Hasta La Gadget!

Ricoh has announced the new P10 lens/sensor module for its weird GXR camera. The GXR, you will remember, is little more than a shell with some buttons and a screen. The lenses come with their own matched sensor and plug in as an entire unit. This one has a 28-300mm (35mm equivalent) range paired with a 10MP backlit CMOS sensor. It will capture RAW images and shoot 720p video. The aperture range runs ƒ3.5-5.6 and there is image stabilization built in.

There are a few ways to look at the GXR. You could view it as a way to perfectly match sensor and lens, using a smaller sensor in a long telephoto, say, for better magnification. This is doubtless the line Ricoh is pushing. You could also see it as a technological millstone: Where lens tech is mature, and a good piece of glass will outlast you, sensors are still improving fast. Tying the two together is a great way to spend a lot of money on future upgrades.

We do like Ricoh’s innovation, though. As well as this new lens (to be available in summer 2010), the company has shown off a range of planned add-ons, including a remote-controlled waterproof unit, a GPS add-on, a printer and a projector. None of these is coming to market soon – Ricoh says it is concentrating on expanding the range of lenses – but it shows some clever thinking.

Ricoh unveils P10 28-300mm [DP Review]

See Also:

• Ricoh's Inside-Out GXR Puts Its Sensors Inside the Lens