New Ricoh GXR Features Interchangeable Lens/Sensor Units
Japanese manufacturer Ricoh has launched its latest model, the digital Ricoh GXR. Described as a radical rethink of camera design, the body itself consists only of controls, LCD and flash, while the lens, image sensor and processing engine come in separate interchangeable units. The Ricoh GXR thus benefits from a very compact design and is claimed to be the smallest digital camera with removable lens.
Currently there are two lens/sensor options available from Ricoh:
Ricoh GXR A12 - A 12 megapixel CMOS sensor coupled with a 50mm f/2.5 macro lens for high quality low noise photography. The lens features a chunky manual focus ring for precision focusing.
Ricoh GXR S10 - A high-speed option with a 10 megapixel high-sensitivity CCD sensor and a 24-72mm f/2.5-4.4. The smaller sensor allows for the zoom lens to be extremely compact.
Both options come not only with their own sensors and lens combinations, but also include shutters and image processing units. These account for most of what matters in a digital camera and thus each option greatly influences the output produced. Swap the interchangeable unit and you have a totally new camera.
Ricoh GXR’s launch date is some time in 2010. Body price is expected to be around £400, with A12 and S10 costing £600 and £300 respectively.
