The new RICOH Caplio R5

A compact digital camera with 7.1x wide-angle zoom, vibration correction function, and effective 7.24 megapixel CCD.
High-sensitivity performance with low noise achieved through a new image processing engine at full resolution.

Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Masamitsu Sakurai) has announced the release of the new Caplio R5 digital camera featuring a 7.1x optical wide zoom lens (28-200 mm in 35 mm camera format), the highest zoom in the compact class*. Combining the Caplio R5’s Ricoh-original CCD-shift vibration correction method and brand new image processing engine greatly expands the range of shooting in low light areas producing high quality images at even higher ISO settings with low noise.
* among compact digital cameras less than 150 g as of August 23

The new Caplio R5 succeeds the standard setting Caplio R4 with wide angle / high-magnification zoom (open priced, launched March 17, 2006, featuring effective 6.04 megapixel CCD). With its roots based in the solid features of its predecessor, the Caplio R5 has been designed to give even more fun and easy photography. Improvements include employing an effective 7.24 megapixel CCD, and achievement of high-sensitivity photography with low noise and edge to edge picture clarity through the New Smooth Imaging Engine II image processing engine (SE II).

Ricoh has traditionally created feature-rich products under a concept of “broadening the range of photography”. And the new Caplio R5 is a product that provides enhanced image quality while taking that concept to a higher level through image processing engine innovations and numerous newly developed functions.

Main features of the new Caplio R5

1. Photography at even higher image quality and zoom magnification.

(1) High image quality CCD with effective 7.24 million pixels.
-The improved CCD enables even higher quality photographs.
(2) Reduced noise through the new Smooth Imaging Engine II image processing engine,
-High-level image processing is enabled and images with low noise are produced through the development of a new image processing engine that achieves high-speed processing and a new algorithm that makes the most of the image engine.
-Further noise reduction is achieved with the design of new peripheral CCD circuitry.
-ISO 1600 sensitivity at full resolution is achieved.
-Superior edge to edge picture clarity.
-Improvements in auto-focus, automatic-exposure and AWB.

2. 7.1x wide-angle zoom lens (the largest in the compact class) and vibration correction function in a body only 26 mm thick and weighing approx. 140 grams.

-The well-received 28-200 mm 7.1x wide-angle zoom lens from the preceding model has been fitted into a body of just 26 mm. The lens supports a wide range of photographic options from panoramic landscapes to wide-angle photography and indoor shooting under low light close to the subject to impressive telephoto photography.
Furthermore, the Caplio R5 includes an Auto Resize function that automatically changes the image size when shooting at 7M size and zooming in excess of 200 mm optical. This enables high zoom photography of up to 34.1x *(equivalent to 960 mm) at high image quality without image correction processing.
*at VGA image size (E-mail size)
-Also equipped with general digital zoom.
-Whenever it detects excessive camera motion, the vibration correction system, based on Ricoh’s own CCD shift method, moves the CCD in the opposite direction to counterbalance camera shake. This results in the ability to take clear telephoto shots at high zoom magnification, macro shots and indoor shots.

3. Further improvements to stress-free response.

-Release time lag (the time from the instant the shutter button is fully pressed – without using focus lock – until exposure actually starts) is as short as approx. 0.09 seconds* (with vibration correction off). Quick responses are essential in order to capture picture-perfect and near-instantaneous moments such as the expressions and movement of children or pets. Thus the short time lag means stress-free, near-instantaneous shots.
-Time from depressing the shutter button with focus locked (half-press) until exposure actually starts is a speedy 0.007 seconds*.
-Shooting interval (with vibration correction off) and start time are both rapid, at approx. 0.5 and 1.2 seconds*, respectively.
-Continuous shooting speed is improved to 2.8 frames/second*. In addition, shots can be taken at best image quality until memory is full. Furthermore, those images shot can be displayed on the LCD while shooting.
*measured while the flash is off

4. Large, high-resolution high angle shooting LCD.
-The Caplio R5 has a 2.5-inch LCD with 230,000 pixels compared to 150,000 pixels for the Caplio R4. The brightness of the LCD makes it easier to see outdoors even on sunny days from greater viewing angles.

