CX1 Images

[NickBland]

Hi,

As a new user to Ricoh, and having enjoyed looking at various posts here over the last week or so, I've just acquired a CX1, and decided to join in the proceedings here.

For those like me who've been hunting for images from this piece of precision engineering, there are a couple of new, regularly updated galleries at

http://nickbland.zenfolio.com

Hope this may be of help to anyone 'on the fence' as far as buying a new camera in this market area.

All the best,
Nick

 

[thelps]

Hi Nick, welcome to the forum and its really great to see some real world samples from the CX1. I do like the rendering from the CMOS sensor, its colours seem just a bit more pastel to me? IMHO.

I see you have tried the 1:1 square format and its certainly suits many images you have here.

How are you finding the handling of the CX1? Is its startup time quick enough? is there any slowness at all? Is the LCD easy to see in outdoor sunlight?

Thanks

PS: I like your web site choice too, very easy and quick to navigate!

 

[NickBland]

Hi Tim,
Thanks for your note ...this is an intriguing camera, and Ricoh have no doubt responded very positively to some of the criticisms of past products, the R-series in particular.

The Sony-manufactured sensor is excellent - coming from Fuji F100fd (amongst many other compacts) and still owning Nikon D3/24-70, Panasonic LX3, Fuji F30/F11, I've always been fussy about colour rendition. The sensor that Ricoh have chosen for the CX1 really is superb, and gives adjustable (in-camera) realistic colour. I often use DxO Labs FilmPack software for any images where I'd like to replicate film output and colour shifts - but the starting point has to be right in the first place, and with the CX1, it is.

I love to use different formats, rather than just the std 3:2 ...my LX3 is almost permanently switched to 16:9, and I can see the CX1 having plenty of use in 1:1 format, as it does suit certain compositions really well. Most medium-format photographers will know how useful that can be (as well as a hindrance in some cases, for them) ...CX1 gives you the choice.

The handling is I would say one of the standout features of this camera, after its image quality. I was entirely used to the layout after only a couple of days - BUT, you do have to read the manual ! Startup time is very fast, and all functions work really quickly. At absolutely no point - whether focusing in light or low light, long- or short-end of the zoom, or any other function I've used so far, is there any slowness in use - it's super-quick. For example :

1/ From startup, CX1 zooms to 200mm faster than LX3 manages to 60mm (!)
2/ Formatting the card - about 2 seconds, instead of 20 on LX3
3/ Magnification - instant, so useful for rapidly checking focus accuracy
4/ Neat feature - once you've taken a shot, by default it's instantly magnified a little on the 3" screen

LCD - exceptional, and I think the quoted 920K res is same as my D3 - certainly looks like it, and the same size, too ! In very bright sunlight, as you'll have in Australia much of the time, current LCD technology - including that on the D3 - will only go so far. Suffice to say, this is THE BEST LCD on any compact I've ever seen, and at least matches that of my D3.

Thanks for your comments on my Zenfolio site - pleased to hear it's easy to use !

All the best,
Nick

http://nickbland.zenfolio.com