SmallSensorMan
Well-known member
Just wondering if anyone has got one here and what they think of it as I would like a camera I can abuse and a PX looks like it can take some abuse!
Many thanks
Steve
Many thanks
Steve
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Does anyone have a PX?
- Thread starter SmallSensorMan
- Start date
There are some users with the PX over at Ricohforum.
http://ricohforum.com/viewforum.php?f=64
I don't think it is anything special and a Canon Powershot D10 or a Pentax Optio W60 (slow autofocus though) have better image quality. In general all waterproof cameras from the review here last year was like trash with too aggressive noise reduction or some other problem. The D10 and W60 were in the slightly older test from 2009 but then the quality were better.
I've settled on a Ricoh 400G wide and also a Ricoh Caplio 500SE to use for some very simple underwater pictures. These have good image quality but are bulkier than Canon Powershot D10 or Pentax Optio W60. The other waterproof Pentaxes which followed have worse image quality in terms of nr which ruin fine detail.
There is also the Ricoh G600 and G700. The G600 have the same sensor and zoom as Pentax W60 but marginally worse image quality which I think came down to the nr and sometimes watercolor-effect at landscape or nature as a result.
Dynamic range is not great either. It shows up at ebay.co.uk sometimes.
G700 are slightly expensive as new I think. It have some minor problem with grey looking nice which look like some haze. But in general I would say that the image quality are better than these full-size sample images that I've seen from the Px.
I've written a short review of the G700 myself.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1013&message=40077142
http://ricohforum.com/viewforum.php?f=64
I don't think it is anything special and a Canon Powershot D10 or a Pentax Optio W60 (slow autofocus though) have better image quality. In general all waterproof cameras from the review here last year was like trash with too aggressive noise reduction or some other problem. The D10 and W60 were in the slightly older test from 2009 but then the quality were better.
I've settled on a Ricoh 400G wide and also a Ricoh Caplio 500SE to use for some very simple underwater pictures. These have good image quality but are bulkier than Canon Powershot D10 or Pentax Optio W60. The other waterproof Pentaxes which followed have worse image quality in terms of nr which ruin fine detail.
There is also the Ricoh G600 and G700. The G600 have the same sensor and zoom as Pentax W60 but marginally worse image quality which I think came down to the nr and sometimes watercolor-effect at landscape or nature as a result.
Dynamic range is not great either. It shows up at ebay.co.uk sometimes.
G700 are slightly expensive as new I think. It have some minor problem with grey looking nice which look like some haze. But in general I would say that the image quality are better than these full-size sample images that I've seen from the Px.
I've written a short review of the G700 myself.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1013&message=40077142
Unless you really want something small like a PX, there is Ricoh 500G wide on Ebay which seems reasonably priced http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ricoh-Capilo-500G-Wide-8-0MP-Digital-Camera-/190652672182?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item2c63c8e8b6
It is bulkier than a PX but have faster widest aperture, bigger sensor and better image quality except for video. Set WB to cloudy/overcast to overcome that light purple cast which otherwise randomly can show up in images. The camera which the 500G are based on is the Ricoh Caplio GX8. Though as for other waterproof cameras, there is no manual control over the aperture. Not a big problem as it manage to choose a good combination shutter-speed and aperture. The zoom is 28-85mm, so shorter than the PX and no IS. On my 500SE, there is a function called "antiblur" which is some software IS but it smudges a small bit of detail, so I leave it turned off.
It is bulkier than a PX but have faster widest aperture, bigger sensor and better image quality except for video. Set WB to cloudy/overcast to overcome that light purple cast which otherwise randomly can show up in images. The camera which the 500G are based on is the Ricoh Caplio GX8. Though as for other waterproof cameras, there is no manual control over the aperture. Not a big problem as it manage to choose a good combination shutter-speed and aperture. The zoom is 28-85mm, so shorter than the PX and no IS. On my 500SE, there is a function called "antiblur" which is some software IS but it smudges a small bit of detail, so I leave it turned off.