5. Long-life rechargeable battery for approx. 380 shots (standard accessory).
-Thanks to the power-saving features of the internal circuit, the battery has a longer life. This makes it possible to capture approx. 380 images under CIPA standards (approx. 330 pictures for the Caplio R4).

6. Powerful macro function – a Ricoh specialty.
-The camera’s macro mode allows close in shooting of objects from a wide macro 1 cm to tele macro 14 cm.
-A Zoom Macro function is included to allow use of digital zooming from the optical zoom position where subjects can be captured at their largest.

7. Your favorite settings in scene modes.
-Up to two setting conditions of your choice can be saved to scene modes with the Personalized Setting function. That allows you to apply your own settings to scene modes to enable easier photography at your favorite settings.

8. Enhanced Skew Correction function for corrections after shooting.
-Through an original algorithm that automatically detects trapezoids in images based on composition when shooting and corrects them to rectangles, images can be corrected to look as though they were shot from the front. -The function is most effective in business environments where subjects such as blackboards, overhead projector images, time schedules and signs cannot be shot from the front.
-The improved function now allows for correction after the image has been taken in play back mode.

9. A portable and beautiful design with an eye to robustness and quality.

The design combines functionality and texture with such features as a comfortable grip, easy-to-use controls, high-grade materials, and surface finishing in a compact body of 96 mm (W) x 55 mm (H) x 26 mm (D). With emphasis on robustness and quality, the camera embodies reliability and functionality.

Available: September 2006
Available colors: Silver, Black and Red

Ricoh Caplio R5 – Major Specifications

CCD
Effective 7.24 million pixels (total 7.41 million pixels), 1/2.5-inch primary color CCD

Lens
-Focal length: f=4.6-33 mm (equivalent to 28-200 mm for 35 mm cameras. With Step Zoom set, option of seven fixed length: 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 85 mm, 105 mm, 135 mm, and 200 mm)
-Brightness (F value): F 3.3 (Wide-angle) – 4.8 (Telephoto)

Vibration Correction Function
CCD shift method

Zoom
Optical 7.1x zoom (equivalent to 28-200 mm for 35 mm cameras),
Digital zoom: 3.6x, Max. 25.6x when used with optical zoom (equivalent to 720 mm)
Auto Resize Zoom: 4.8x1, Max. 34.1x1 when used with optical zoom (equivalent to 960 mm)

Object Distance
Approx. 0.3 m – ? (Wide), approx. 1.0 m – ? (Telephoto)

Macro Object Distance
Approx. 0.01 m – ? (Wide), approx. 0.14 m – ? (Telephoto)

Shutter
8, 4, 2, 1 – 1/2000 sec.
1/30 – 1/2000 sec.

Resolution (pixels)
3072 x 2304, 3072 x 2048, 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480
3072 x 2304, 2048 x 1536
640 x 480, 320 x 240, 160 x 120

Picture Mode
F (Fine) / N (Normal)

ISO Sensitivity
AUTO, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600

Flash
Flash Off / Auto / Red-Eye Flash / Flash on / Flash Synchro
Flash Range3: approx. 0.2 m – 2.4 m (Wide-angle), approx. 0.14 m – 1.8 m (Telephoto)

Focus
Auto Focus / Manual Focus / Snap / ? (includes AF auxiliary light)

Exposure Adjustment
TTL-CCD Metering Method: Multi (256 segments) / Center weight / Spot

Exposure Compensation
Manual Compensation (+2.0 to -2.0 EV in 1/3 EV steps), Auto Bracket Function (-0.5 EV, ±0, +0.5 EV)

White Balance
Auto / Fixed (Outdoors, Cloudy, Incandescent Lamp, Incandescent Lamp 2, Fluorescent Lamp, Manual settings) / White Balance Bracket

