Ricoh GX200 vs Panasonic LX3

I must say I am more than happy to be the reviewer of the wide-angle duo, Panasonic’s LX3 and Ricoh’s GX200. I will whet your appetite with the usual scrutiny of the GX200 (for LX3, see here), followed by a duel of the pair. You will soon find out that there is more than the outlook and specifications…

As usual, it comes with a battery pack, a charger, a data cable and an AV cable, plus a CD Rom and a User’s guide. It has a hand strap for the camera but no strap for the lens cap.


The camera has a professional construction and a giant hand grip. They set the GX200 apart from other compact cameras and put it in the rank of prosumer cameras.


The 3X zoom lens has an equivalent focal length of 24mm to 72mm. Across the range, the aperture changes from f/2.5 to f/4.4. Zooming is fluid and fast with little motor noise.


The ring cap can be removed by pressing the button under the flash. What is it for? Well Ricoh has developed an optional auto open/close cap as a substitute for the strap-lacking lens cap.


The GX200 strangely leaves out the shutter priority mode, thus there is no “S” on the dial. The MY1/2/3 can only save your favorite settings but they cannot function as the S mode. If you must use shutter priority (God, I can’t live without it), use the manual (M) mode instead. In the M mode the camera displays a live histogram and an approximate exposure level. With the two dials (one is below the power button) for changing shutter speed and aperture, the M mode is actually quite easy to use.


Each of the 4 directions has a secondary function, except the up button. Why not make it a Fn3? This is probably due to the proximity of the button and the thumb pad (near the zoom rocker). The button layout is excellent, I could access all buttons with my thumb and one-hand operation is possible.


The GX200 has a CCD-shift image stabilization that can be activated in the menu (but not the Fn1/Fn2 buttons). The 12MP sensor has an ISO sensitivity range of 64 to 1600 and can be changed in the menu or by the Fn buttons.


Beneath the giant hand grip is the battery and card compartment. Hmm…the door hints of an alternative power source. It’s the long-forgotten alkaline batteries (AAA size only)! These cylinders may have less juice and more weight than Li-ion bricks, but they are cheap and everywhere! Good job, Ricoh.


The camera with the electronic viewfinder (VF) tilted at right angle, impressive look.


The VF performs reasonably well and has 100% coverage. A vari-angle VF is better than a tilt-able LCD under bright sunlight, but is not so great if you are forgetful or wear glasses.


When tilted vertically, the VF prevents the flash from popping up. The VF also covers the hotshoe at any angle.


Below are two sample shots with no photo-touching except resizing. You can see that they are very slightly under-exposed. Also notice the fine details in the last picture.




If you can live without shutter priority mode and a long tele-end, the camera maybe your perfect match. The GX200 is comfortable to use and it takes good picture – all in a light but durable body.
Now that we have some idea about the duo, the question then becomes “Which will be the wide-angle champion?” Both cameras have a reputable family history (the GX100 and LX2) and the rare 24mm wide-angle coverage. As mentioned in the LX3 review, the difference between lens-shift and CCD-shift stabilization is not significant, especially in wide angle cameras.


The cameras have about the same size with Ricoh being the wider but thinner and lighter one. The LX3 is located on the left side of the body, so the optional optical viewfinder can be used with the pop-up flash. The GX200’s flash is located in the center and may be obstructed by the electronic viewfinder if the VF is tilted vertically.


The lens battle is fought between Leica (on the LX3) and Ricoh. The Leica VARIO-SUMMICRON brutally beats the Ricoh Zoom lens in sharpness and maximum aperture. The LX3 has a maximum aperture of f/2 - f/2.8, compared to GX200’s f/2.5 to f/4.4. The Ricoh zooms lens has a longer tele-end though (72mm vs 60mm), so it has more versatility.


