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Ricoh RDC-7 A 3 megapixel "Image Capturing Device" for mobile professionals with some unusual capabilities! Select a topic 13. Reference: Datasheet 14. RDC-7 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Executive Overview :(Previous) | (Next): Viewfinder>> Page 3:Design Review First Posted: 8/2/2000

Design
At first glance, Ricoh's RDC-7 looks like something that Agent 007 would whip out of his pocket to photograph secret documents. It's sleek and trim, almost the exact shape and size of a mini-cassette recorder. At just 5.3 x 2.9 x 1.1 inches (135.4 x 74 x 27.9 mm) and a mere 9.5 ounces (270 g), the RDC-7 glides easily into most shirt pockets. With two shutter buttons and a double-sided zoom control lever, the RDC-7 is set up to be easily held either vertically or horizontally. Because there are so many interesting design features on this camera, we'll just dive right in to our virtual tour.

The front of the camera holds the lens, self-timer LED, a secondary shutter button (for holding the camera vertically), autofocus window, flash and microphone. The lens front actually has a rectangular shape, with a small lens cap to prevent any accidental scratches. A tiny strap attaches the lens cap to the camera, which keeps you from worrying about losing it. While the secondary shutter button is useful when you want to hold the camera in a vertical position it's so close to the lens that we found ourselves accidentally placing our fingers over the lens nearly every time we used it. (Which also entailed us cleaning off our smudgy fingerprints.) The alternate shutter button is a good idea, we just would like to see a little more space between the button and the lens. We also often wanted to hold the camera vertically, with the LCD screen opened, but found it hard to get a secure grip on the camera body, since the screen prevented our fingers from completely wrapping around it. Not a huge issue, and we do appreciate the thought given to both common grips on the camera body: We just wish the vertical grip were a bit more convenient.

 

The left side of the camera (when facing the front) features just the speaker and a small eyelet for attaching the wrist and lens cap straps.

On the opposite side of the camera are the DC in, video out and digital ports. The video out and digital ports are both protected by a small, flexible plastic flap that easily pops in and out of place while remaining attached to the camera body.

 

The back panel of the camera is tightly packed with the SmartMedia slot, mode dial, power switch, optical viewfinder and battery compartment. Ricoh really makes the most of the camera's small body design, by efficiently putting the controls and compartments very close together. The battery compartment features a sliding plastic door that flips open once slid out of place. As always, we appreciate the ability to access both the SmartMedia card and the battery while mounted on a tripod, and both are accessible here via the RDC-7's back panel. The SmartMedia slot is covered by a plastic door that slides forward and then drops open, which we found a little tricky to operate at times. The mode dial conveniently encircles the power button, and the optical viewfinder has a tiny dioptric adjustment dial beneath it, to adjust the focus for eyeglass wearers.

Most of the action takes place on the top panel of the camera, which holds the majority of the control buttons and the flip up LCD display. The entire left side of the top panel is taken up by the LCD monitor, which is hinged at the front of the camera, allowing it to flip up 90 degrees. Once in its upright position, the LCD panel actually swivels 270 degrees, so that it can face directly front, as well as the remaining three sides (this also allows you to swivel the monitor around to the front and then close it back to maintain the camera's smooth profile and still see the monitor).

A set of controls lives beneath the LCD panel, including the menu button, exposure compensation controls, macro button, and many others. Also on the top panel of the camera body is a small status display panel that reports the camera settings, useful when shooting with the optical viewfinder only. There's also the zoom control, primary shutter button and a few other exposure controls.

The bottom panel of the camera holds mainly the plastic tripod mount and a secondary zoom control. The tripod mount is located within a small rubber grip, that comfortably holds your thumb when shooting without the tripod. As we mentioned before, the amount of studio work we do necessitates the ability to access both the SmartMedia slot and battery compartment while mounted to the tripod, and the RDC-7's design conveniently accommodates this need.