Ricoh introduces RICOH G900 industrial digital camera

Resistant to water, dust, shock and chemicals, the new RICOH G900 produces high- resolution images in the most challenging conditions

WEST CALDWELL, NJ, February 21, 2019 – Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the RICOH G900, a heavy-duty, compact digital camera designed for capturing high- quality images and 4K video in demanding industrial environments. Waterproof, dustproof, shock- and chemical-resistant, the G900 is optimized for use in challenging conditions subject to water, rain, dust and dirt, and in industries such as construction, civil engineering, disaster relief and healthcare.

The successor to the RICOH G800, the RICOH G900 offers a new, back-illuminated CMOS image sensor with approximately 20 effective megapixels that capture high-resolution images even in low-light conditions. It features a 5X optical zoom (equivalent to 28-140mm in 35mm format), and a six-LED ring light unit positioned around the lens that allows use of a faster shutter speed to minimize camera shake and subject shake in macro and close-up photography.

Approximately 26 percent more compact than its predecessor, the rugged RICOH G900 is waterproof to a depth of 65 feet for up to two hours of continuous operation, and its enhanced shock-resistant body is capable of withstanding a fall from 6.5 feet.

The camera offers an array of features designed to facilitate shooting in industrial environments, including an advanced GPS system and an electronic compass that records accurate position and direction data; easily accessible controls; a comfortable, contoured grip; and the wide neck strap of its predecessor, which enables two-point, cross-shoulder suspension to make the RICOH G900 easy to carry and handle at worksites.

The RICOH G900’s unique, enhanced camera memo function mode greatly reduces the workload needed for post-shooting data management. Previously created text or audio can be easily attached to a captured image, and reference images such as plans or blueprints can be browsed on the camera’s 3-inch LCD monitor. A transparency guide allows the user to recall a previously captured image on the monitor to compare images side-by-side and measure progress of work that has been completed. Additional features include a barcode scanning function, password- protected camera lock, 6.5GB of built-in memory and an electronic level.

Pricing and Availability

The RICOH G900 will be available for pre-sale at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com and retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $799.95.

About Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation

Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Company Ltd. Is part of Ricoh Group, which operates in about 200 countries and regions.

The company operating now as Ricoh Company Ltd. was originally founded in 1919, under the name Asahi Optical Joint Stock Co. and launched its first SLR camera in the 1950s under the PENTAX name. Today, the company continues to produce the heritage-rich, award-winning line of PENTAX DSLR cameras, lenses and sport optics equipment as well as Ricoh’s offering of stylish and compact digital cameras, known for their wide-ranging, rich set of features.

Main Features

1. Improved image quality made possible by a back-illuminated CMOS image sensor with approximately 20.0 effective megapixels

• The G900’s back-illuminated CMOS image sensor captures bright, high-resolution images even under low-light conditions of dimly lit worksites.
• Thanks to its approximately 20.0 effective megapixels (compared with approximately 16.0 megapixels of the previous model), the G900 retains sharp, clear images even after cropping.

2. Heavy-duty construction for use at demanding worksites, assuring enhanced waterproof, dustproof, and shock- and chemical-resistant performance

• The G900’s solid, airtight body is waterproof to a depth of 20 meters and for up to two hours of continuous operation (equivalent to IPX8 or JIS Class 8).
• Despite its compact, lightweight design, the G900 incorporates a protective reinforced glass element to the front surface of its lens and a number of protectors at crucial parts of the body. Its rugged body is shockproof against a fall from heights of up to 2.1 meters, * dustproof (equivalent to IPX6 or JIS Class 6), cold-resistant to temperatures as low as -10°C, and crushproof against weights of up to 100kgf (kilogram force).** Thanks to this heavy-duty construction, the G900 performs superbly and dependably in harsh, demanding conditions of various worksites.

* Measured using RICOH-original testing standards (from a height of 2.1 meters, onto a surface of 5cm-thick plywood, and with the camera’s power on), conforming to Method 516-5-Shock of the MIL-Standard 810F.

** Measured under RICOH-original testing standards.

3. Enhanced Camera Memo function to greatly reduce the workload needed in post-shooting data management

• The G900’s Camera Memo function allows the user to attach a text (100 items max.; up to 128 letters per item) or an audio file (30 seconds max.), which has been previously created on the camera or computer, to a captured image. It also allows the user to browse reference images compatible with the Camera Memo function, such as a plan or blueprint, on the camera’s monitor, after selecting the desired subject from a list of as many as 999 memo contents.
• In combination with the barcode scanning function, the G900’s Camera Memo function makes it effortless to attach certain barcode information to camera memo data.

