Ricoh CX3 review

An innovative compact that is easy-to-use

Ricoh has been making compact cameras aimed at pro photographers for the past few years with great success, the GR Digital series proving particularly popular as an alternative to a DSLR. The CX3 is a point-and-shoot that doesn’t offer quite the same level of manual control, but it does have some interesting features that you won’t find on rivals.

The CX3 is one of a new breed of compacts to feature a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, which promises to deliver less noise at higher ISO sensitivities and thereby increase the camera’s versatility. This is still a relatively small 1/2.3-inch sensor, though, so it’s no surprise that the CX3 suffers in direct comparison with any current entry-level DSLR or micro four thirds camera. Noise and softening of detail are readily apparent at ISO 800, with 1600 and the fastest setting of 3200 getting progressively worse.

Ricoh cameras don’t usually apply too much noise reduction to JPEG images, hence the obvious noise at modest ISO values. New to the CX3 is the MAX noise reduction mode, which uses a sophisticated algorithm to identify the parts of the image that suffer from noise and then process each region, rather than just applying reduction to the entire picture. In practice this innovative feature works well, noticeably reducing artefacts in the shadow areas and providing a one-stop improvement, but at the expense of softening some finer details.

Similarly, the Dynamic Range Double Shot mode uses some clever processing to greatly expand the dynamic range, combining two images shot at different exposures in-camera to produce a well-exposed image. The strongest setting provides around 12 stops of dynamic range expansion, which does work as advertised. There are a few trade-offs though, most notably a reduction in colour saturation and the need to mount on a tripod to avoid blur.

Given its point-and-shoot nature, the Ricoh CX3 is a simple camera to operate, offering a refreshing pared-back design. The thumb-operated Adjust joystick cleverly provides quick access to five of the camera’s key settings, which can then be customised to suit your shooting style. Continuing the customisation theme, the Function button can be mapped to one of 12 settings, while the MY1 and MY2 shooting modes on the DSLR-like Mode dial allow you to quickly switch between configurations. In an age of cameras with multiple tiny buttons and one way of working, the CX3 is a breath of fresh air.

The CX3’s high-resolution LCD screen is truly a sight to behold, with a large three-inch display and 920k-dot resolution bringing your images to life. Equally appealing is the 10.7x zoom lens, which offers a versatile focal range of 28-300mm, covering everything from wide-angle landscapes to close-up action shots, and respectable enough maximum apertures at either end. Despite the large zoom ratio, the CX3 is still slim enough to easily fit in a pocket, and it can also focus as close as 1cm.

Like most of Ricoh’s cameras, the CX3 is lightning-fast, with almost instant start up, no discernible shutter lag, quick focusing and snappy recording times. It also offers five frames per second continuous shooting at the highest quality, with faster modes on offer if you don’t mind a drop in resolution.

The CX3 is the first Ricoh camera to offer high-definition video, a feature that is becoming more ubiquitous on cameras. Accessed via the Shooting mode dial, it’s a logical addition that widens the CX3’s appeal, but it’s not without its flaws, most notably the creation of massive AVI files and the reliance on mono sound rather than stereo.

The CX3 is a compelling and cheaper alternative to the more pro-focused Ricoh cameras. It may only be positioned as a standard point-and-shoot, but it still has a lot to offer the discerning photographer.