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RICOH WG-70 Black Waterproof Digital Camera 16MP High resolution images Waterproof 14m Shockproof 1.6m Underwater Photography 6-LED Ring Light Digital Microscope Mode Tough body design for workplace

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We’d suggest therefore that while this rugged camera is suitable for a range of uses, it’s not quite the master of all. So you probably only want to be considering buying it if you’re going to be using it in scenarios where you wouldn’t normally risk use of a smartphone, DSLR or mirrorless – such jumping in the swimming pool, a day at the beach or ski slope. Also identical to its predecessor is the business end of this camera – namely its 5x optical zoom and focal length the equivalent of a wide angle 28mm to 140mm in 35mm film camera terms, with an aperture range of f/3.5 to f/5.5 meaning it’s hardly class leading when it comes to low light performance. A film development technique that uses unconventional film development to create a distinctive finish with dramatic, stylized colors.

I love this camera. I specialize in close-up photography, and most of the pictures I have taken have been on the beach of animals or their remains. I take photos with the camera slightly under the water or above it where it gets splashed. (I do not dive with it.) I end up with tons of sand on it and have dropped it often. I have seen no decline in the quality of the photos from this rugged treatment. The weaknesses are that the zoom is not particularly good. The battery cover and charging port are not easily opened, which might be because it helps keep it water proof. The screen has scratches and marks---given how I bang it around that isn't a surprise. I think adding a screen protector would be a smart move. In this mode, the camera takes two pictures each time the shutter button is pressed, one with the flash off and the other with it on, letting you concentrate on composition without fiddling with the controls. * Available in Underwater Mode.With no spare mains charger provided, the WG-70’s battery is charged in-camera via mini USB port. This is hidden/protected beneath a chunky cover at the side of the camera that also protects a mini HDMI port. The user has to depress a catch and slide open said cover to access the ports, thereby ensuring that neither accidentally becomes exposed if venturing underwater, out in the snow or down to the beach. When the camera detects low-lighting conditions in still-image shooting, this mode automatically raises the sensitivity up to as high as ISO 6400, making it possible to use a higher shutter speed and effectively minimize the adverse effect of camera shake and subject shake when dealing with poor lighting conditions.

You don't have to restrict yourself to digital! There are also some handy underwater disposable film cameras, which work just like the disposable cameras you used to take on holidays, with the crucial difference being that they can be taken underwater. The Ricoh WG-70's maximum shutter speed is only 4 seconds in the Night Scene mode, and sadly there's no Bulb mode for even longer exposures. Sample Images The bottom of this camera features an off-centre screw thread for a tripod and a catch-operated slide and open compartment housing the WG-70’s battery and media card, as previously detailed.The Ricoh WG-70 is a new tough compact camera that's perfect for underwater photography down to 14 metres for up to two hours. An arguably inessential yet defining feature of this endlessly regenerated compact series, new this time around – and the only feature, along with a new Cross Processing mode – we could find that has altered since the WG-60 – is the ability to select a 2MP recording size, up to a maximum 12MP in said mode. Essentially the camera deploys its digital zoom – in effect a crop – to make it appear as if subjects have been ‘enlarged’. The WG70 features a Digital Microscope mode that allows the subject to be greatly enlarged, plus six built-in Macro Lights to assist close-up shooting.

FULL HD VIDEO: While the camera can of course record Full HD (16:9) video at 30 fps, it also offers a High Speed Movie mode for recording slow-motion video and an Underwater Movie mode suited to underwater movie recording. Movie and Underwater Movie modes offer Movie SR (shake reduction), which can be used to reduce the effects of camera shake. So, with the proof being in the proverbial pudding, how does the Ricoh WG-70’s photos match up to the specification and performance? Are we getting images here that transcend the camera’s point and shoot origins, or do they indicate that this is all about a toughened exterior and sporty looks first, and image taking and creation second? When testing waterproof cameras we pay particular attention to how easy they are to use when using them underwater, where camera controls are not a straightforward to see or use. Of course, there are trade-offs. Many waterproof cameras are compacts with fairly small sensors, so their image-capturing ability will be limited compared to, say the best mirrorless cameras. Here’s the Ricoh WG-70 at it’s wide angle 28mm equivalent setting. At this focal length the maximum aperture is f3.5, not particularly bright, but average for underwater cameras with folded optics like the WG-70. If you looking for a camera that performs particularly well in low light that would be the Olympus TOUGH TG-6 which boasts a brighter f2 at its 25mm equivalent wide angle setting.UNDERWATER MODE: This mode uses white balance optimized for underwater photos, making colors appear more natural by adding reds that tend to get lost in photos taken under water. The WG-80 is designed for every imaginable outdoor environment and adds to the experience with features such as Underwater mode for underwater photography, and an Outdoor View setting that adapts monitor brightness to ambient lighting. Enjoy the high-definition image quality offered by a camera with an approximately 16 effective megapixels, a lens with 5× optical zoom starting from a wide-angle of 28 mm *, and image processing incorporating “ultra-high resolution” technology. I attached a photo of the bottom side of a purple sea urchin. I have other photos that are even closer, but posted this one so that the viewer can more easily tell what it is. There’s not that much to see on the top panel,but it’s more about feel. You won’t get mixed up between the power button and shutter release because of the size difference. The power button is also slightly recessed, to avoid accidental operation, but you might have a struggle to turn the camera on and off wearing gloves.

On both cameras we get an ISO range manually selectable from ISO125 up to ISO6400 equivalent, with the ability to set the automatic functionality of the camera to only shoot within pre-defined ISO parameters. With tweak-able exposure compensation a modest +/- 2EV, it all feels a little underpowered. The Ricoh WG-70's flash has three modes: Auto, On, Off, plus a separate setting to enable or disable red-eye reduction. Whether this is active or not, the camera successfully avoids any trace of red-eye. Dynamic range (DxO Analyzer):This is a measure of a camera’s ability to capture detail in the highlights and shadows. We use DxO’s transmissive chart, which enables us to test a dynamic range of 13.3 stops. Here’s the first of two underwater shots of anemones I took with the WG-70. To get this close to subjects you need to enable the WG-70’s 1cm macro mode – the standard macro will only get you within 10cm. For this shot I turned on the macro ring light – 6 LEDs mounted around the lens illuminate to evenly light the subject. In this case it hasn’t made a huge difference to the quality of the shot and I think it might actually be more useful for shots out of the water.

Delve deeper into the Ricoh WG-70’s specifications and a number of other shortcomings come to light. First, let’s take a look at that 2.7 inch 230k dot LCD screen. Like so much about the WG-70, it’s adequate, but a bit of a disappointment on a 2020 model. Particularly when you look at what the competition has to offer – a 3 inch 1040k dot screen on the TOUGH TG-6 and a 3 inch 920k dot screen on the COOLPIX W300. The Ricoh WG-70 is a rugged compact that’s waterproof to a depth of 14 metres, can withstand a drop from a height of 1.6 metres and can be used in temperatures down to -10C. It has a very distinctive design that screams rugged, so if you’re fan of understatement this isn’t for you, but whether you love or hate the way it looks (and it’ll definitely be one or the other) its elongated soap bar shape feels very comfortable and secure to hold one-handed.

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