Ricoh GX200 - Test Shots -ISO Performance

Over the next few pages we show a range of test shots. On this page the full size image at the minimum and maximum ISO settings have been reduced to let you see the full image, and a series of full resolution crops have taken from original images at a range of ISO settings to show the overall image quality.

This is the full image taken at the minimum ISO 64 setting

Click to enlarge
ISO 100 Noise is well maintained and image tonality is smooth

Click to enlarge
ISO 200 The camera continues to give a good performance

Click to enlarge
ISO 400 The detail is starting to look a little gritty. I wouldn't recommend shooting any higher

Click to enlarge
ISO 800 Image noise has become obvious and intrusive

Click to enlarge
ISO 1600 This is just horrible

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17 comments

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Sean Groarke

7:04 AM on 25 June, 2008

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Interesting review (as ever!)

Very valid conclusion that the 12MP sensor crammed in to this camera almost inevitably leads to very dodgy pictures at higher ISO values. Yet Ricoh pitch this as an "enthusiasts" camera. Well let me tell Ricoh something: a real enthusiast will know enough to know that they are simply pitching yet another "Ooooh look how many megapixels I've got" camera to people who don't know better.

Here's an interesting thought: imagine this camera had a state-of-the art 8MP (or 6MP or whatever) sensor. All other things being equal, would the overall "Picture Quality" have been better? I say "Yes". Until Ricoh (and others) grasp this, they won't sell their stuff to *real* enthusiasts...

We all say the megapixel wars are over. But no one appears to have told that to the manufacturers!

Score:

monto

9:15 AM on 25 June, 2008

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I've used a Canon G6 for four years now (without ever really liking it - it can't focus indoors, and ISO 200 is only just about usable...) so the combo of decent image stabilisation and pocketable size, with usable ISO 400 seems fine to me. Shows how far things have come... That said, I've recommended Fuji F31s and F40s to everyone I know, so when the Canon (or Ricoh) is out of its depth I just grab a Fuji from someone ;-)

Lance Uppercut

9:18 AM on 25 June, 2008

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Blurry out of focus pictures of the camera?

AndyVandervell

9:36 AM on 25 June, 2008

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Yes, it hasn't gone unnoticed. ;)

KaiGriffin

9:52 AM on 25 June, 2008

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I think you missed the big upgrade here: the RAW processing speed has gone from 5 seconds per image to 5 RAW images per second. Frankly, the JPEG image processing engine is irrelevant (not least because it's so poor), because you can now shoot excellent quality RAW files without the speed handicap of the old GX-100. This is big news!

sedentarymale

11:41 AM on 25 June, 2008

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I like this model for various reasons. I did seriously consider the Sigma DP1 but appeared to be a very tempremental beast with unreliable white balance, generally very slow shutter lag & AF, very long read/write and processing times, prone to lens flare, low res LCD, colour castes, longwinded menu, poor flash, no historgram, can't shoot RAW and JPEG, bad/no macro, highest ISO 800 and so on.

The Canon G9 on the other hand has an excellent feature set Raw+JPEG, rugged, solid construction and excellent build quality, it doesn't have that killer 'wide' 28mm or 24mm as with the GX200 and tilting viewfinder which is useful if you are stuck in a wheel chair. The GX200 is a high-end F2.5 24mm ultra-wide-angle zoom in a pocketable compact body, manual shooting (aperture, shutter priority and SNAP mode, lovely jubly), electronic view-finder (wheel chair, hello), 460K LCD and continuous RAW capture to 5 frames !!! WOWzer. The electronic level could prove useful too. My Settings options great for registering different shooting settings. Manul flash adjustment, at last! along with "1st Curtain" or "2nd Curtain." D'uh, what's that for? (better google it),what else!?!?

Luan Bach

11:55 AM on 25 June, 2008

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£350 ? Isn't that more expensive than a Nikon D40 kit ? The D40 won't be that much larger and will have far better image quality.

byline974

3:36 PM on 25 June, 2008

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Noticed that some of the sample photographs, including both black-and-white ones, were taken in Budapest, Hungary. Just curious, did you happen to be in Budapest for a couple of days while doing the review, or was the test unit provided by Ricoh Hungary?

JamieHarrison

3:52 PM on 25 June, 2008

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I happened to have a weekend break in Budapest just after I received the camera, so took advantage of the better weather just for you!

teddie

7:40 PM on 25 June, 2008

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Jamie, how long is the delay between capture of RAW images in single shot mode? How long is the wait after a 5 frame RAW burst?

THanks

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