by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: August 11, 2008

The Ricoh Caplio RR770 is a great investment for casual use or for the budding photographer who is just starting out with digital photography. It's a neat package and offers a lot of features for such a cheap camera, and where the camera comes into its own is that the quality of image produced is first rate and not as disappointing as other low price range digital cameras.

The black casing looks neat, and what is particularly interesting is that the specs are so impressive. The optical lens on this camera is first rate and gives the user a 3X zoom which is easily used with handy buttons which feel comfortable to the fingers and are easy to locate. New improved Macro mode is impressive too, getting away from the background blur of cheap cameras and concentrating on focus and detail.

One of the nicest features of this camera is the size of the screen. Here, the 3.0 230K Pixel LCD screen is clearer than on many of its competitors and particularly the Kodak range of point of clicks and is particularly good in most light conditions when compared with more expensive Fuji cameras where light distracts the eye and the screen is unclear at times. The buttons are easy to use and self explanatory, and it doesn't take long for a user to get accustomed to using all the features on the camera without too much technical knowledge, making it ideal for beginners who don't have a lot of cash to spare.

Memory is generous at 32MB and the camera takes standard SD memory cards. The battery housing is easily accessed and the camera comes with standard AA Batteries, though can be used in conjunction with Ricoh rechargeable batteries, bought separately with their own charger. With 7.1 mega-pixels, the camera offers the possibility of producing photos which are suited to enlargement without distortion or loss of quality which is rare for a camera in this price range. This is one of the strongest points in favor of this camera against others in the same price range. Ricoh got it right. The camera also shoots video though the quality is not the best, and should be considered more of a novelty than a serious option.

The handling of the camera is pleasant. Menus are easy to navigate and buttons placed at the best position for functionality and ease. The different settings available Portrait, landscape, Auto, Program, Sports and Night settings are functional and easy and the camera has a built in flash. Transferring the pictures to computer is simply a matter of transfer by USB or card reader.

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