any comment on this camera? where can get it cheap?

I got this camera yesterday, after reading almost all the reviews and comparisons I could find on the Internet. Ricoh are the dark horse brand in digicams, as they were during the film camera days. But they do know how to make good cameras. Most people will only look at the Canons, Nikons, Sonys or Panasonics and that's it. However, I am someone who likes the out of the ordinary.

I got mine for RM1250 with free 1Gb Toshiba Type VI Hi-Speed SD, from a store in the Digital One section in Subang Parade.

Although it doesn't have aperture nor shutter modes, it does let you control almost everything else, e.g. ISO, WB, flash and focus. To me, the control aspects are enough and give me just the right amount of creative control I need. One trick I liked was the camera allows you to retain two separate user settings containing your personal adjustments to the ISO, WB etc., which you can then just dial to when needed.

I found noise to be an issue after ISO800, but most of it can be dealt with by a good anti-noise program such as Noiseware Pro. ISO64 thru 200 was excellent.

The lens is sharp, and the 28 to 200mm zoom time is very fast. Focus is almost always accurate. However, the camera does make sort of a high pitched whirring noise as the lens zooms in and out, which you may like it, or may not. Personally, it scares the bejeezus out of me. haha

I have not tried the movie functions, but reviewers and users gave it good marks too.

Overall, I am very satisfied with the still output of the R6 (after sorting out the noise, of course). I have looked at the pictures on 100% magnification on my screen and everything that's supposed to be sharp, is. Color was good, too.

I use soft sharpening most of the time, so that I can sharpen under PS later, if needed. The Hard sharpening option is a bit too strong for my liking, but YMMV.

I actually went into the store to look at the Panasonic DSC-TZ3, but then I saw the Ricoh Caplio R6, sitting on the shelf. I had read good things about the GX100, a dream camera of mine but it's much too expensive even for me. I am glad I held off on the TZ3, because I went back and researched the R6, found that almost everyone had only good things to say about it, so I went back to the store to get it.

I am sure a lot of other people would have got the TZ3 over the R6, if only for the extra 80mm which it has. But for me, it was three factors. First, I was concerned about the Venus III imaging processor on the Panny which gets bad reviews all over the Internet. I can vouch for that as it is also quite bad on the Panny LX2 I have. Second, the TZ3 is a lot bigger and heavier than the R6, which is amazingly small for the 7.2X zoom range. Third, the TZ3 is also a lot more expensive, probably for the extra bit on the zoom end.


I don't think this camera is for everyone. You do have to know a little bit about photography to get the most out of it. It's not a no-brainer like a Canon or a Kodak, but if you think you can handle it, go get it.