It is hard to decide which camera is more convenient to operate. The GX200 has two dials for quickly changing settings in manual mode with two fingers while the LX3 has an intelligent joystick design that allows me to change settings in PASM mode intuitively with my thumb. Both cameras allow users to save settings and customize buttons, but only the LX3 has switches to change focus mode and aspect ratio. The LX3 is next to impossible to operate with one hand while the GX200 was designed ground-up to do just that (that’s what we call an irony).


The LX3 has a considerably bigger and better-looking LCD but it doesn’t support an electronic VF (only the optional optical one).


So, which camera is better? There is no answer to that and it all depends on your application. The LX3 may have better picture quality thanks to Leica lens’ sharpness and better noise control, but this is not everything. First, the difference is not visible unless you do a direct, full-size comparison. Second, the GX200 has a longer zoom range and takes AAA battery. The electronic VF also allows for right-angle framing, which is especially useful if the object is below eye level.

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Samsung M620 Mini Product Review

 

There are so many innovative phones launched. Like iPhone, Nokia E71, LG Secret etc. But this time an entry-level model from the Essential series, Samsung SGH M620, which is designed solely for phone calls, is introduced .It minus the frills of the high tech gadgetry on the latest mobile devices. To evoke our sense that the mobile phone’s core function is cellular connectivity. Let’s check it out.
The package comes with a Battery, a Charger, a USB cable, earphones headsets, and Manual.

M620 is simple and sleek with practical slide-up. The reflective surface is glossy and stays pretty clean in use.

And the keypad layout is also clean and clear.

A close up on the earphones. The color is match with the phone body. It looks cute.

However, the menu and icon look a bit dull. I guess it’s acceptable. As a low budget phone, you can’t expect too much on it.

And the Card slot is located on the side. (The memory card is for reference only.)

VGA Camera is included.

It is such a functional phone and user friendly even for a little child. Since some new techniques added phones seldom come to market without at least a few glitches. But I can promise you that M620 is unlike anything else on the market.

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Sony Ericsson Z555i Product Review

At first I had requested a Dusty Rose version instead of the Black one. But somehow they gave me this Black colour z555i. Anyway we can still take some photo shots and share with you guys. (Well, I still think if this is in rosy colour, it will be better)

It comes with a battery, charger, earphones, and a manual. It is a really low budget phone, so the earphones is really a low budget earphones.  However, it comes with the new gesture control technology that we can find in w380i.

Holding the phone on hand, you can see that it is actually a w380 in black. SE ripped the walkman (with the W logo together) off the phone and it becomes the cheaper w555i. So it means that if you do not need the walkman function and do not want the purple color, you can check out this z555i. It is as thin and light as the W380i.

See it from the side view, it is thin. And the diamond cut glossy surface is
really nice. (I still think it will be a lot nicer if it is in Dusty Rose)

When you open the clamshell, the key pad layout is conservative. But I bet it is
the most useful kind of layout for everyday life. Big keys with good sensitivity, what do you want more?

OK. An even bigger close up on the keypads. Hey, we are using it each and
everyday. It deserves a closer look.

The hidden display is located under the front cover. When there is a call, the
caller ID and stuff will be glowing up an poping up to you. It is interesting.

One more pict. It really looks like it is floating on the diamond cut glossy
surface. Kinda fun. Oh and w555 is also equipped with the gesture control that
by waving on top of the phone (at the camera spot), you can stop the ring tone
and the alarm. It is one cool feature included in the phone.

The phone menu is simple but should do the work right. It is a Sony Ericsson, you don’t need to worry about that.

In conclusion, it is a low budget phone; everything is basic but still not dull.
If you just needed a phone that looks glossy and different, this is not a bad
choice at all. And the gesture control is also fun to play with.

Well, the Black w555 actually makes me thinking of the Motorola V-tech or V
something long time ago. But back then the "V" was “the” very very expensive
phone to show off with.

Sony Ericsson W380i Product Review

I have requested the w380i Purple for photo shooting (and play around of course) for another forum. So I guess, may be you guys at HoFo would like to check them out as well (At first I thought it was a too girly phone). Why not post them here.

