Ricoh RDC-7A 3 megapixel "Image Capturing Device" for mobile professionals with some unusual capabilities!<<Design :(Previous) | (Next): Optics>> Page 4:ViewfinderReview First Posted: 8/2/2000 |
ViewfinderThe RDC-7 packs both an optical viewfinder and an LCD monitor into its compact form. The real-image optical viewfinder features a small dioptric adjustment dial (located beneath the eyepiece), to correct the focus for eyeglass wearers. (We don't have any way of quantifying this, but it did seem as though the RDC-7's diopter adjustment had an unusually broad range of control.) Two LEDs beside the viewfinder report when the focus and exposure are set or when the flash is charging.
The 2.0 inch TFT, color LCD monitor features a unique pop-up design that allows it to swivel around 270 degrees, enabling it to face all four directions. When upright and facing the back panel, the LCD monitor can also lean back a little, providing a better view when the camera is held below eyelevel. (Dave had some fun with this on a business trip, taking available-light candid shots in an airport, with the camera braced on the arm of the waiting area chairs.) The LCD Light button adjusts the LCD panel's backlight, brightening it for better visibility under strong daylight, or dimming it to reduce power consumption. (The LCD monitor shuts off completely when it is closed against the camera body.) An onscreen information display is controlled by the Display button, and reports various camera settings, including the memory being used for image capture, exposure options, the number of available images, date, time and image size. In Playback mode, the LCD monitor can display six thumbnail images at a time and also features a magnification option for closer inspection of captured images.
We found the RDC-7's LCD monitor to be a little tight, with varying degrees of accuracy depending on the file size setting. The smaller, 640 x 480 image size usually produced the most accurate results, showing about 92 percent of the final image area at wide angle and 94 percent at telephoto. The remaining image sizes (including the PRO sizes, 3072 x 2304) measured the same, showing 86 percent at wide angle and 88 percent at telephoto.
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