Ricoh announces 2 megapixel MP3 digicam!
By
Mike Tomkins
(Wednesday, June 13, 2001 - 15:03 EDT)
Ricoh's latest digital camera combines still images, video, audio and webcam capabilities in a 'mobile phone' style package...
Ricoh Japan has announced a new combination digital camera / MP3 player, according to Yamada Kumio's digitalcamera.gr.jp website. The Ricoh Caplio RR10 is a 2 megapixel, 2x optical zoom unit which has still image, video, webcam and MP3 capabilities. According to Ricoh, the design was based on the shape of a mobile phone; the unit is noticeably longer and slimmer than most digital camera designs. The RR10 can capture 1600x1200 pixel still images in either uncompressed TIFF, Exif 2.1 JPEG or monochrome TIFF formats, as well as 320x240 pixel AVI MotionJPEG video clips. Sound is recorded along with the video clips, and the microphone can also be used to record audio clips to annotate captured images. The camera comes with a docking station called the 'Ricoh Base', in which it is charged, and which also doubles as the camera's computer connectivity via a USB connection. When in the docking station, the RR10 can also be used as a webcam for videoconferencing.
Unusually, the docking station also contains the camera's video-out connectivity - allowing images to be previewed on a TV by connecting the base station to the TV, and then putting the camera in the base. A one-touch button on the base allows images to be transferred to a PC easily, in much the same manner as you'd synchronise a PDA. Bundled audio headsets (which don't have a remote control or volume control built-in) can be used to listen to MP3 audio files on the device; an optional remote control unit is available but it is a different model to that bundled with Ricoh's other digicams, and we are not certain if it is infra-red or wired, and what it can control.
The Caplio brand-name is new, and Ricoh's existing RDC-i500 digital camera has been retroactively named the Caplio RDC-i500 for the Japanese market. Ricoh is positioning the brand as being for 'personal communications tools of the future', which it says are simple to use, high-quality, and suited to both business or personal use. The Ricoh Caplio RR10 will ship in about a month's time in Japan at a price of US$492 approximately. Ricoh has not yet announced plans to sell the camera outside of the Japanese marketplace. Full specifications for the camera are already in our database, and highlights follow:
| Specification Highlights - full specifications here | | Ricoh Caplio RR10 |  | | General | | Model Number: | RR10 | | Camera Format: | Ultra-compact | | Price: | $492 | | Date Available: | Mid-July 2001 | | Image Capture | | Image Sensor: | 0.370" 2.11 megapixel RGBG CCD | | Image Resolution: | 1600x1200, 1280x960, 640x480 | | Lens | | Focal Length (effective): | 38 - 76mm (2x optical zoom) | | Digital Zoom: | 2x | | Auto Focus: | Yes | | Manual Focus: | Yes | | Normal Focus Range: | 14 cm to Infinity; 5.7 in to Infinity | | Macro Focus Range: | 4 - 14 cm; 1.6 - 5.7 in | | Aperture Range: | f/2.8 (wide) / 3.8 (tele) - ??? | | Display | | Optical Viewfinder: | No | | LCD Viewfinder: | Yes (1.5 inch, 110,000 pixel) | | Exposure | | ISO Settings: | Auto (100), 200, 400 | | White Balance Settings: | Auto, Outdoor, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent | | Manual White Balance: | No | | Shutter Speeds: | 4 - 1/1000 second | | Exp Adj Range: | +/- 2.0EV in 1/2EV steps | | Metering Modes: | Center-weighted | | Exposure Modes: | Auto | | Self Timer (seconds): | Unknown | | Flash | | Internal Flash: | Yes | | Flash Modes: | Auto, On, Slow-Sync, Off, Red-Eye Reduction | | Flash Range Description: | Unknown | | Ext Flash: | No | | Image Storage | | Flash Memory: | Secure Digital to 64MB | | Memory Included (MB): | 8 | | File Formats: | TIFF Uncompressed, JPEG, TIFF G4 MMR, WAV, MP3 | | More Information | | Weight: | 172 g; 6.0 oz | | Weight With Batteries? | No | | Size: | 117 x 30 x 54mm; 4.6 x 1.2 x 2.1in | | Notes & Features: | Japanese model; unknown if it will reach market outside Japan. Will ship in middle of July 2001. Price estimate based on conversion of Japanese price of �60,000 quoted by digitalcamera.gr.jp's Yamada Kumio. Compatible with SD cards from 8 - 64MB. Lens has 6 elements in 5 groups (3 aspheric surfaces). Minimum focus is 14cm at wide angle, 40cm at tele. Macro focusing is at wide angle position. Shutter speeds above 1 second are a choice of 2 or 4 seconds. Can append images with audio clips. Can play back MP3 audio files (44.1kHz, 96kbps). Included 'Ricoh Base' docking station has one-touch button for transferring images, and charges camera when in dock. Base station can be connected to a TV to view images on camera. Camera can function as a tethered USB webcam when in the docking station. Battery life rated at 50 minutes record, 80 minutes playback, 120 minutes MP3 playback. Complies with PRINT Image Matching, Epson's color management technology. Bundled with soft case, hand strap, AV cable, 'Ricoh Base' docking station, AC adapter, AC adapter converter, software CD-ROM, USB cable, stereo earphones, 8MB SD Memory card, rechargeable battery. Optional accessories include DR-4 remote control unit; this is a new remote and functionality/type is not listed by Ricoh yet. Silver body with choice of silver, blue or orange trim. | | More Photos |  |  | | |
Source:
Ricoh Corp.
|