CX3 - some photos and comments

[odklizec]

Last Friday I received CX3 for a future comparison with P10. P10 is currently a very hot and very limited item so it may take few more days-weeks before I get one for test. But this gave me some time to play with CX3

From what I saw so far, CX3 is very nice improvement over the CX2. It seems the Ricoh engineers optimized/reduced the amount of noise reduction and the images are now noticeably more detailed (with NR OFF). Of course, there is now also a bit more noise, but I did not find it obtrusive? I see no problem using ISO200 at a regular basis. Starting from ISO400, the images are noticeably smeared. I would recommend to use RAW, if there would be such option. This I see a major advantage of P10.

So far, I like the CX3 a lot. The only thing I found somewhat disappointing (aside the missing RAW output ) is new format of the battery. DB-100 appears to be a tiny bit smaller than DB-70 but It's equally powerful. I did a side-by-side Interval test with CX2 and both cameras shut down almost exactly at the same time (CX3 shut down 2-4 minutes after CX2). The problem is not the battery power but the speed of charging. The CX3 manual says that the battery should be charged in 180 minutes. I measured 200 minutes. It's 3h 20min!!! For a comparison, CX2 battery charges in 1h 40min! I examined the CX3 charger and I guess the problem lies in 3 times lover output amperage. It's always recommended to have at least one spare battery. But with CX3 charging time I see the spare battery a must have.

Enough talks, let's see some photos (only resized):

R0010217_sm.jpg (544.57 KiB) Viewed 4542 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:24 pm

Focus length: 34.9 mm

Shutter speed: 1/143 Sec

F-number: F/4.5

ISO speed rating: 80

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010219_sm.jpg (588.64 KiB) Viewed 4574 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:24 pm

Focus length: 34.9 mm

Shutter speed: 1/143 Sec

F-number: F/4.5

ISO speed rating: 80

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010311_sm.jpg (504.68 KiB) Viewed 4623 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:04 am

Focus length: 18.3 mm

Shutter speed: 1/143 Sec

F-number: F/4.8

ISO speed rating: 80

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010358_sm.jpg (575.6 KiB) Viewed 4668 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:36 am

Focus length: 23.6 mm

Shutter speed: 1/39 Sec

F-number: F/5.1

ISO speed rating: 200

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010370_sm.jpg (612.17 KiB) Viewed 4790 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:40 am

Focus length: 23.6 mm

Shutter speed: 1/36 Sec

F-number: F/5.1

ISO speed rating: 200

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

taken through dirty window

R0010233_sm.jpg (604.09 KiB) Viewed 5286 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Sat Jul 10, 2010 6:05 pm

Focus length: 23.6 mm

Shutter speed: 1/45 Sec

F-number: F/5.1

ISO speed rating: 200

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: -3/10 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010625_sm.jpg (370.61 KiB) Viewed 4996 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:56 am

Focus length: 52.5 mm

Shutter speed: 1/79 Sec

F-number: F/5.6

ISO speed rating: 200

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: -7/10 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010595_sm.jpg (407.87 KiB) Viewed 5062 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:40 am

Focus length: 18.3 mm

Shutter speed: 1/380 Sec

F-number: F/9.5

ISO speed rating: 80

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010291_sm.jpg (606.44 KiB) Viewed 5165 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:37 pm

Focus length: 23.6 mm

Shutter speed: 1/189 Sec

F-number: F/5.1

ISO speed rating: 100

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: -3/10 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010555_sm.jpg (333.84 KiB) Viewed 4693 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:29 pm

Focus length: 34.9 mm

Shutter speed: 1/350 Sec

F-number: F/4.5

ISO speed rating: 80

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010278_sm.jpg (353.21 KiB) Viewed 5193 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:31 pm

Focus length: 18.3 mm

Shutter speed: 1/52 Sec

F-number: F/4.8

ISO speed rating: 400

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: -3/10 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010207_sm.jpg (367.29 KiB) Viewed 5235 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:12 pm

Focus length: 52.5 mm

Shutter speed: 1/143 Sec

F-number: F/5.6

ISO speed rating: 80

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: -3/10 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

[syoonsh]

Those are very vibrant colors and macro shot seems much better than CX1.

I was wondering how's landscape photo in CX3? If there's much differences,

In CX1, landscape photo seems they have bit noise, but I am not sure in CX3.

[Homey]

Yeah, I have a CX3 too and these great shots don't surprise me. I constantly get excellent shots from mine too. Perhaps you should send these to DPReview and ask them to tell you why you couldn't have used the CX3 to get them
Seriously, nice work. I just loved the clarity and accuracy of the child pix and the lady with the glasses.

[odklizec]

Thanks for your comments guys!

