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens camera.

The GXR represents a further evolution of Ricoh’s award-winning GR Digital and GX compact digital cameras. Like its predecessors, the GXR offers an irresistible combination - the superior image quality and advanced manual control of a SLR, with the pocketability and handling of a compact. With the innovative slide-in mount structure, camera unit changes are as quick and easy as changing a memory card.
 
To fully utilise this system's unique ability to accommodate interchangeable units other than camera units, Ricoh is investigating possibilities for the development of a variety of devices, such as storage, printers and projectors. A fourth interchangeable camera unit featuring a 28mm fixed-focal-length GR lens and APS-C size CMOS sensor is scheduled for release in late 2010.
 
For customer enquiries contact Ricoh’s Australian distributor, Tasco on 02 9938 3244 or visit www.tasco.com.au

RICOH LENS P10 28-300MM F3.5-5.6 VC Specifications

Effective pixels:
Approximately 10 million

Image sensor:
1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor (total pixels: approx. 10.60 million pixels)

Lens:
Focal length: f=4.9-52.5 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28-300 mm)
Aperture (f-number): f/3.5 – f/5.6
Focus range (from the front of the lens): Normal shooting: Approx. 30 cm - infinity (wide-angle), approx. 1.5 m – infinity (telephoto)
Macro shooting (from the front of the lens): Approx. 1 cm - infinity (wide-angle), approx. 27 cm - infinity (telephoto), approx. 1 cm - infinity (zoom macro)
Construction: 10 elements in 7 groups (4 aspherical lens elements with 5 surfaces)

Zoom:
10.7x optical zoom; 4.0x digital zoom (2.8x for movies, HD), approx. 5.7x auto resize zoom (VGA)

Focus mode:
Multi AF; Spot AF; MF; Snap; 8; Multi-trgt AF (AF auxiliary light and focus bracketing available)

Camera shake correction function:
Image sensor shift method image stabiliser

Shutter speed:
Photographs: 1/2000 - 30s (upper and lower limits vary according to shooting and flash mode)
Movies: 1/30 – 1/2000 s

Exposure control:
Metering: Multi (256-segment), center-weighted, and spot modes (TTL metering with auto exposure lock)
Mode: Program AE, aperture priority AE*1, manual exposure, shutter priority AE, move target function
Exposure compensation: Manual (+4.0 to -4.0 EV in increments 1/3 EV or 1/2 EV), auto bracketing (-2 EV to +2 EV in increments 1/3 EV or 1/2 EV)

ISO sensitivity (Standard Output Sensitivity):
Auto, Auto-Hi, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO 3200

White balance:
Auto / Multi-P AUTO / Outdoors / Cloudy / Incandescent Lamp 1 / Incandescent Lamp 2 / Fluorescent Lamp / Manual Settings / Detail; white balance Bracketing

Flash:
Range (built-in flash): Approx. 20cm – 4.0m (wide-angle), approx. 28cm – 2.5m (telephoto) (ISO AUTO)

Shooting mode:
Auto / program shift / aperture priority*1 / shutter priority / manual /scene (movie, portrait, sports, landscape, nightscape, skew correction, dynamic range double shot, zoom macro) / “My Settings”

Continuous mode:
Number of pictures shot in Continuous (Picture Size: RAW); Noise Reduction off: 5 pictures; Noise Reduction on weak, strong, or MAX: 4 pictures
Number of pictures shot in M-Cont Plus (1 set): Low (3648 × 2736): 15 pictures (5 frames/sec.), Hi (1728 × 1296): 26 pictures (30 frames/sec).
Number of pictures shot in Ultra-high-speed Cont (1 set): Low (640 × 480): 120pictures (60 frames/sec.), Hi (640 × 480): 120 pictures (120frames/sec.)

Picture quality*2:
FINE, NORMAL, RAW (DNG) *3

Image size (pixels):
Photographs:
16:9        3648 × 2048, 3264 × 1840
4:3         3648 × 2736, 3264 × 2448, 2592 × 1944, 2048 × 1536, 1280 × 960, 640 × 480
3:2        3648 × 2432, 3264 × 2176
1:1        2736 × 2736, 2448 × 2448
Movies        1280 × 720, 640 × 480, 320 × 240

File size (approx):
RAW:
16:9    NORMAL: 12,923 KB/frame, FINE: 14,160 KB/frame, VGA: 11,347 KB/frame
4:3    NORMAL: 17,202 KB/frame, FINE: 18,854 KB/frame, VGA: 15,096 KB/frame
3:2    NORMAL: 15,311 KB/frame, FINE: 16,779 KB/frame, VGA: 13,439 KB/frame
1:1    NORMAL: 12,956 KB/frame, FINE: 14,195 KB/frame, VGA: 11,377 KB/frame
L:
16:9     NORMAL: 1,630 KB/frame, FINE: 2,779 KB/frame
4:3    NORMAL: 2,169 KB/frame, FINE: 3,704 KB/frame
3:2    NORMAL: 1,930 KB/frame, FINE: 3,295 KB/frame
1:1    NORMAL: 1,633 KB/frame, FINE: 2,784 KB/frame
M:
16:9     NORMAL: 1,329 KB/frame, FINE: 2,253 KB/frame
4:3     NORMAL: 1,761 KB/frame, FINE: 2,990 KB/frame
3:2    NORMAL: 1,567 KB/frame, FINE: 2,660 KB/frame
1:1    NORMAL: 1,327 KB/frame, FINE: 2,248 KB/frame
5M:
4:3    FINE: 2,287 KB/frame
3M
4:3    FINE: 1,474 KB/frame
1M:
4:3    FINE: 812 KB/frame
VGA:
4:3    FINE: 197 KB/frame

Battery life:
Based on CIPA standard DB-90: approx. 440 shots *4

Dimensions (W x H x D):
Camera unit only: 68.7mm × 57.9mm × 44mm (according to CIPA guidelines)
When mounted on the GXR body: 113.9mm × 70.2mm × 49.8mm (according to CIPA guidelines)

Weight:
Camera unit only: 160g (not including the lens cap or connector cap)
When mounted on the camera body: 367g (including battery, SD memory card and lens cap)

Operating temperature:
0°C to 40°C

Operating humidity:
85% or less

Storage temperature:
–20°C to 60°C

*1ND filter used for aperture priority AE aperture priority mode.
*2 The picture quality modes which can be set vary depending on the image size.
*3 A JPEG file is also recorded (the JPEG file may be a FINE- or NORMAL-quality file with the same dimensions as the RAW file or a VGA file 640 × 480 pixels in size). RAW files use the standard DNG format promoted by Adobe Systems Incorporated.
*4 For reference only; actual number of shots varies greatly according to how camera is used. We recommend that you carry spare batteries when in use for extended periods.
(Shooting capacity was measured using CIPA-standard parameters. These are only estimates; performance may vary depending on usage conditions)