Ricoh CX2 review
Review Date : Mon, 7 Dec 2009
Author : Cliff Smith
-
Sample Photos:
Judging from Ricoh's CX2, in-camera HDR may just be the next big thing? The What Digital Camera Ricoh CX2 review...
Pros: Performance, build quality, image quality, features Cons: Price, lack of HD video The CX2 is an update of the CX1, launched earlier this year, and shares nearly all of its features including the 9.29MP CMOS sensor, the sharp three-inch 920k monitor, the all-metal body and the clever in-camera HDR feature. The only external difference is the handgrip, which is now more rounded and has a non-slip texture. The main upgrade is the lens, which is a new f/3.5-5.6 10.7x zoom, equivalent to 28-300mm. It's not the only new feature though. There are several new items on the scene mode menu, including a novel focal plane effect that makes everyday objects look like tiny models.
Other new modes include a discreet shooting setting which disables the flash, the AF assist lamp and the operation sounds, and a high-contrast monochrome mode producing an effect similar to push-processed black and white film. Portrait mode is also improved, with automatic face detection, focusing and white balance adjustment. The high-resolution menu is stuffed with unusual, fun and useful features in both shooting and playback modes, such as focus bracketing with multi-point autofocus, an on-screen spirit level or manual level adjustment feature with three movable points on a histogram.
The only real disappointment is the video recording mode, which is limited to VGA resolution at 30fps with mono audio, and only digital zoom.
One effect of the new longer lens with its complicated folding internal structure is to slow down the start up time. The CX2 starts up in a little under three seconds, which is reasonably quick by most standards, but much slower than the CX1's sub-two-second start time. However, in all other respects the CX2 shares the CX1's excellent performance. In single-shot mode it has a shot-to-shot time of an impressive 1.3 seconds.
The multi-point autofocus system is very good, focusing quickly and accurately in all lighting conditions. The CX2 has a very good AF assist lamp with a range of several metres, so it will focus properly in total darkness. The built-in flash is also good, with excellent frame coverage and good close-range metering. The recharge time from an average flash is about five seconds.
While overall image quality is just as impressive as the CX1, there is one respect where the CX2 doesn't do quite as well as its predecessor. The new lens has an admirable focal length range, and produces very little wide-angle distortion and almost no chromatic aberration, but I suspect that this may be at least partly the result of software manipulation, because corner sharpness is severely lacking.Image noise is handled extremely well, with virtually no visible noise at ISO 80-200, and better than average image quality at ISO 400. From ISO 800 upwards noise reduction becomes more noticeable, but it is still on a par with any of its main rivals, and overall colour fidelity is good even at ISO 1600.
Verdict
The Ricoh CX2 combines excellent build quality, class-leading performance and superb image quality with innovative features and easy-to-use handling, and even includes a two-year warranty. It's impossible not to be impressed.
Have your say!
Latest comments
December 11 14:28
Adrian Korsner
I bought a CX2 hoping that, with the impressive spec., it would be the answer to all my needs of a pro-quality camera in a pocketable size. Sadly, its not!. Don't get me wrong, its not a bad camera but its really no better than the, much cheaper, Lumix that I used to carry about. Skin tones are poorly rendered and low light performance (museums and galleries, too noisy to be of use. There are so many 'gismos' on it that I spent an entire day, sitting on a beach, and playing. I don't think a novice photographer could ever get to grips with what is on offer and a pro would not want to. No RAW ability which would have helped a lot. no manual overides and without a viewfinder, useless in bright light. Its a shame because ergonomically its nice and the size is right. Can't see any advantage of the vaunted CMOS sensor (which was what, ultimately, sold it to me. The lens is fine until you get up to telephoto ranges and then it is impossible to hold still as the steady shot facility seems just not to be available when you need it. Whenever I look, it has switched off. Did I want or expect too much? Probably, but its not a cheap camera and pretty and well built as it is, it doesn't mean I can leave the big bag at home.
February 25 16:09
Adrian Korsner
Despite reading moans from people who had bought a CX1 camera only to find it had been quickly superceded by the CX2, I bit the bullet and bought a CX2. Now just weeks after the CX2 became available, I read of that being superceded by the CX3. Actually I am devastated that the main failing of the CX2 (high noise) has now apparently been sorted. Clearly they had the technology available to put into the CX2 (if not the CX1) but cynically chose not to do so. Leaves a very bad taste in the mouth. Will I upgrade to a CX3? No! Will I ever buy another Ricoh? probably not. I'm happy to change my camera on a regular basis. I have a Nikon D100, D200 and D700 and several Lumix cameras. I've upgraded them happily after a couple of years but two updates within six months means they don't take your customers seriously and that buyers can't take a chance on a suitable purchase. Its just too expensive a camera. Shame on them!
May 09 17:33
A Dineen
my pictures are coming out too bright - what am i doing wrong?