Ricoh Caplio R5 Review

The Ricoh Caplio R5 digital camera features the highest zoom in the compact category. This gadget has a 7.1x optical wide zoom lens at 28-200 mm in 35-mm format cameras. It still has the original Ricoh CCD-shift vibration correction system and image processing engine.

You will be able to get great shots at a distance and fairly dark areas. Advantages in ISO settings with low noise provide you with great detail and optimum resolution. The Ricoh Caplio R5 appears to be more promising and power-packed compared to its predecessor, the R4.

The Ricoh Caplio R5 has several upgrades which originated from the good performance of the R4. It has a wide angle and high-magnification zoom, 7.24 million pixels of CCD and ISO sensitivity of up to 1600. Picture clarity is its main thrust via the New Smooth Imagine Engine II image processor. This camera is low in noise but high in photography sensitivity. The 2.5-inch LCD display is also brighter and has better image presentation.

The Ricoh Caplio R5 digital camera has a 1/2.5-inch CCD sensor providing 7.24 million effective pixels and 7.41 million total pixels. Image resolution sizes range from a minimum of 640 x 480 up to a maximum of 3072 x 2304. You can also record videos with this camera. Movie clips are recorded in AVI format with Open DML Motion JPEG with resolution ranging from 160 x 120 at 15/30 frames per second up to 640 x 480 at 15/30 frames per second including WAV audio output. Picture formats are in JPEG Exif v2.2 mode and other files are stored as either DPOF or DCF compliant.

The lens is the main highlight featuring 28-200 mm of 35mm equivalent with aperture range for f3.3 up to f4.8 and the powerful 7.1x zoom which is the highest existing in its class. The R5 boasts the CCD-shift vibration correction so you still get to have clear shots of moving objects without blurs or discoloration. Digital zoom can maximize up to 3.6x and you have the option of manually or automatically focusing with snap option. An AF assist lamp is also included.

Focus distances can be in normal or macro mode from 0.3 m up to infinity. You can select TTL-CCD Metering Method with 256 segments, center-weighted or spot metering. ISO sensitivity is another great feature of the Ricoh Caplio R5 having automatic values at 64, 100, 200 or 400. Exposure compensation is +2 or -2EV in 1/3 EV steps with exposure bracketing at -0.5EV, +/-0 or +0.5EV.

Shutter speed values are at 8, 4, 2, 1 and 1/2000 seconds. You can capture still images from recorded videos. You can also choose from a variety of scene modes like Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Nightscape, Skew correction, Text, Zoom Macro and High Sensitivity in order to get the best view and angle depending on which activity or event you’re planning to shoot.

You can manually set the necessary adjustments and label it as My Setting 1 or 2. Furthermore, you also get automatic White Balance in different fixed modes and settings. For continuous shooting, you can have up to 2.8 frames per second.

The Ricoh Caplio R5 digital camera is stylish and compact and comes in black, silver and red. It measures 96 x 55 x 26 mm and weighs only 140 grams. It has a built-in flash with Red-Eye Reduction, Auto and On/Off modes. This digital camera has no viewfinder. The 2.5-inch Transparent Amorphous Silicon TFT LCD display presents up to 230,000 pixels. The camera is comfortable to the hands with easy to use buttons.

As for connectivity, the R5 easily links via USB 2.0 High Speed cable, AV out and is NTSC/PAL switchable. You get to store up to 26 MB of files and data via the SD/MMC compatible memory card. This camera runs on a rechargeable DB-60 battery and is also AC adapter-connectible. The entire package includes the digital camera, battery, USB and AV cable, strap, travel pack and user CD. You can quickly connect it to your computer or laptop to transfer images and videos or the TV for quick photo and video viewing.

Pros: The 7.1x wide-angle zoom lens makes the Ricoh Caplio R5 one of the most powerful in its class. You also get to have detailed and good quality images with New Smooth Imaging Engine II image processor. Low noise and high ISO sensitivity also reduce blur and optimizes your shots so that you only get clear and bright photos and videos. The vibration correction function is very suitable for shaky hands and fast-moving objects. Add these to the variety of image settings and you get poster-worthy shots.

Cons: This digital camera has no viewfinder. Also, sound output is not that great.

Overall: The Ricoh Caplio R5 digital camera defines quality and functionality. It definitely has improved a lot compared to the R4. The powerful optical zoom lens, image stabilization, customization-capable settings and manageable interface makes it very convenient. Vibration and shutter speed controls ensure that you get sharp and detailed shots. Image quality is excellent and video recordings are decent. The lack of viewfinder is probably its weakness. Overall, if it costs under $200, it’s a steal for any point-and-shoot camera enthusiast.

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