We reviewed the Caplio R4 just over 12 months ago, before it was superseded by the Caplio R5 in December. Considering the speed at which the digital camera market moves, it's not surprising to see the Caplio R6 released just four months later. We got our hands on the new model to find out what's changed.
Design
In just over a year, the Ricoh R-series has gained 1.2 megapixels in resolution and lost a bit of weight, making it considerably slimmer at 99.6mm by 55mm by 23.3mm and lighter at 135 grams (without battery and memory installed). It's still fuelled by a removable rechargeable lithium-ion battery and accepts MultiMedia Card and Secure Digital memory cards as well as adding support for the newer Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) format to allow even more storage space. Despite the slim design, the R6 retains its impressive 7.1x optical wide angle zoom lens and manages to increase the size of its LCD display from 2.5- to 2.7-inches, as well as it being noticeably clearer due to the 230,000 pixel transparent amorphous silicone TFT LCD.
The button layout has changed a little -- to be expected as models are upgraded. The zoom button has been replaced by a rotating ring which sits around the shutter release button, on the topside of the camera. An improved feature from the previous models zoom rocker, especially for one-handed shooters, this allows you to keep your fingers clear of the flash which is positioned on the front of the camera, just below the zoom/shutter button. In addition, there is a finger grip on the back face that further improves the feel and comfort of holding the camera.
Four small and one multifunction buttons line the back of the unit, taking up the real estate to the right of the LCD. In the R4 review, we found the buttons to be quite cumbersome for those with larger fingers. Though the buttons have shrunk even further on the R6, there is little risk of accidentally pressing the wrong one. As with the R4, the R6 goes directly to shooting mode when you turn it on -- without the option to go to the review module at start-up. This is not a huge downside and we do not consider it a deterrent to purchasing the camera.
Features
No doubt, this camera's strongest feature, as with its predecessors, is the wide-angle zoom lens. Add to that a good range of scene modes, but not so many that you spend too much time choosing the most appropriate one and miss your shooting opportunity altogether.
A new feature is the selection of two pre-programmed scene modes prior to turning on the camera. These scene modes can be edited and saved, which makes for a convenient feature when taking shots at random moments and not needing to adjust to the ideal camera mode.
The ever-practical, quick use exposure, white balance and ISO buttons seen in previous models continue in the R6. Ricoh has also incorporated an image stabilisation function called vibration correction, though it does not have its own dedicated button on the camera but is instead hidden within the camera menu. Also somewhat buried in the menu are the video recording and sound recording modes. However, you can add these as one of the pre-programmed scene modes if this is a feature you use often.
Also new in the R6, the "face recognition" mode automatically recognises faces in the shot and adjusts focus, brightness and colour for the best result. We found it works quite well -- the difference between images using the face recognition mode and the regular mode is definitely noticeable. The downside of using the face recognition is that it takes an extra couple of seconds for the camera to focus before taking the shot.
Another feature we haven't seen in the Caplio series before is the White Saturation Highlights Display. After taking a shot, this feature highlights where white areas have been overexposed so you can take another shot with a more balanced exposure. When we first encountered the flashing, blocked out areas upon reviewing an image, we thought it was a fault. We quickly realised the function and its purpose but we found it rather annoying -- less experienced shooters may not appreciate this feature which is more often seen on digital SLR offerings.
Also notable is Dual size recording, which saves images at two different sizes. This feature is handy as it saves you the inconvenience of having to resize images for e-mailing or uploading to the Web, while keeping a high resolution copy for printing.
Performance
The Caplio series start-up time has always been impressive and the R6 is in keeping with this, but to be specific, we clocked it at 0.1 second slower than the R4. The shutter release time is also 0.004 seconds slower than the R4 at 0.011 seconds. While this doesn't sound like much, it is noticeable if you're used to a camera with as fast a shutter speed. Furthermore, the R6 had a tendency to hesitate and seemed a bit sticky to depress the shutter release.
