Ricoh Caplio R40 Announced

Ricoh have announced the new Ricoh Caplio R40 - a 6 megapixel update to the Ricoh Caplio R30 - it features a 5.7x optical zoom lens, a new higher resolution 2.5" screen with 154,000 pixels, a compact 26mm thin body, 350 shot battery life and will be available in black from June. Unfortunately it lacks the anti-shake found in the Ricoh Caplio R3 and R4.

Click here for the full press release, specifications, and pictures

Ricoh Unveils the Caplio R40, a Compact Digital Camera with a 5.7x Optical Zoom (28-160 mm) in a Sleek, Pocket-sized Body

May 12, 2006, Tokyo – Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president: Masamitsu Sakurai) today announced the release of the new Caplio R40 compact digital camera, featuring a 5.7x optical wide zoom (equivalent to 28-160 mm in 35-mm camera format) in a slim body only 26-mm deep.

Available in black, the new Caplio R40 is a more affordable version of the highly successful Caplio R4 (released on March 17, 2006), which featured a 7.1x (28-200 mm) optical wide zoom lens. Inheriting the Caplio R4‘s unique Double Retracting Lens System*, the R40 houses a 5.7x (28-160 mm) wide-angle, high-powered zoom lens in its compact, 26-mm deep body.

* Designed to have part of the lens assembly inside the camera’s body during lens storage, the wide-angle, high-powered zoom lens is more compact.

Ricoh takes pride in manufacturing products based on the concept of Expandability. In addition to its highly versatile wide zoom lens, the new R40 caters for every photographic situation. Thanks to the R40’s enhanced macro capabilities – a specialty of Ricoh – and ultra-quick response, this is a camera that gets results anywhere, anytime. No longer will users miss shooting opportunities as they wait for their camera to power up or the Auto Focus to lock.

Main Features of the Caplio R40:

1. The newly developed Double Retracting Lens System makes it possible to fit a 5.7x (28-160mm in 35mm) wide zoom lens into the R40’s slim body, which is at a mere 26mm deep fits comfortable into the pocket.

• Ricoh’s innovative Double Retracting Lens System, newly developed from the original Retracting Lens System, allows the lens assembly to be stored in the camera body during lens storage. This enables the 26 mm body to hold a 5.7x wide zoom lens (28-160 mm in 35-mm equivalent).

• The highly versatile Caplio R40 delivers outstanding results in practically any photographic situation. These vary from sweeping landscapes to indoor shots needing a wide-angle 28mm lens to capture close-ups using 160mm telephoto.

2. The macro function, a Ricoh hallmark, has been further enhanced.

• The R40 features a top-of-its-class macro mode, enabling users to photograph an object from as close as just 1 cm and opening up a whole new world of photographic opportunity.

• The Zoom Macro Function automatically sets the focal distance of the lens at the optimum distance for capturing an object as large and close-up as possible.

• If AF Target Selection is used, it is even possible to focus on different objects without moving the camera.

3. Rapid response for stress-free shooting.

Release time lag (the time from the instant the shutter button is fully pressed – without engaging pre-focus – until exposure actually starts) is as fast as approximately 0.09 seconds. Quick response is essential in order to capture those brief, picture-perfect moments of which memories are made, such as the smile of a small child or the playfulness of a pet. The R40’s near-instantaneous reactions mean such shots are now within easy reach.

• Time calculated from the instant the focus is locked (half-press) until exposure actually starts is an astonishing 0.007 seconds.

• Shooting interval and start-up time (approx. 1.1 seconds) are both rapid (measured while the fl ash is off).

4. Long-life rechargeable battery and charger let you shoot approximately 350 pictures on a single charge.

The power-saving capability of the R40’s internal circuitry means it is possible to capture up to 350 separate images under CIPA standards using the long-life rechargeable battery and charger (included with the camera), even while using the large, high-resolution 2.5-inch LCD display.

5. High-definition pictures thanks to a 6-megapixel CCD coupled with Ricoh’s original image processing engine.

• The 6-megapixel CCD combined with Ricoh’s Smooth Imaging Engine enables high-speed processing and noise reduction, resulting in clear, high-definition images with faithful colour reproduction.

• Users can select an aspect ratio (the horizontal to vertical ratio of the image) of 3:2. This is the same as standard 35-mm photo prints, so there is no need to crop and lose part of the original image.

6. The skew correction function.

An original algorithm, which automatically detects trapezoids in images and corrects them to rectangles makes the R40 highly effective in business environments where blackboards, overhead projectors, schedules, signboards, etc. cannot be shot from the front.

7. Large 2.5-inch LCD makes for easy composition and increased effi ciency.

• The Caplio R40 sports a crystal clear, large 2.5-inch LCD monitor.

• During playback, 12 pictures can be displayed simultaneously on the large screen. While checking pictures, the screen can be divided into three parts to allow fast forwarding and rewinding.

• The brightness of the LCD can be increased to maximum with a single touch, and visibility can be adjusted for well-lit environments.


Includes rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, AV cable, USB cable, software (on CD-ROM), and wrist strap.

