The CX3 is the third iteration in Ricoh's compact zoom series, going head to head with other zoomy compacts from the big name manufacturers. There are a few innovations in the CX3 package but, at the same time, we're also disheartened to see the CX series updated so regularly: it was only September 2009 when we reviewed the CX2, a similar camera to the CX3 in many respects.
The Canon PowerShot SX210 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 are the Ricoh's main competitors, and at the time of writing this article we haven't fully reviewed either — but they present stiff competition on specs alone.
Design and features
It's the case of "if you've seen one, you've seen them all". The CX3 looks near-identical to its predecessors with a metal casing, textured grip and relatively stylish looks (for a Ricoh, at least).
Swivel the camera around to the rear to reveal a simple arrangement of buttons, with the main shooting controls accessible via the mode dial at the top of the camera. The CX3 also touts its girth up top too, shouting via engraved metal its 10.7x optical zoom. The 3-inch, 920,000-dot LCD screen remains unchanged from earlier cameras.
(Credit: Ricoh)
Inside is where the differences between the CX3 and its predecessors become more apparent. Its sensor is a 10-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS variety, which is purported to reduce noise as the sensitivity increases, as well as retain more detail and colour.
Other new features include an enhanced dynamic range double shot, which is a form of HDR where the camera takes two shots, and merges them together in-camera to preserve the most detail in photographs with tricky lighting situations. The CX3's fast burst shooting speed allows the camera to take 5 frames per second at full resolution.
There is also a new S-Auto mode (taking the place of the easy auto on the previous cameras) which removes most of the control from the photographer and selects the most appropriate scene mode for the image.
Bracketing modes in the CX3 are unchanged from the CX2; standard exposure bracketing, white balance bracketing, colour bracketing and focus bracketing. In these modes the camera will take a succession of shots altering the one variable (for example, white balance) in each frame. This gives photographers the greatest chance of having a usable shot in tricky lighting or exposure situations.
HD video recording has also been added (finally!) at 720p, with mono recording from the built-in microphone.
Here is how the CX3 stacks up against its main competitors:
(Credit: Panasonic/Ricoh/Canon)
| Panasonic TZ10 | Ricoh CX3 | Canon SX210 IS |
|---|---|---|
| 12.1-megapixel CCD sensor | 10-megapixel CMOS sensor | 14.1-megapixel CCD sensor |
| 12x optical zoom | 10.7x optical zoom | 14x optical zoom |
| 25mm wide-angle lens | 28mm wide-angle lens | 28mm wide-angle lens |
| 3-inch LCD screen (460,000 dots) | 3-inch LCD screen (920,000 dots) | 3-inch LCD screen (230,000 dots) |
| HD video recording | HD video recording | HD video recording |
| Manual controls | No manual controls | Manual controls |
| 218g | 206g | 220g |
Note that on specifications alone, if macro shooting is something you want to do with a compact camera, the CX3 has the best (closest) minimum focusing distance of 1cm from a subject. Also, the Panasonic TZ10 has a longer zoom but the maximum focal length is the same as the Ricoh (300mm).
Performance
The CX3 took 2.4 seconds from power-on to first shot, not particularly impressive for a compact of this class. Shutter lag without pre-focusing measured 0.5 second. Burst shooting matches Ricoh's 5 frames per second claim, too.
As an aside, Ricoh's complex menu structure makes it difficult to access common shooting settings so you will need to customise and assign commands to the function button and ADJ OK joystick to make the navigation a little easier.
Image quality
As with the previous Ricoh compacts under the CX moniker, we have been impressed with colour rendition and the sharpness of the lens through most focal lengths, and the CX3 is much the same. Images straight from the camera do need some post-processing to bring out optimal sharpness, and it's unfortunate that Ricoh has still not chosen to implement RAW capture on the CX3.
One of the biggest advantages of the new sensor is supposedly its ability to reduce noise at high ISO sensitivities. The CX1 and CX2 both struggled with noise above ISO 400, and the CX3 is much the same though there is some improvement from the earlier iterations. However, the noise reduction mode does work well and it makes a noticeable difference when used. Below is a comparison of the same image taken at ISO 1600, with noise reduction turned off (top) and noise reduction turned to maximum (bottom).
(Credit: Alexandra Savvides/CNET Australia)
The lens on the CX3 is excellent for macro photography, allowing you to get as close as 1cm from the subject. As with the CX2, the dynamic range mode is excellent, capturing detail from blown highlights as in the example below. The top image was taken on standard automatic settings, with the sky appearing to be blown out. The image underneath was taken with DR mode, showing that the sky actually has some clouds in it.
(Credit: Alexandra Savvides/CNET Australia)
Video quality is not as crisp as we would have hoped, and zooming is limited to 2.8x digital zoom while recording. You can, however, zoom into your desired focal length and then record. There are small digital artefacts present in video footage. Also note that the shutter acts as the video record button.
Conclusion
With the third iteration of the CX3, it seems Ricoh has finally hit the nail on the head with the right balance between features, performance and affordability. It's just a shame that the company seems intent on refreshing an already decent camera just six months from the previous release.
The CX3 is available in black, violet and two-tone pink/grey versions for AU$499.
Add Your Review 2