Image quality
While using the automatic mode, we were impressed with the quality of images taken in different lighting conditions. For the more experienced photographer, there are many different settings adjustments that will allow you to further perfect your shots. These include a time exposure setting in addition to the commonly found exposure composition setting and a delayed flash option.
In very bright lighting conditions, picture quality wasn't compromised while using a lower ISO setting and reduced exposure with foreground subjects were well lit without using the flash. In low light, the strong flash compensated well. While attempting to shoot macro images, the image stabilisation feature also came in handy. Compared with the Caplio R4, we found the light meter on the R6 had improved considerably.
The R6 is slimmer, has a bigger display and a few new, useful features. When considering this camera, ask yourself -- is it worth an extra AU$100 for some extra pocket room and a few more features?
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chelseaclarke
14/07/2008, 10:24 AM
rating
2/10
takes too long to take a photo- very slow shutter- keep missing perfect photo opportunities....
Pros: big screen
Cons: slow
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Digital Camera Magazine
13/06/2008, 10:01 PM
rating
7/10
However the digital camera market moves very quickly, so just four months later the R5 has been superseded by the R6, which combines all of the features of the R5, adds the latest must have gizmo face detection technology, and somehow manages to cram the whole lot into a compact new body, measuring just 99.6 x 55 x 23.3mm and weighing just 161g including battery and card.
Pros: Cheap price Camera
Amazing image quality
Good Zoom Quality
Cons: Limited warranty is not good.
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clove
15/04/2008, 01:24 PM
rating
3/10
Compared to my previous two Canon digital cameras this one is crap. The flash usually fades out too much color and I'm generally very dissatified with it.
Just the other day my battery died mid picture and now the lens is stuck open. It won't go back and just makes a little motor noise. Totally sucky.
Cons: Poorly designed
Not a Canon
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brad
03/11/2007, 08:24 PM
rating
2/10
Maybe mine is a bad batch, but it very rarely manages to focus. I've gone through the manual and tried everything, even defaults and their predefined settings.
Pros: Currently available for purchase, unlike my old damaged camera.
Can take very close macro shots.
Cons: Ruins every shot other than macro shots.
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Kanga
25/10/2007, 11:33 PM
rating
9/10
Compact design, fast 7x optical zoom, with face detection and anti-shake technology.
Pros: Compact design and wide angle lens
Large 2.7 inch LCD display
Excellent macro to 1cm
Cons: No view finder
Extremely small buttons
Lack of manual settings for shutter speed and aperature
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costa
13/08/2007, 11:19 PM
rating
8/10
Construction:
Nice metal body, feels well made.
Negative is the tiny mode switch what was really hard to move in the beginning and the still bad sliding quality. I need a thumbnail to operate it, just thumb preasure is in most cases not enough.
The batterie / SD card door opens only 100 degrees and the SD card has to be inserted with the fingernail grove towards the door. For malesized European fingers it is only possible to take the card out by bending the door.
Solution: think toaster.
The SD card is spring operated. When you want it out, push it in with a fingernail and then slip from the card. The card will pop out 50% and is easy to grab.
You can ignore the SD problem if you use mostly the fast data transfer via usb2.
These 2 points prevented the 4.5 rating
Features:
Love the 28 mm, will never buy a digicam without it!
The 2mm makro is awesome, even if the manual states just 10 mm.
AND you can leave the camera on macro, because this little gem focuses from 2mm to infinity (and beyond).
So why wouldn“t you? Because in macro mode the camera just meters the spot what is in the center but can be moved by menue. In non macro mode the camera can meter automatically all areas of the screen.
Flash is weak as with all the little cameras. Oh and yes, it is easy to have the finger partialy covering the flash, BUT no or nearly never a red eye problem and that is a rarity in the little cameras! You can boost the weak flash with the exposure compensation. If you use +1 to +1.7 you increase the flash range by up to 2 meters.
I love the manual focus, it works well but you have to switch between zoom and focus, bad choice Ricoh.
Not enough scene modes.
Movie mode hidden in the scenes (you have to operate the tiny switch to get there).
There is a constant mechanical noise if you are filming in a quiete environment. So it should be no problem to activate the optical zoom for movies. You people at Ricoh, we already have noise.