Recording Media
SD Memory Card (3.3 V: 32, 64, 128, 256, 512 MB, 1GB, 2GB) / Multi Media Card, Internal Memory (26 MB)

Storage Capacity (No. of Pictures) (Internal 26 MB Memory)
3072 x 2304 (F: 9, N: 16), 3072 x 2048 (F: 10), 2592 x 1944 (F: 13, N: 22), 2048 x 1536 (F: 18, N: 35), 1280 x 960 (F: 32, N: 62), 640 x 480 (N: 276)

Storage Capacity (Time) (Internal 26 MB Memory)
19 sec. (640 x 480, 15 frames/sec.), 1 min. 16 sec. (320 x 240, 15 frames/sec.),
4 min. 28 sec. (160 x 120, 15 frames/sec.)5, 9 sec. (640 x 480, 30 frames/sec.),
39 sec. (320 x 240, 30 frames/sec.), 2 min. 26 sec. (160 x 120, 30 frames/sec.)

Storage Capacity (File Sizes)
3072 x 2304 (F: 2.54 MB / N: 1.48 MB), 3072 x 2048 (F: 2.28 MB),
2592 x 1944 (F: 1.84 MB / N: 1.06 MB), 2048 x 1536 (F: 1.32 MB / N: 672 KB),
1280 x 960 (F: 686 KB / N: 356 KB), 640 x 480 (N: 83 KB) (Sizes are approximate.)

Recording Mode
Still Modes (Still, Continuous, S-Continuous, M-Continuous), Scene Modes (Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Nightscape, Skew correction, Text, Zoom Macro, High Sensitivity, My Setting 1 and 2), Movie Mode

Recording Format
-JPEG (Exif ver. 2.21) DCF compliant DPOF support
-JPEG (Exif ver. 2.21) DCF compliant DPOF support
-AVI (Open DML Motion JPEG Format compliant)
-WAV (Exif ver. 2.21 µ law)

LCD Monitor
2.5 inch Transparent Amorphous Silicon TFT LCD (approx. 230,000 pixels)

Self Timer
Operating Time: approx. 10 sec. / 2 sec.

Interval Timer
Shooting interval: 5 sec. – 3 hours (in 5 sec. increments)7

PC Interface
USB 2.0 High-Speed (mini-USB), Choice of Ricoh original or Mass Storage driver8

AV Interface
Audio Out / Video Out

Video Signal Method
NTSC / PAL switchable

Dimensions
96.0 mm (W) x 55.0 mm (H) x 26.0 mm (D) (excluding projections)

Weight
Approx. 140 g (without battery, SD memory card, hand strap), Accessories approx. 30 g (rechargeable battery, hand strap)

Battery
Rechargeable battery (DB-60) x1, AC adaptor (AC-4c, optional accessories)

Shooting Capacity
Based on CIPA Standard: using the DB-60, approx. 380 pictures

Operating Temperature
0ºC – 40ºC

1 At VGA image size.
2 Only F (Fine) is available for 3072 x 2048 size. Only N (Normal) is available for 640 x 480 size.
3 When the flash range is set for ISO AUTO.
4 Estimated number of still images it is possible to record.
5 Maximum recording time of 330 min. 42 sec. is possible with a 2 GB SD card.
6 DCF is the abbreviation of JEITA standard “Design rule for Camera File system”.
(It does not guarantee perfect inter-camera compatibility.)
7 With flash off.
8 Mass Storage driver is compatible with Windows Me/2000/XP, Mac OS 9.0-9.2.2 and Mac OSX 10.1.2-10.4.6.
It is not compatible with Windows 98/98SE or Mac OS 8.6.
9 Shooting capacity was measured using CIPA-standard parameters. This is only an estimate, and performance may vary according to usage conditions.

• Windows is a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.A. and other countries.
• Mac OS is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries.

Specifications are subject to change without notice.