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An arguably inessential yet defining feature of this endlessly regenerated compact series, new this time around – and the only feature, along with a new Cross Processing mode – we could find that has altered since the WG-60 – is the ability to select a 2MP recording size, up to a maximum 12MP in said mode. Essentially the camera deploys its digital zoom – in effect a crop – to make it appear as if subjects have been ‘enlarged’. Slideshow, Image Rotation, Small Face Filter, Ink Rubbing Filter, Collage, Digital Filter(B&W / Sepia, Toy Camera, Retro, Color, Extract Color, Color Emphasis, High Contrast, Starburst, Soft, Fish-eye, Brightness, Miniature), HDR Filter, Original Frame, Movie Edit, Red-eye Edit, Resize, Cropping, Image Copy, Protect, Start-up Screen
I love this camera. I specialize in close-up photography, and most of the pictures I have taken have been on the beach of animals or their remains. I take photos with the camera slightly under the water or above it where it gets splashed. (I do not dive with it.) I end up with tons of sand on it and have dropped it often. I have seen no decline in the quality of the photos from this rugged treatment. I can get so close that the lens "cap" touches the subject! The quality of the detail from being so close is amazing. I often say, "I had no idea they looked like that!" The camera reveals what would otherwise be invisible to me. My more expensive Sony point-and-shoot cannot get nearly as close and stay in focus. Approx. 122.5 (W) x 61.5 (H) x 29.5 (D)mm /4.8 (W) x 2.4 (H) x 1.2 (D) inches (excluding operating and protruding parts) DIGITAL MICROSCOPE MODE: The WG-70’s Digital Microscope mode makes it easy to take impressive macro photographs that capture details that cannot be resolved by the naked eye. The 6-LED Ring Light helps prevent blur by allowing faster shutter speeds. Enthusiasts are going to feel disappointed that there is only the option here to shoot JPEG files rather than Raw, but then enthusiast photographers aren’t exactly the market for this camera. Here it’s all about having a means of capturing images that you might not attempt with a smartphone; even though said smartphone may actually give you better end results in terms of images and video these days.In all other respects, when viewed standalone, the Ricoh WG-70 is a distinctly average camera, delivering distinctly average images. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but we do feel Ricoh could try harder next time. Innovation is what drives the market, but here we’re merely treading water; a scenario, incidentally, where you may well get the best out of this undemanding waterproof point-and-shoot. The WG-70 feature a high-performance, five-times optical zoom lens with a focal-length coverage from 5mm to 25mm (equivalent to approx. 28mm to 140mm in the 35mm format) to accommodate a wide range of scenes and subjects, including sweeping landscapes. They also provide other convenient shooting functions, such as a macro mode to capture dramatic close-up images from a minimum focusing distance of a mere one centimeter; an Intelligent Zoom function to extend the zoom range to approximately 36 times (equivalent to 1008mm in the 35mm format) without compromising image quality, for superior telephoto photography; and an interval shooting mode, which comes in handy for fixed-point observation. The WG70 features a Digital Microscope mode that allows the subject to be greatly enlarged, plus six built-in Macro Lights to assist close-up shooting. I attached a photo of the bottom side of a purple sea urchin. I have other photos that are even closer, but posted this one so that the viewer can more easily tell what it is. Outdoor-friendly Style Watch function to display the time on the LCD monitor, using an extended push of the OK button when the camera’s power is turned off
All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 20 megapixel SuperFine JPEG setting, which produces an average image size of around 7Mb. Battery capacity drops with ambient temperature, reducing the number of pictures that can be taken on a single charge. Since 2021, Olympus cameras have been sold under the OM System name. The Olympus TG-6 was our favorite waterproof compact camera - and this has now been reborn as the OM System TG-7. It is pretty much identical - but that is a good thing in our book, and ensures this newer version remains at the top of our recommendations for a rugged camera. Features we love include the built-in microscope setting that allows you to take amazing close-ups - and a Field Sensor System that records GPS coordinates and ambient temperature with your shots.UNDERWATER MODE: This mode uses white balance optimized for underwater photos, making colors appear more natural by adding reds that tend to get lost in photos taken under water. Both the Olympus TOUGH TG-6 and Nikon W300 offer Wi-fi in addition to a host of other built-in sensors. In the TOUGH TG-6 there’s a manometer for altitude and depth recording, an electronic compass, and a temperature sensor, while the Nikon W300 sports GPS, Bluetooth, a barometer and electronic compass.