Unboxed with the regular stuff inside.

Use Sony M2 Card

Front shots with Walkman logo.

Side shots. The phone is actually thin and not bulky.

Pink volume control button on the side. The glossy key button design is nice.

The pink button at the back is the key lock button. So even with the phone
closed, you can choose to unlock the front panel’s music control key to control
your music play.

When you have the music turn on, the RR, Play, and FF button grow with song
title display on teh front. And rolling if it is too long.

Another example with title in English.

Okay, since it is a low budget Walkman phone, don’t expect too much with the
included earphones. It is color matched though.

At the end, I would like to say as a low buget phone, it is really nicely designed and done. The Walkman control functions designed at the front of the phone and you don’t have to open it to do almost everything. Also I had played
around with the gesture control feature (Turn off the alarm and ring by just
waving on top of your phone), and it is fun.

Sony Ericsson C902 Unboxing

After the G700, then G900, then, C702, then W760i, and then the last one from Sony Ericsson that we arranged the photo session for, is the new Cyber-shot C902. Since I have had too many photo sessions for unboxing lately, I am really confused with all the features and functions of phones now. But getting the new C902 on hand, the elegant design refreshes me. And the phone is really ultra thin, at only 10.5mm thick. As a 5 mega pixel auto focus with face detection camera phone, that is really impressive.

Standard stuff: a Battery, a Charger, a USB cable, a handsfree, CD and Manual.

M2 Card slot is located inside the phone. You have to take out the back cover to switch cards. Also worth to mention the back cover of the phone is framed with metal. The same material as what you have seen in the picture. May be the phone is too thin, a plastic back cover cannot provide enough protection for the phone.

Very standard phone layout. The LCD screen is not very large at all.

The back of the phone. Very clean design layout. 5 mega pixel phone… wait, where is the camera?

You have to slide open the phone to reveal the hidden camera. The blue light only light up for a few seconds when we slide open the camera door. The slide design is like the old 110 film cameras that we have to slide open the lens to take photos.

The keypad layout and navigation pad is clean and clear but a bit boring.

New Sony Ericsson Menu and icons.

First of all the camera phone is very thin. And the side trim design is nice… at least this is what I think.

Face detection in action. Same as the C702, the face detection is not as fast as the cameras but still working well. Also on the top and bottom of the LCD display frame, there are 8 camera shortcuts keys that you can touch directly to toggle them on and off. They are heat sensitive sensors with haptic feedback. This design is indeed very nice.

Actual photo shot by the phone in an indoor office lighting environment. Since the flash light can only trigger automatically by the phone itself, we cannot test a flash on photo for you.

Another shot. I may say the photo quality is still not matching the Nokia phones like the N82 or even the 3.2 MP N78. Am I the only one?

The look of the phone is very nice. It is thin and reasonably small in size. The UI is very user friendly and photo taking with this auto focus, face detection phone is very easy. Just the picture quality, in my opinion, of Sony Ericsson phones are not very satisfying comparing to Nokia’s making me think what does it mean to put a Cyber-shot brand on the phone.

LG KS20 Product Review

KS20 is a Touchscreen Windows Mobile 6 equipped pocket PC. Auto Focus camera, however just with 2 mega pixel resolution. Here are some photo shots that we did to share with you all.

Nice Packing and with a big box.

It comes with Battery, Charger, Leather Carrying Case, 1GB MicroSD, Stylus, USB Cable, Headphones, Manual, and CD.

The LCD screen is actually nice and clear. Actually KS20 is a light and thin PPC, however the screen size is big comparitively speaking. I will say not bad at all.

I can only find a old TYTN for comparison. It is not too fair, but anyway, the KS20 is small thin and nicely designed.

Side view.

Another side view.

I was curious about the 2 mega pixel camera euipped with auto focus feature. I tried it and the AF function worked quite fast to react. You can also use the "mouse stick" left and right to control the contrast and brightness.Up and down for zooming.The picture quality is good although it is only a 2MP cam.