Ricoh R30 Review

Ricoh's Caplio R30 is closely based on the previous Caplio R3, but with a couple of changes that are likely intended to allow reduced pricing. Offering an unusually wide-angle 5.7x optical zoom lens with a 35mm-equivalent range of 28 - 160mm, the Caplio R30 features "double retracting lens system", which separately moves two lens elements into the optical path when the lens extends as the camera is powered up, and removes them again as the camera powers off. This helps to keep body thickness down, offering a camera that should slip into a pocket more easily than most.

The R30's lens is coupled with a five megapixel CCD imager, the same as the original R3 model. However, where the R3's sensor was mounted on a moving platter, allowing it to be used for a CCD shift-type image stabilisation system, the R30's sensor is fixed in place. Hence, the R30 cannot offer the Vibration Reduction system from the original R3. Focusing can be controlled automatically or manually, and an AF assist lamp should help users get properly focused photos in less than optimal conditions.

Images can be framed and reviewed on a 2.5" LCD display, but as with many modern digital cameras there's no optical viewfinder to help save on battery life. A choice of 256-segment multi, center-weighted or spot metering, as well as user-selectable ISO sensitivity from 64 - 800 equivalent, plus seven white balance modes including fully manual white balance let your creativity come alive. A five-mode flash strobe with slow-sync capability and no less than eight scene modes are also offered. Particularly unusual amongst the scene modes is a "diagonal correction" function, which detects trapezoid shapes such as whiteboards, and automatically corrects them so as to appear rectangular.

The Caplio R30 stores images on 26MB of built-in memory, as well as optional Secure Digital or MultiMediaCards, in either TIFF (uncompressed) or JPEG (compressed) formats. Connectivity includes both NTSC / PAL switcheable video output and a USB 1.1 connection - slower than is common these days - as well as a DC input connection for powering the camera when batteries are impractical. Power otherwise comes from a DB-60 Lithium Ion rechargeable, included along with a charger in the product bundle.