I found CX3 a very good all-around camera. The only thing I really miss is RAW. I don't need manual modes in CX3, but RAW would help a lot. JPEG at low ISO can deliver some great results. But RAW would allow to expand CX3 usability in dim light and for fast actions where is required to use ISO400-800 to achieve faster shutter speeds.

syoonsh:
The answer on your question is not easy. There is of course visible noise and in my opinion, CX3 delivers somewhat more noise (visible at pixel level) than CX2 or CX1. I mean more noise with NR OFF settings. But slightly more noise (I prefer to cal it grain) means also noticeably more preserved details in the foliage, grass and in shadows. In my opinion, it's pleasant kind of noise. It looks more like a grain and not the ugly color blotches. Of course, I'm speaking about the low ISO up to ISO200. Higher ISO photos show smeared details and color noise as is "normal" with all tiny sensor cameras.

Homey:
I think the DPreview folks got a bad sample and they could spend much less time with CX3 than I could CX3 needs to be set and used the right way but then it delivers some great results. A very helpful thing is the speedy continuous mode. 5fps makes the photography of kids and near distance subjects using the tele lengths much easier and with much better success ratio.

BTW, the lady with glasses is my mom. She would probably kill me knowing I photographed her and posted here

Here are few more recent photos I like and that would be impossible to take without 300mm lens (impossible to take with small sensor compact equipped with less long lens).

This is an example how useful is the 300mm CX lens. I was sitting behind my computer when something nudged me to look out of the window, where I spotted the hot air balloon hovering over the ground. I got a very little time to take this picture because there is a tall building on the right side of the frame and the balloon was hidden behind the large trees on the left side of my window. I fully zoomed the camera and was able to take only two-three frames before it hovered out of the "ideal" composition. First and last were blurry because of handshake (nothing surprising at 300mm and just 1/52). At least one photo was sharp to keep it.

R0010763.jpg (418.92 KiB) Viewed 2273 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:21 pm

Focus length: 52.5 mm

Shutter speed: 1/52 Sec

F-number: F/5.6

ISO speed rating: 100

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 3/10 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

This guy landed on the window sill to rest a bit. I usually don't take the photos of "flying rats", but this guy was something different! He was not scared of me (and Lucia jumping from the excitement) and he posed me for several minutes. Also he was ringed so this was not the typical pigeon seen everywhere. His big bright eyes says all.

All below pigeon photos were taken through the window and at a very close distance (under 0.5m).

R0010883_sm.jpg (652.41 KiB) Viewed 2277 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Fri Jul 16, 2010 11:27 am

Focus length: 52.5 mm

Shutter speed: 1/133 Sec

F-number: F/5.6

ISO speed rating: 80

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0011000_sm.jpg (593.3 KiB) Viewed 2266 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Fri Jul 16, 2010 11:41 am

Focus length: 52.5 mm

Shutter speed: 1/153 Sec

F-number: F/5.6

ISO speed rating: 80

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0010964_sm.jpg (614.34 KiB) Viewed 2269 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Fri Jul 16, 2010 11:32 am

Focus length: 52.5 mm

Shutter speed: 1/143 Sec

F-number: F/5.6

ISO speed rating: 80

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 3/10 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

R0011032_sm.jpg (584.69 KiB) Viewed 2283 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Fri Jul 16, 2010 11:50 am

Focus length: 52.5 mm

Shutter speed: 1/176 Sec

F-number: F/5.6

ISO speed rating: 80

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 3/10 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

In B&W, CX3 produces reasonable output even at higher ISO. At pixel level, photos are a bit smeared and to my taste oversharpened. But I think they would look very good if printed in a reasonable size? Too bad there is not an option to control the contrast/sharpening of the B&W photos. Ricoh should stop this pure marketing removal of some functionality from their lower-end cameras. It's just silly.

R0010648_sm.jpg (386.48 KiB) Viewed 2271 times

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EXIF-Data

Image taken on: Tue Jul 13, 2010 8:18 am

Focus length: 18.3 mm

Shutter speed: 1/48 Sec

F-number: F/4.8

ISO speed rating: 800

Whitebalance: Manual

Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Camera-model: CX3

Exposure program: Normal program

Exposure bias: 3/10 EV

Metering mode: Pattern

[odklizec]

If you are folks interested, I just uploaded full size versions of some of the above photos (and few more) here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/odklizec/s ... 572231764/

There is also a comparison of 8secs exposure taken with CX3 and CX2, where the CX3 definitely wins in amount of preserved details and much less distracting noise and noise reduction.
CX2:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/odklizec/4 ... 572231764/
CX3:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/odklizec/4 ... 572231764/

[barnvelder]

Am also very pleased with results at long end of zoom.

Had camera in my pocket and just managed to get this swan on a lake. This is uncropped and unprocessed.
Sharp enough for me and with nice range of colours and light.

Was a family stroll so not suitable for DSLR and big zoom lens - but this is very acceptable!

[Eric P.]

Nice photos. I will agree less smearing and noise than the CX1. But still not getting rid of my CX1 Does a decent job as a pocket point & shoot. Especially when I don't want to think, just shoot.

But, yes, the CX3 is a big improvement.

[photosnapper]

just bought a CX3, looking at your photos, seems I will like this camera.