Final Conclusion and Recommendation

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Obviously I cannot cover every single aspect or feature of the CX1 in one review, I'd have to write a book to do so. That fact gives testament to just how versatile and feature packed this camera is. Overall my experience with this camera has been a positive one, and as you can see below the positives highly outweigh the negatives. As we know all cameras aren't perfect, and the CX1 is of course of no exception. There are several suggestions I have made to Ricoh on future design improvements all the while I have praised the new additions Ricoh have made to this model.

What I like about the CX1 however is that Ricoh seems to be designing this level of camera to be evermore friendly to the average consumer and are paying attention to what consumers really want in a compact camera. Ricoh are a bit different in design approach, they seem to believe in super high build quality and a camera that performs as a tool box. The CX1 is very easy and intuitive to use.

The CX1 is a fun camera, it really would take months of shooting to really get to know each individual feature the CX1 has and how you could apply it to everyday shooting circumstances. The CX1 is similar to the R-Series cameras it replaces in this respect, they have always been highly featured compacts and very well built for the most part.

I found many of the features to not only work as advertised but that do have a practical purpose to the design as well. I would definitely recommend the Ricoh CX1 to the gadgety new-to-photography person who would appreciate a well built, easy to use and well thought out design. By giving the photographer more control over the output, and by designing a camera that doesn't get in your way, the CX1 promotes a quick learning curve to a new photographer. It is also very stylish (coming in 3 colors schemes, Black, Silver, and Champagne Rose), which seems to be more of a design feature than an attention seeking gimmicky outer skin you see so often with other designs.

The Ricoh CX1 is handsome, fast, versatile, and full of a bag of tricks. Highly Recommended.

As always, be safe, and happy shooting!

-C. Garrard

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• Strengths

Exceptional all metal build, more like a precise wristwatch than a camera

Excellent color

Digital level is extremely useful and auto rotates for portrait mode

Very good print output to 11x14 prints in low ISOs, hold up in detail well

Good detail at lower ISO's

One of the industries best user interfaces

LCD is a dynamo, even in bright light it performs well, great detail and size, industry benchmark for compacts in this range

Excellent layout and ergonomics

Great versatile lens, just about the best in this category of camera

Dynamic Range Expansion function works well, and even regular image dynamic range isn't bad

Multi-Pattern White balance works well, gets skin tones accurately, not a gimmick feature

Optical zoom available during movie mode but (see weaknesses)

Decent powered flash

Tons of fun features, including blazing fast multiple exposure modes (120 fps in VGA mode!)

Blisteringly fast processing and CMOS sensor performance, this camera is no slouch

Pocketable

• Weaknesses

Noise visible even on the lowest ISO setting (when pixel peeping)

Battery life could be better

Lack of Raw output

Cannot adjust contrast, sharpness, saturation in black and white/sepia modes

Video mode is just so so, and suffers from audio interference from the zoom toggle switch

Flash can be interfered with by your hand if you aren't careful

No noise reduction setting control in camera

ISO 800 and 1600 are failsafe settings only (less 800 for b/w images)

Tripod mount not inline with the lens

No LCD screen protector offered by Ricoh (try a Lexerd Screen Protector?)

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• Ricoh CX1 Press Release and Manufacturer Feature/Performance Specifications
• Ricoh CX1 Optional Accessories
• Ricoh CX1 Retail Outlets

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