I looked at the sample images on the
Ricoh G600 site, and I'm just not seeing any special image quality there. So, I can't see the attraction at $250 vs an Olympus SW or Pentax Optio. I think the Ricoh looks kind of cool, but it also looks kind of Fisher Pricey, too. And what happens when it goes more than 1 meter deep? The Olympus and Pentax are rated for 4 meters or so.
the images are not particularly special -- they are just mighty good for the teensy sensor.... as for how deep, i've only submerged it in the bathtub -- a bubble bath at that :ROTFL:
the Fisher Pricey look is very cool -- no one takes you seriously. they think you're a complete idiot, which always has its merits
the bright yellow makes it easy to see in your bag and, oh, if you drop it (especial in the surf). when i said it was slippery, it's because it's the first camera that i've dropped (did not attach the wrist strap or the neck lanyard) and was mortified -- until i realised the camera wasn't phased. it was at the basketball game and it fell on hard concrete and skiddled down the row....
one thing that is very deceptive about its looks is how damned heavy it feels in your hand. unlike the competitors which can easily be thrown in any kit, this thing weighs a lot. it is as solid as a brick. i absolutely trust it to withstand abuse!
the downside to the lens always being encased is twofold. first, it's really really easy to stick your fingers in the pics
the other, is that you can get rain (or ocean spray) on the lens and be totally oblivious. this can cause cool effects but in the end, i imagine, it would get wearisome. something like RainX could probably be recommended....
now, i only have
3 pics from this cam up on my flickr site: two pigeons and a metro. i will try to put up more this evening. i was mostly moaning about what the camera was not -- rather than being happy with what it was. i'd stupidly expected quality on par with my GRD and it wasn't there because i did not go with the earlier version (which is now impossible to find). i expected more of a rugged camera than it could possibly deliver. i think we all fall into that category -- we have gotten extremely spoiled by the quality of today's compacts. the G600 will not deliver nor, i suspect, will any of the others.
if you want something to put in your purse, camera bag, in case of foul weather -- this ain't it. it weighs too much. if you want something to put in your glove box in case of tornadoes, this could be your cam -- it won't blow away
it would be absolutely superb at the beach and the like -- you can play in the surf with it around your neck and not worry about somebody nicking it. if i was still rock climbing and hiking, despite its weight, this would be the one i'd choose.
(please note -- i have no affiliation with the ebay site i linked and would definitely email them, etc.)