The PX is not the greatest all-weather camera, but certainly not bad as some reviews suggest. I'm very happy with mine (a black one) and used it extensively on a recent skiing trip where it performed admirably. Exposure is generally spot on and under good conditions (sun, snow etc.) pictures come out well-exposed, colorful, clear and sharp and actually a lot better than I expected. For these pictures i've used the 'snow' scene (one of the choices in the 'premium' menu).
In less sunny conditions noise is obvious but not as bad or annoying as I expected. I took indoor dinner pictures both with and without flash and many of the flash pictures came out rather flat looking, while the pictures without flash and high ISO (even up to 1600) are much more pleasing than I expected from the reviews and my own experience. The flash switch is one of the best I've seen on any camera: a simple turn-switch instead of having to press small buttons. Great when you hand (or trow since its also shockproof) the camera to someone to take a picture quickly.
This is not a camera for pixel-peeping but setting 'super resolution' to 'on' helps and the sharpening effect is not so obvious (or artificial) as I expected. Ricoh camera's are generally very good in B/W and the PX is no exception. Pictures have a classic film look and I (surprisingly) preferred my PX b/w ski pictures to those taken with my Olympus E-PL1. In fact in the end almost all my holiday pictures were taken with the PX.
In-camera charging is convenient with the provided adapter. I can even charge the camera in my car by plugging Ricoh's USB cable in the 12v outlet (using an USB adapter with regulates the voltage down to 5v). Very handy.
Overall, the PX is very easy and convenient to use. Since the lens does not slide in and out you can quickly and without any worries 'trow' the camera in your pocket, for instance when jumping out of the ski lift. The body is small, stylish, understated and doesn't have that 'Action Man Look At Me' styling with fake bolts, nuts and armoury that many of the competitors show to make their products look tough.
Video is usable but not great. Forget the 640, but the 'HD' setting is usable for making holiday and family video's.
The rubber protective jacket is usefull and provides some very welcome extra grip. Very pleasant when swimming or skiing and highly recommended. No dents or scratches in the metal body in case you might drop the PX. The price came down somewhat and the PX can be found quite cheap.
In less sunny conditions noise is obvious but not as bad or annoying as I expected. I took indoor dinner pictures both with and without flash and many of the flash pictures came out rather flat looking, while the pictures without flash and high ISO (even up to 1600) are much more pleasing than I expected from the reviews and my own experience. The flash switch is one of the best I've seen on any camera: a simple turn-switch instead of having to press small buttons. Great when you hand (or trow since its also shockproof) the camera to someone to take a picture quickly.
This is not a camera for pixel-peeping but setting 'super resolution' to 'on' helps and the sharpening effect is not so obvious (or artificial) as I expected. Ricoh camera's are generally very good in B/W and the PX is no exception. Pictures have a classic film look and I (surprisingly) preferred my PX b/w ski pictures to those taken with my Olympus E-PL1. In fact in the end almost all my holiday pictures were taken with the PX.
In-camera charging is convenient with the provided adapter. I can even charge the camera in my car by plugging Ricoh's USB cable in the 12v outlet (using an USB adapter with regulates the voltage down to 5v). Very handy.
Overall, the PX is very easy and convenient to use. Since the lens does not slide in and out you can quickly and without any worries 'trow' the camera in your pocket, for instance when jumping out of the ski lift. The body is small, stylish, understated and doesn't have that 'Action Man Look At Me' styling with fake bolts, nuts and armoury that many of the competitors show to make their products look tough.
Video is usable but not great. Forget the 640, but the 'HD' setting is usable for making holiday and family video's.
The rubber protective jacket is usefull and provides some very welcome extra grip. Very pleasant when swimming or skiing and highly recommended. No dents or scratches in the metal body in case you might drop the PX. The price came down somewhat and the PX can be found quite cheap.
gerard bodin
Member
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I am happy to use my px when i can t use my grd IV. i was afraid when i saw my daughter diving with it 7 meters under the surface of the water to take photos of a group of 10 eagles rays in grenadines. The photos were good enough for souvenirs and the px was not damaged.
