Ricoh has announced its new WG-70 compact camera. All outward appearances suggest that the WG-70 is largely identical to its predecessor, the WG-60 (which was also just a minor update to the WG-50). So, not much seems to have changed. Ricoh says, though, that the WG-70 does come with a few new features including a “digital microscope mode”, and a more advanced underwater shooting mode for better colour, contrast and white balance.
| Sensor | ~16-megapixel 1/2.3" BSI CMOS |
| Focal length | 5-25mm (28-140mm FF equivalent) |
| Max aperture | f/3.5-5.5 |
| Optical Zoom | 5x |
| Digital zoom | 7.2x |
| Stabilisation | Electronic |
| Focus | 9 point AF, spot AF, auto tracking AF |
| Face detection | Face detection, Smile Capture, Self-portrait Assistant, Blink Detection |
| Pet detection | Detect up to one pet's face (auto) |
| ISO | 125-6400 |
| LCD | 2.7" 239K-dot LCD |
| Built-in flash | Yes |
| Video resolution | 1920x1080 @~ 30fps |
| Waterproof | IPX8 - Waterproof to 14m (46ft) |
| Shockproof | Shockproof against falls from up to 1.6 metres |
| Crushproof | Up to 100kgf (kilogram force) |
| Freezeproof | To -10°C |
| Dimensions | 122.5 x 61.5 x 29.5mm |
| Weight | 193g (with battery & SD card) |
As well as the two new features mentioned above, the WG-70 also features a digital “Cross Processing” effect, which is essentially just a built-in filter that attempts to simulate the result you’d see from cross-processing a roll of film. But I don’t see why these new features necessitate a whole new camera model.
Like the WG-60, the WG-70 only shoots 1080p HD video, which is a little disappointing. It appears to have the same resolution sensor, same ISO performance, same lens, same autofocus, same everything really. Couldn’t they have added these features via a firmware update?
I mean, they don’t mention a newly designed lens, sensor, faster processor, or anything in the press release. And the lack of 4K video in any new camera today is more than a little disappointing.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure the WG-70 is a fine camera, as it’s essentially a WG-60 with a bit of a software update, and the WG-60 was a decent camera. It’s waterproof to 14 metres (46 feet), crushproof against weight forces up to 100kg, freeze-proof down to -10°C, and all the rest of it. But there just doesn’t really seem to be much point to it.
It’s certainly doesn’t seem an upgrade to the WG-60 to me. I wouldn’t recommend anybody go sell their WG-60 to replace it with a WG-70. And even those looking to buy their first, I’d probably suggest they save $50 and get the WG-60 instead.
The Ricoh WG-70 is available to pre-order now for $279.95 in Black or Orange and is expected to ship in mid-March.
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