4. Password-protected Camera Lock function

• The G900 lets the user restrict use of the camera’s operations, entirely or partially, by locking some of the functions from a list of menu items, including camera access, menu access, internal memory viewing and USB connection. The camera can be released from lock status by inputting a password using the camera’s onscreen keyboard or barcode scanning function.
• Passwords can be set to restrict camera operations. The administrator, for instance, can create a personal password to lock the menu access to restrict the use of certain functions at worksites and prevent the user from accidentally changing camera settings during shooting; the user can create another password to lock camera access to prevent a third party from using the camera.

5. LCD monitor assuring excellent visibility at outdoor sites

• The G900 comes equipped with a large, high-resolution 3.0-inch LCD monitor with 3:2 proportions and approximately 1,040,000 dots.

6. A host of user-friendly features to facilitate shooting at various worksites

• The G900 incorporates a GPS module, which receives signals from Japan’s quasi-zenith satellite system Michibiki and Russia’s GLONASS (global navigation satellite system) in addition to U.S. GPS satellites, and an electronic compass which covers 360 degrees in 16 directions. By linking it with the SBAS (satellite-based augmentation system), the user can record more accurate position and direction data at various locations and times. It also assures a shorter start-up time for activating the GPS module (approx. one minute with the camera’s power off; approx. 20 seconds with the camera in sleep mode; approx. three seconds with the camera’s power on) than its predecessor. The GPS button on the back panel allows for quick start-up of GPS functions and the attachment of user-selected GPS data on captured images. When shooting indoors, for instance, the GPS Lock function allows the recording of GPS data onto captured images by using previously acquired position data. It’s also possible to record GPS log data by the second onto still images and movie clips and synchronize the camera’s clock with the GPS clock.
• Positioned around the circumference of the lens barrel, a six-LED Ring Light unit lets the user select a faster shutter speed to minimize camera shake and subject shake in macro and close- up photography. The user can not only adjust the discharge to the desired level, but also activate only two or three of the LEDs in horizontal or vertical alignment to illuminate the subject more three-dimensionally and emphasize the subject’s delicate contours. This makes it useful in photographing such miniscule subjects as microscopic components, scratches and cracks.
• In the Barcode Scanning mode, the Ring Light can be activated to facilitate the reading of barcodes in dimly lit locations.
• The G900 features a transparency guide, which allows the user to recall a previously captured image on the LCD monitor, and use it as a template for effortless capture of a new image with the identical composition. The transparency level of the template image can be selected from 20%, 40%, 60% and 80%. It’s even possible to recall the two images side by side on the screen for at-a-glance comparison. The user can also use this mode to capture images from the identical angle and review changes over time, making it helpful in applications such as assessing the progress of work at construction sites.

* RICOH RT fonts.

• The G900 has 6.5GB of built-in memory, which allows for the capture of as many as 856 images at the largest image size. This is convenient when the user forgets a memory card, or when the memory card has reached its full capacity. Omitting a memory card on the camera also avoids the risk of unexpected image disclosure when the card is lost.
• Thanks to 4K-resolution movie recording capability (3840 x 2160 pixels, 30 fps frame rate) in the H.264 format, the G900 can record an entire worksite and/or the relative positions of on-site structures in sharp, clear movie clips. By providing both Movie SR and Movie SR+ shake reduction modes,* it effectively minimizes camera shake, even in drone-mounted photography.

* When one of these modes is activated, the angle of view becomes narrower.

• The Electronic Level provides for a check of the camera’s horizontal and vertical inclination with great precision when photographing structures and interiors. This device comes in handy when photographing at a worksite where the user has to stand on uneven ground and has difficulty assessing the level position.

Optional Accessories

RICOH O-CC174 Protector Jacket

This silicon protector jacket not only protects the camera from dirt and scratches, but also improves camera grip and enhances holding comfort.

RICOH SC900 Camera Case

This holder-type camera case holds a camera body equipped with the DW-5 Wide Conversion Lens, and allows for quick removal of the camera during snapshot photography.