Cenk ERBAY
Well-known member
1. Does PX have step zoom function as the other ricohs?
2. Is PX a smaller camera than CX or GRD?
3. Could anyone post a photo of PX in order to compare of its size with another camera or a mobile phone?
Thanks
--
Cenk
2. Is PX a smaller camera than CX or GRD?
3. Could anyone post a photo of PX in order to compare of its size with another camera or a mobile phone?
Thanks
--
Cenk
SmallSensorMan
Well-known member
Many thanks for all your replies, especially Schaki and Hansadlp - it takes me ages to type a sentence let alone a few paragraphs so I appreciate the time you have taken to let me know your experiences.
It seems I have a bit to think about the PX is very tempting quite sweet looking and only £79 new in the UK
The more industrial ricohs will use the same battery as the GRD and have snap mode (which I use for virtually everything - except macro!).
I will let you know what I get and post some photos.
Thanks again.
Steve
It seems I have a bit to think about the PX is very tempting quite sweet looking and only £79 new in the UK
The more industrial ricohs will use the same battery as the GRD and have snap mode (which I use for virtually everything - except macro!).
I will let you know what I get and post some photos.
Thanks again.
Steve
sedentary_male
Forum Enthusiast
You could take a look at this video review by Blunty3000 (Blogger) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=hG4VMMyAkzg
The only negative feedback goes to the video quality.
The only negative feedback goes to the video quality.
The PX is the smallest Ricoh yet. Check the Ricoh website for dimensions.
Last year DPreview tested waterproof camera's, amongst them the PX. This test should give you a fair idea of how the PX compares to the competition: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q311waterproofcompactgrouptest
Zoom on the PX is probably in small steps but this doesn't matter much, zoom operation is pretty basic anyway.
When shooting outdoors: try to keep the ISO as low as possible. ISO 100 gives best results. Fortunately both a fixed iso and a maximum iso value in 'iso-auto' can be set in 'P'. This prevents the camera from using high iso values when set to 'full-auto-everything'.
Last year DPreview tested waterproof camera's, amongst them the PX. This test should give you a fair idea of how the PX compares to the competition: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q311waterproofcompactgrouptest
Zoom on the PX is probably in small steps but this doesn't matter much, zoom operation is pretty basic anyway.
When shooting outdoors: try to keep the ISO as low as possible. ISO 100 gives best results. Fortunately both a fixed iso and a maximum iso value in 'iso-auto' can be set in 'P'. This prevents the camera from using high iso values when set to 'full-auto-everything'.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ricoh-Capilo-500G-Wide-8-0MP-Digital-Camera-/120881572734?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item1c251a6b7e
Even lower price now than before. I had only minor doubt abut the pricing before but now it is a should be a no brainer unless it is being found too bulky.
It have as good image quality or better than the best from the group test here in 2009 in which Canon Powershot D1, Pentax W60 and sometime also the Panasonic TS1 close behind.
The waterproof cameras, PX included, from the group test in 2011, was near pure trash imo as long as image quality is critical and actually worse than the three other and the 500G wide mentioned above. These 4 have a clear edge thanks to their lower NR.
These 4 are all different beasts.
Canon D10 lacks the 28mm wide-angle and are slightly deeper than the TS1 and W60 and at least a 3cm macro. Only 640x480 videos though rather good for what it is.
W60 have a slow AF. Unlike the others it offer HD 720p though only at mediocre 15fps..
TS1. Only 5cm macro. HD 720p 30fps but still worse HD-quality than the W60 because of that madly flickering noise which remember me about the "ants wars" on old TVs.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q209waterproofgroup/9
Ricoh 500G wide. With WB set to cloudy the still image quality are at least on par or better than the other three. AF is faster and also the shutter-lag and have a noticeably faster widest aperture. Only 320x240 @30fps videos and the flickering is just about as bad or nearly useless as for the Panasonic TS1. Bulk might be an issue as well.
Even lower price now than before. I had only minor doubt abut the pricing before but now it is a should be a no brainer unless it is being found too bulky.
It have as good image quality or better than the best from the group test here in 2009 in which Canon Powershot D1, Pentax W60 and sometime also the Panasonic TS1 close behind.
