megapixel.net logo

Digital Camera News and Reviews

Megapixel.net Partners
Be a Megapixel Partner



internet.commerce
Be a Commerce Partner


















 
The Ricoh RDC-7 can only be qualified as truly innovative. Shaped somewhat like a pocket recorder, the RDC-7 is flat—barely 26.6mm [1 in] thick—and designed to be held horizontally as well as vertically.

Extremely well-finished and covered by metal on both sides, the RDC-7 provides a fully internal 3X zoom and a 3.3 megapixel resolution.
The 2 inch LCD screen is articulated and can be raised up from its closed position up to 135º; or once vertical rotated 180º so that it can be folded back down onto the camera, facing up.

However, the LCD screen is not the only means of framing an image with the RDC-7, an optical viewfinder is also provided, and it includes a diopter corrector with a range of -2 to +1 dpt.
The back of the camera presents the mode dial, which is almost centred. The On/Off power switch activates the camera when pressed, and rotates along with the dial. The zoom control is placed immediately behind the dial, and made to protrude both on top and at the bottom, making it accessible when the camera is held flat or vertically.

To the right of the dial, 2 small LEDs, indicate image storage (alternating red-green), flash charging (flashing red), focus lock (solid green).

The top of the RDC-7 provides a group of buttons for quick access to some settings:

  • Self-timer (10 seconds),
  • Picture Resolution and Quality,
  • Flash modes,
  • Internal or Card memory selection.

The zoom control, accessible from both sides of the camera and the shutter release (2-stage) complete the controls located there.

The ergonomic design of the RDC-7 is actually much more compatible with the use of the viewfinder than the LCD screen. Indeed, when the screen is folded back flat on top of the camera, and the photographer looking down at the screen, the index finger of the right hand tends to migrate forward to provide a better hold and ends up covering both the flash and microphone. Similarly, the shutter release is positioned a little too far back to be comfortable, unless the camera is at eye-level.
The problem completely disappears when the viewfinder is used. Then the camera, though thin, is easily controlled and fingers find both grip area and controls naturally. The same holds true when the camera is used to vertical shots.

To make the design easier to use vertically, Ricoh engineers have thoughtfully added a second shutter release, also 2-stage, placed just below the lens when the camera is held upright. A semitransparent dark red plastic piece, shaped like an elongated tear drop, serves as a grip when the camera is vertical, while the narrow top part covers the self-timer indicator lamp.
One caveat when the camera is used vertically: the shutter release is very close to the lens, and since the optical viewfinder is separate it is easy to accidentally cover the lower part of the lens without realizing it.





The Network for Technology Professionals

Search:

About Internet.com

Legal Notices, Licensing, Permissions, Privacy Policy.
Advertise | Newsletters | E-mail Offers