The movie quality is acceptable the sound is terrible and the digital zoom is worthless because of its bad quality.
These are the reasons for only 4.5 stars.
Image quality:
The quality of my Canon S2IS I would rate as good and as excellent I would rate the more professional digital cameras.
So an average means it is OK for the little size, the compromises are acceptable and it has its strong and weak points.
Ease of use:
The SD card problem, the tiny slider and the burried movie mode cost some points.
On the plus side if you chose movie mode the camera remembers and between foto and movie mode is just the fiddely slider to move into position.
The screen is nice, sharp and viewable under all shooting situations (well, not if it is really dark).
Value for the money:
The price is ok, compared what else is on the market. Manual control, a stronger flash and if the complaints above would be solved would make this a must have pocket camera.
Over all I really like the R6 and can work with it quirks and would buy it again.
To see what the R6 is capable of you can have a look at the extremes I put her through at:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Ricoh.Caplio.R6
Lens got stuck once, some focus errors.
All was solved by turning the R6 off and on again.
Pros: see above
Cons: see above
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picard2bridge
01/08/2007, 01:56 AM
rating
9/10
As a DSLR user I wanted a very compact but capable camera that would go with me places the DSL couldn't, yet still take quality pictures. Passed over a Canon 850 for this and have seldom regretted it. The R6 is fast, compact, has a great zoom, fantastic maro and goof wide angle, all in a stylish package.
The only downsides are in low light performance. The flash is rather gutless and sometimes it a little temperamental focusing in low light, the the green focus assist lamp is a big help. Also the image stabilisation is sometimes good, sometimes useless. Certainly no match for the Canons in that area.
But overall, no camera has everything for this money, and the Ricoh is the best set of compromises I've come across if you want a compact yet fully featured camera capable of outstanding pics.
Pros: Zoom, macro, focus assist, size, style.
Cons: Weak flash, average anti-shake, no fully manual mode.
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Condor
13/07/2007, 11:46 AM
rating
9/10
I bought this camera and the images looked smudged and out of focus toward the edges. Took it back and got a replacement and the replacement was sharp from edge to edge. Lesson: these cameras are not all made equal and you can get a buggy one. Camera produces sharper images than the Canon SD800.
Pros: Exceptional image quality if you get the right camera. 28mm wide angle is a BIG plus for a little camera. Images quality can be tweaked and PP produces even better images.
Cons: Easy to buy a defected camera. No optical view finder. Must use flash for most indoor pictures.
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kierankieran
10/07/2007, 01:55 AM
rating
9/10
Amazing digital camera, i was using the similar casio v7, with the same zoom as this camera and around about the same resoulution but the camera really simply isnt that good, take a picture and if something goes wrong it beeps and flashes for about 20secs before you can take another. This was no good for me so it was between the ricoh and the sony t100 reading a some reviews and trying them in jessops i simply had to buy the ricoh, the image quality is amazing, the flash isnt as strong from about 10m+ away but who takes a photo of someone that far away, the zoom is so smooth and really just as good as my slr's, anti-shake works so well and face detection is just so cool. For the price of this camera, £175 It really is the best on the market just now, I would recomment this camera to anyone looking for a compact. If you dont need one right now wait a while and get the R7. If they put a better flash on it and an 8mp sensor then i think it could be the best compact this year. BUY IT!!
Pros: Almost perfection, shame about that flash, best compact in its price range £150-£300 just now.
Cons: Poor flash :(
Some images have purple fringes :S
Not noticeable though and just move a little closer and theres no problems:D
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Jim in AZ
09/07/2007, 08:21 PM
rating
9/10
The image quality was just outstanding both in bright light or low light. No soft corners or edge distortion. This camera blows my Canon SD800 away for total image quality and sharpness.
Pros: Exceptional total image sharpness from edge to edge without distorition. Performs better in low light than my Canon SD800. Above average user settings. Wide 28mm field!
Cons: Flash could be better. Some pictures showed a little purplish fringing, nothing that couldn't be edited out.
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