The waterproof cameras, PX included, from the group test in 2011, was near pure trash imo as long as image quality is critical and actually worse than the three other and the 500G wide mentioned above. These 4 have a clear edge thanks to their lower NR.
These 4 are all different beasts.
Canon D10 lacks the 28mm wide-angle and are slightly deeper than the TS1 and W60 and at least a 3cm macro. Only 640x480 videos though rather good for what it is.
W60 have a slow AF. Unlike the others it offer HD 720p though only at mediocre 15fps..
TS1. Only 5cm macro. HD 720p 30fps but still worse HD-quality than the W60 because of that madly flickering noise which remember me about the "ants wars" on old TVs.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q209waterproofgroup/9
Ricoh 500G wide. With WB set to cloudy the still image quality are at least on par or better than the other three. AF is faster and also the shutter-lag and have a noticeably faster widest aperture. Only 320x240 @30fps videos and the flickering is just about as bad or nearly useless as for the Panasonic TS1. Bulk might be an issue as well.
SmallSensorMan
Well-known member
Yes I was watching this - it did not sell and they halved the price - someone has bid on it now - so no last minute bid for me.
However you can now get a new PX with 2 year warranty and a free protective case from ebuyer for £67.49 including delivery.
However you can now get a new PX with 2 year warranty and a free protective case from ebuyer for £67.49 including delivery.
Ricoh G600 is OK but have smaller sensor and slightly more NR compared to the 500G wide. Also slower aperture (f3.5) at the wide end which yet is faster than for PX. Dynamic range for G600 really isn't great either.
G600 uses the same DB60 batter as the GRD1 and GRD2.
G700 which very much is the same body and lens as the G600 uses DB65 as battery and can be used in the GRD also.
But one simply can't put a usual DB60 into the G700 without a slight modification. Removing a small bit of plastic at each corner on the same side as the contacts on the battery.
The G600 shows up on Ebay from time to time. From my own experience of it I think that it are about as good or marginally better than the PX for image quality. DR might be more limited but no problem with oversharpening and the NR while not quite as low as for 500G wide, it is still not too bad.
500G wide uses a DB43 battery, not the newer DB60. But the DB43 can carry more power I think. 1800mah compared to to 1150 for DB60.
500G wide can also be used with AA batteries but I would not recommend that. The AF while being fast with DB43 simply gets very very slow with AA batteries for some reason. The rest of the camera still operates at normal speed though.
An other Ricoh Caplio 500G wide have shown up on Ebay.de, this time.
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Unterwasser-Kamera-Ricoh-Caplio-500G-wide-/400291623217?pt=DE_Foto_Camcorder_Digitalkameras&hash=item5d333d7131
It have better image quality than the PX and as good or marginally better than Canon D10 or Pentax W60.
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Unterwasser-Kamera-Ricoh-Caplio-500G-wide-/400291623217?pt=DE_Foto_Camcorder_Digitalkameras&hash=item5d333d7131
It have better image quality than the PX and as good or marginally better than Canon D10 or Pentax W60.
SmallSensorMan
Well-known member
I bought the PX in the end a really great little camera IMO for £60. Nice and small and easy to use with a bit of manual control of exposures. I just posted a photo in a new thread. I like the more industrial looking Ricohs suggested and no doubt they are better but they are just too bulky for what I want it for.
The PX should be ok. The mistake Ricoh did though was not to add image parameters for sharpness etc. I don't know however there will be a PX2 at some time or not.
Yes unfortunately most G-models are bulky. Only G600 and G700 are small.
I've been thinking about add a Pentax Optio W60 and have it as a small complement to my Ricoh 500SE as these two have different strengths and weaknesses.
One being the the video. 500SE definitely are inferior with crazy flickering noise which makes it unusable while the W60 seem to be just about OK.
It have same zoom and sensor like the G600 but at least marginally better image quality and even smaller body. The downside is slow focus and compared to the Ricoh there seem to be no snapfocus. Remain to be seen experienced if it is as fast/slow as the G600 to focus or slower than that.
The W60 is the last waterproof Pentax with really good image quality. W80 are not quite that good and definitely not W90.
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