Ricoh is one of the few, if not the only, company that really values it’s customers and their opinions. One thing that is surprising  is that Ricoh does not only read the Ricohforum but also read the DP Review forum and are aware of the blogs related to their cameras. So they follow very closely what their customers think about their cameras.

During the Photokina they were able to provide some feedback and suggestions to improve their cameras as well as ideas on the next GRD III (phase detection AF, noise reduction, dust issues, etc.).

One thing they explained is why they had to drop the phase detection AF, this is not because they don’t want to have a fast AF system or want to save money but because the company producing them stepped the production down due to lack of demand. Ricoh will look at alternatives and seeing how fast the Panasonic G1 can focus using contrast detection AF.

With regards to the GRD II and GX200 and the increase in MP, Ricoh does not produce their own sensors, like Panasonic, so they have to buy them from other companies. This limits what they can choose from and being a smaller company they can’t dictate what sensors get produced for their cameras, like Nikon can probably do with Sony. They are aware however that their customers want less MP.

Casio Exilim EX-Z150 is an 8.1 megapixel optically image stabilized point-and-shoot digital camera that features a 4x optical 28 mm wide-angle zoom lens, 3 inch LCD, and an ISO range of 64 to 1600. Camera dimensions are 96.7 (W) x 57.3 (H) x 20.1 (D) mm (excluding projections, 18.9 mm at thinnest part) and it weighs 126 g.

The EXILIM EX-Z150 has the features and functions needed to meet the demanding requirements of today’s digital camera users, all in the slimmest camera in the world with a built-in wide-angle 28 mm (35 mm film equivalent) 4X optical zoom lens, at just 20.1 mm thick (18.9 mm at the thinnest section).
To complement the slim, stylish look, the new EXILIM offers all the premium functionality you would expect in a much bigger digital camera, including a CCD-shift anti-shake function and face detection technology. It also features a large 3.0 inch LCD monitor, a first for the EXILIM series, making it even easier to compose shots and adding to the fun of viewing the images taken.

The EXILIM  EX-Z150 is available not only in silver and black, but also in colorful red, pink, and green.

The stylish, slim EXILIM Zoom EX-Z150 features:
• wide-angle zoom lens
• CCD-shift anti-shake function
• 3 inch LCD monitor
• 8.1 effective megapixel resolution
• wide-angle 28 mm equivalent 4X optical zoom lens

Consumer dSLRs, even on the lower end of the price spectrum, are incredibly feature-rich these days. The E-520 collects most of the major features developed over the last several years and rolls them all up into one compact package. In this camera, you get in-body image stabilization (of the sensor-shift variety), face detection, wireless flash control, a dynamic range expansion tool, and of course the long-awaited Live View system, which allows users to compose shots and even autofocus on the LCD screen via the 10-megapixel “Live MOS” sensor. The camera also packs Olympus’s newest TruePic III JPEG processing software, presumably providing the most efficient compression to date.

The E-520’s many features make for an extremely functional and value-rich machine, but the true test of any camera is the images it can produce. In this capacity, it has its ups and downs. In using the Four Thirds system, Olympus has committed to using a smaller sensor than most of its rivals; the Four Thirds sensor measures 225 square millimeters, as compared to the class-standard APS-C sensor’s 329 or 377 square millimeters. The loss of this precious sensor space has two major effects: that the camera’s crop factor is larger (2x, compared to ~1.5x for other dSLRs in this range) and that cameras using the Four Thirds system tend to produce higher levels of image noise, particularly when using higher ISO settings.

Just to sum up: Olympus E-520 digital SLR – main features:
•Effective image stabilisation for sharp shooting regardless of lens
•Autofocus Live View**
•Excellent dust reduction system
•100% D-SLR quality
•Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology
•6.9cm/2.7” HyperCrystal II LCD
•10 Megapixel Live MOS sensor
•3.5fps with up to 8 images in RAW buffer
•Built-in flash and wireless flash control
•32 shooting modes
•Optional underwater case available
•Four Thirds Standard
•Compact and ergonomic design
•Bracketing functions
•ISO 100-1600
•AF/ AE lock functionality
•Depth of field preview
•Anti-shock (mirror lock) function
•One-touch white balance
•Perfect shot preview
•100% field of view via LCD
•TruePic III image processor
•Detailed playback info screen with histogram
•Hi-Speed USB 2.0