Ricoh upgrades wide-angle compact

Last year's model was called the Caplio GX100, but Ricoh has shortened its successor's name to just GX200. While it climbs from 10 to 12 megapixels, the new compact keeps the Caplio's wide-angle (35mm film equivalent of 24mm to 72mm), 3X optical zoom lens. A new image processing engine, Smooth Imaging Engine III, promises increased noise reduction without sacrificing resolution or saturation.

The LCD has grown from 2.5 to 2.7 inches with 460,000 pixels--Ricoh says even 1/20 size thumbnails are clearly reproduced. Carpenters and Leaning Tower of Pisa tourists will appreciate a level indicator that uses an acceleration sensor to help keep the camera body horizontally or vertically level.

RAW mode options now include bracketing to automatically change exposure settings and continuous shooting of up to five images, while in-camera image editing functions include brightness, contrast, and color tone (white balance) adjustment. The GX200 is available by itself or in a kit that adds a removable electronic viewfinder; Ricoh hasn't announced the price for either.