Caplio R40 Optional Accessories:
Rechargeable Battery: DB-60
Battery Charger: BJ-6
AC Adapter : AC-4c
Soft Camera Case: SC-60

Available: June 2006
Colours available: black

Caplio R40 Major Specifications:

CCD:
Effective 6.04 million pixels (6.18 million square pixels), 1/2.5-inch primary colour CCD

Lens:
Focal length f4.6 - 26,4 (equivalent to 28-160 mm for 35 mm cameras. When setting Step Zoom, seven fixed possible steps: 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 85 mm, 105 mm, 135 mm, and 160 mm)

Brightness (F value) F 3.3 (W) - 4.8 (T)

Zoom:
Optical: 5.7x zoom
Digital: 3.6x zoom

Shutter:
Still: 8, 4, 2, 1-1/2000 sec.
Movie: 1/30-1/2000 sec.

Resolution (pixels):
Still: 2816x2112, 2784x1856, 2048x1536, 1280x960, 640x480
Text: 2816x2112, 2048x1536
Movie: 320x240, 160x120

Picture Mode:*¹:
F (Fine) / N (Normal)

ISO Sensitivity:
AUTO / 64, 100, 200, 400, 800

Flash:*²
Auto / Red-Eye Reduction / Mandatory Flash / Slow Synchro / Flash Off
Flash Range*²: approx. 0.2 m - 2.4 m (Wide), approx. 0.14 m - 1.85 m (Telephoto) (ISO: AUTO)

Focus:
Auto Focus / Manual Focus / Snap / ∞ (includes AF auxiliary light)*³

Exposure Adjustment:
TTL-CCD method photometric system: Multi (256 segments) / Center weight / Spot

Exposure Compensation:
Manual Compensation (± 2.0 EV in 1/3EV steps) / Auto Bracket Function (-0.5EV.±0.+0.5EV)

White Balance:
Auto / Fixed (Outdoors, Cloudy, Tungsten light, Tungsten light 2, Fluorescent, Manual)

Recording Media:
SD Memory Card (3.3V 32, 64, 128, 256, 512 MB, 1GB) / Multi Media Card, Internal Memory (26 MB)

Storage Data Capacity:
Still: 2816x2112 F: approx. 2.16 MB N: approx. 1.24 MB, 2784x1856 F: 1.88 MB, 2048x1536 F: approx. 1.31 MB N: approx. 672 KB, 1280x960 F: approx. 686 KB N: approx. 356 KB, 640x480 N: approx. 83 KB

Recording Mode:
Still (Continuous, S-Continuous, M-Continuous), Scene Mode (Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Nightscape, Scene, Text, High Sensitivity, Zoom Macro, Skew correction), Movie, Sound

Recording Format:
Still: Compressed: JPEG (Exif ver. 2.21) DCF*⁴ compliant, DPOF support
Text: TIFF (MMR system ITU-T.6) / Movie: AVI (Open DML Motion JPEG Format Compliant)
Sound: WAV (Exif ver.2.21 μ law)

LCD-Monitor:
2.5 inch Translucent Amorphous Silicon TFT LCD (approx. 153,000 pixels)

Self Timer:
Operating Time: approx. 10 sec. / 2 sec.

Interval Timer:
Shooting interval: 5 sec. – 3 hours (in 5 sec. increments) *⁵

PC-Interface:
USB1.1 (Windows 98/98SE/2000Professional/Me/XP Home Edition/XP Professional pre-installed, or Mac OS 8.6-9.2.2/Mac OS X 10.1.2-10.4.5) Choice of Ricoh original or Mass Storage driver*⁶

Subject Distance:
approx. 0.3m-∞ (Wide), approx. 0.84m-∞ (Telephoto) Macro: approx. 0.01m-∞ (Wide), approx. 0.08m-∞ (Telephoto)

AV-Interface:
Audio Out / Video Out

Video Signal Method:
NTSC/PAL switchable

Dimensions (W x D x H):
95.0mm (W) x 26.0 mm (D) x 53.0 mm (H) (excluding projections)

Weight:
Approx. 135g (without battery, SD memory card and strap)

Battery:
Rechargeable Battery (DB-60) x 1

Shooting Capacity:*⁷
Based on CIPA Standard: using the DB-60, approx. 350 pictures

Operating Temperature:
0~40°C

*¹: Only N (Normal) is available for 640×480 size, only F(Fine) is available for 2784x1856 size
*²: When the flash range is set for ISO AUTO or ISO 400
*³: Under dark conditions, the flash may pre-flash before the camera shoots.
*⁴: DCF is the abbreviation of JEITA standard “Design rule for Camera File system”. (It does not guarantee perfect inter-camera compatibility.)
*⁵: With flash OFF
*⁶: Mass Storage driver is compatible with Windows Me/2000/XP, Mac OS9, and OSX10.2-10.4. It is not compatible with Windows 98/98SE or Mac OS8.6
*⁷: Battery performance was measured using CIPA-standard parameters. Actual performance may vary according to usage conditions and the brand of the battery.

* Windows is a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.A. and other countries.
* Mac OS is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries.

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