The WG-80 is designed for every imaginable outdoor environment and adds to the experience with features such as Underwater mode for underwater photography, and an Outdoor View setting that adapts monitor brightness to ambient lighting. WATERPROOF 14M: With features that include uncompromising waterproofing - good for 2 hours of continuous use at a depth of 14 meters
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Auto Picture, Program, HDR, Handheld Night Snap, Movie, High Speed Movie, Digital Microscope, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Underwater, Underwater Movie, Interval Shot, Interval Movie, Surf & Snow, Kids, Pet, Sport, Night Scene, Night Scene Portrait, Fireworks, Food, Digital SR, Report, Green Here, instead of the macro light, I’ve made use of the WG-70’s built-in flash and I think you’ll agree the result is much better. The flash is mounted at the top left of the front panel and has a range of 0.2 to 5.5 metres at 1600ISO. Cross Processing is an effect popular among our products, which allows you to enjoy unique photographic expressions. With WG-70, this mode is added to Image Tone, which can be selected with several shooting modes including, P (Program). The parameters of the image is adjusted to give a unique color-changed finish, like a cross-processed film ***. In addition to fully auto shooting and a range of scene modes, the WG-70 provides a Program auto mode which allows you to manually set exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, and white balance along with some other options. There’s an underwater shooting mode in there and Image tone settings that include Natural, Vibrant, Slide Film, Monochrome and a new Cross Process option. The WG-70 provides some control over exposure – in Program auto mode you can set the ISO sensitivity and white balance and apply up to plus or minus two stops of exposure compensation. But that’s as far as it goes, there’s no aperture priority mode as on the TOUGH TG-6. The WG-70 also falls well behind the TOUGH TG-6 when it comes to continuous shooting. Where the TG-6 can shoot full resolution at 20fps and offers Pro-capture buffering providing five frames prior to when you fully press the shutter release, the best the WG-70 can manage at full resolution is just shy of 2fps – though there is a 5 megapixel mode that shoots a 29-frame burst at just under 7fps.
We test camera resolution, dynamic range and noise under scientifically controlled conditions using two key testing tools: Imatest Master and DxO Analyzer. All DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are subjected to these tests and, in some instances, high-end compact cameras. To be fair, I should mention that in all these comparisons with the TOUGH TG-6 and COOLPIX W300 you need to remember that both these models cost more than the Ricoh WG-70. You’ll pay around 25% more for the recently reduced TOUGH TG-6, but the three-year-old COOLPIX W300 is now much closer in price to the WG-70. As always though, it pays to shop around as you may be able to find an even better deal. FULL HD VIDEO: While the camera can of course record Full HD (16:9) video at 30 fps, it also offers a High Speed Movie mode for recording slow-motion video and an Underwater Movie mode suited to underwater movie recording. Movie and Underwater Movie modes offer Movie SR (shake reduction), which can be used to reduce the effects of camera shake. Of course, there are trade-offs. Many waterproof cameras are compacts with fairly small sensors, so their image-capturing ability will be limited compared to, say the best mirrorless cameras. Therefore if you see the older WG-60 more keenly priced than the ‘new’ edition, and do actually need a camera that you can subject to a degree of rough and tumble usage, which is really the only true reason why you should be considering this model or its near twin, then feel justified in snapping it up. You won’t be missing out on anything and, if you’re in the market for an easy-to-use, water resistant and damage-proof compact, you may well get yourself a bargain in the process.With, more unusually, 68MB of internal memory on board the Ricoh WG-70, a thumbnail-sized SD card is once again the optional removable media of choice here. The supplied lithium ion battery which is inserted into the base of the camera, next to said SD card slot, is good for a modest 300 shots from a full charge according to CIPA testing (a drop from the maximum 340 pictures offered by the WG-6); pretty standard for this equally modest class of camera. A film development technique that uses unconventional film development to create a distinctive finish with dramatic, stylized colors. Its plastic outer case, meanwhile, protects against sand and splashes. Loaded with ISO400 film, up to 27 exposures are provided. This one can’t be used as deep as some alternatives, as it’s waterproofed to just three metres, but that should make it just fine for pool use. How to choose the best waterproof camera The Ricoh WG-70 is a new tough compact camera that's perfect for underwater photography down to 14 metres for up to two hours. Dynamic range (DxO Analyzer):This is a measure of a camera’s ability to capture detail in the highlights and shadows. We use DxO’s transmissive chart, which enables us to test a dynamic range of 13.3 stops.
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