Ricoh Caplio GX100

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By Andrew Chan
Feb 08, 2008

Imagine for a moment that you did not read the brand name of this compact camera, and we told you that it has the most user-friendly controls and one of the most powerful feature sets in its class. What brand would come to your mind? Canon? Sony? Perhaps Nikon? Surprisingly, this is the Caplio GX100 from Ricoh, the quirky camera maker that once in a while, comes up with interesting models like this one. This camera has already gained a cult following of loyal fans who can appreciate its unique advantages, but unfortunately, it will remain a niche product in a world of typically novice compact camera photographers, and is best suited for photographic aficionados and those learning the ropes of technical photography.

Thanks to the "fast" F2.5 lens and an ISO 400 setting, this night scene needed only a relatively fast 1/30 second to expose.
(click for larger image)

Design

As you will read later, the Ricoh Caplio GX100 has several revolutionary features for a compact camera, but we doubt it will sell well. And the reason is because a typical compact camera buyer is a point-and-shoot photographer who places a strong weighting on brand, design and resolution when deciding on a purchase. In a market dominated by bigger compact camera brands like Canon and Sony, it is difficult for a lesser-known name like Ricoh to draw attention to its innovative strengths because it is not as pretty as, say, a typical Canon IXUS or a Sony Cyber-shot compact.

It has a plain, unattractive body design, clothed in a dull black that makes it unappealing to the design-conscious. Apart from a rubber grip on the right side, the rest of the camera is matt plastic. However, the chassis is still considered relatively slim, lightweight, well put together, and facilitates easy handling. Apart from that, the camera's control set is similar to an A-Series Canon PowerShot camera except for one fundamental difference--it has two command dials--which we feel is its greatest strength.

Shot in auto mode, this photo shows the GX100's vibrant interpretation of colors, as well as its weakness for resolving details in bright areas.
(click for larger image)

Features

Any photographer worth his salt will tell you that a good camera is defined by its ability to provide as convenient and quick control over its settings as possible. The Ricoh Caplio GX100 shines where this factor is concerned. Its immediate predecessor, the Ricoh GR Digital, was the first camera to introduce two command dials into a compact camera; and the GX100 carries on that feature. Why have two command dials? For learned photographers who like shooting with full control over shutter speed and aperture settings, a dial to control each parameter will allow him to change either setting rapidly to compensate for changes in the scene/subject. This is opposed to leaving the interpretation of a scene to the camera's auto mode that often delivers results which are not what the photographer wants. Dual control dials are typically found on high-end dSLR cameras, so it is a revolutionary addition on a compact like the GX100.

In addition, the rear command dial is also a button. Pressing it brings up a menu showing the key shot settings of white balance, ISO and focus mode from which you can use the front dial to select the setting to change. Together, these two dials provide the most innovative, convenient and fastest way for a photographer to switch between these key settings. Another similarity to a dSLR the GX100 has is its special function button (Fn) on its top left corner. This button can be assigned to quickly access any one of a multitude of settings including auto bracketing and AE lock, in addition to the usual ISO, white balance and focus mode.

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