Ricoh WG-60 Ricoh - Review 🏆

The Ricoh WG-60 is a rugged and durable compact digital camera that's designed for adventure. This 16MP camera has a 5x optical zoom lens that provides a 35mm focal length equivalence of 28-140mm, making it versatile enough for wide angle shots as well as getting closer to the action.

The WG-60 has a tough body that is waterproof to 14m/45ft, shockproof up to 1.6m/5.2ft, crushproof up to 100kg/220lbs force, freezeproof to -10°C/14°F, and dustproof as well. This makes it an excellent choice for active photographers who want to take it climbing, hiking, snorkeling, skiing, or other adventures without worrying about damaging the camera.

With its variety of scene modes and effects, the WG-60 can handle most shooting situations. Its macro mode gets up close to subjects as near as 1cm. The camera also shoots full HD video at 30fps.

Overall, the Ricoh WG-60 is a rugged, durable, and versatile camera aimed at adventurous photographers who need something that can withstand the elements while capturing great shots. Keep reading for an in-depth look at its features and image quality.

Design & Build Quality

The Ricoh WG-60 has a rugged, durable design meant for use in harsh outdoor conditions. It measures 4.8 x 2.4 x 1.2 inches and weighs 7.2 ounces, making it compact yet substantial enough to handle. The body is constructed from metal alloy parts and high-strength polycarbonate plastic to withstand drops from heights up to 5.9 feet. It is also waterproof down to 45 feet without needing a separate housing, freezeproof to 14°F, crushproof up to 220 pounds of force, and dustproof as well. The textured finish provides a secure grip. Overall the build quality is excellent for a rugged point-and-shoot camera meant for adventurous use. Additionally, the Ricoh 28-300 f3.5-5.5 VC P10 lens offers versatility for photographers seeking a reliable zoom range, allowing for high-quality images across various focal lengths. Its vibration compensation technology ensures stability, whether shooting at wide angles or zooming in on distant subjects. This makes it an ideal companion for the WG-60, enhancing the overall photographic experience and enabling users to capture stunning shots in any environment.

Image Quality

The Ricoh WG-60 features a 16MP 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor which is capable of capturing decent quality images with good sharpness and detail in optimum lighting conditions. The relatively compact sensor size does limit dynamic range capabilities though.

The camera has a native ISO range of 125-6400 which can be expanded to ISO 6400-25600. Images are pretty clean up to ISO 1600, but noise starts to creep in at higher sensitivities. The noise performance is quite good for a compact camera sensor.

Built-in sensor shift stabilization provides up to 4 stops of shake reduction, helping achieve sharper handheld shots and videos. The stabilization works well for static scenes, though is less effective when shooting moving subjects. Overall the image stabilization system does a respectable job for a compact camera at this price point.

In contrast, the Ricoh GR IIIx with GA-2 and GT-2 offers a larger APS-C sensor that excels in low-light situations, providing superior image quality and dynamic range. With its advanced lens design, the GR IIIx captures stunning detail and color fidelity, making it ideal for street photography and landscapes. The GR IIIx also features enhanced autofocus capabilities and a sleek design, perfect for photographers on the go.

Features

The Ricoh WG-60 has a good range of features for an affordable tough camera. Some of the key features include:

• Shooting Modes: The WG-60 offers several shooting modes including Program AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual exposure, Scene modes (Portrait, Landscape, Nightscape, Night. Snap, Fireworks, Flower, Underwater, Underwater Movie, Digital Microscope, Movie), Continuous mode, Interval shot, Underwater mode, Digital image stabilization, Movie, High speed movie. This allows you to choose the right mode for your shooting situation.

• Burst Mode: The continuous shooting mode allows up to 10fps, which is very good for a budget camera. This allows you to capture fast action shots.

• Timelapse: The WG-60 has a built-in timelapse mode which is great for capturing things like sunsets, traffic, crowds etc. You can choose the interval between shots and it will automatically compile the images into a timelapse video.

Overall, the WG-60 packs an impressive range of shooting modes and features considering its affordable price point. The modes and settings allow both beginners and more advanced users to take control and capture great shots in different situations.

Video Quality

The Ricoh WG-60 can shoot full HD 1080p video up to 30 fps. It also offers a 120 fps high-speed mode for slow motion video.

The video quality is quite good for a rugged camera. Footage is sharp and detailed in daylight conditions. However, low light performance suffers, with increased noise in dim lighting. The image stabilization helps reduce shakiness when shooting handheld video while moving.

You can shoot clips up to 29 minutes, providing plenty of recording time. There are options for wind filter and electronic vibration reduction to improve audio quality. The built-in mic picks up decent sound, but an external mic can be added via the micro HDMI port for more professional audio.

Overall, the Ricoh WG-60 produces nice looking 1080p video for a point-and-shoot camera. Just keep in mind the limitations in low light when shooting indoors or at night.

Connectivity & Ports

The Ricoh WG-60 offers decent connectivity options for a rugged camera. It has built-in wireless capabilities, allowing you to transfer images wirelessly to a mobile device using the Ricoh Image Sync app.

For wireless connections, it offers Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.1 LE. The Wi-Fi allows for wireless image transfer and remote camera control from a paired mobile device. Bluetooth enables easy pairing and image transfer.

In terms of physical ports, the WG-60 has a micro HDMI port to connect the camera directly to an HDTV. It also has a micro USB 2.0 port which can be used for charging and data transfer.

Additionally, the camera has a dedicated external microphone jack, allowing you to record higher quality audio by attaching an external mic. However, it lacks a headphone jack for monitoring audio while recording.

Overall, the connectivity options are fairly standard for an affordable rugged camera. The wireless capabilities and HDMI port are handy, but the lack of NFC for easy pairing is a downside. More advanced users may desire additional physical ports like a headphone jack or USB-C connector. But the options suffice for casual users who want to easily transfer images to their phone.

Battery Life

The Ricoh WG-60 is powered by a rechargeable DB-110 lithium-ion battery that gives a CIPA-rated battery life of around 300 shots per charge. This is decent battery life for a tough, adventure-focused camera like this.

The battery is charged via USB, so you can top it up on the go using a power bank if needed. However, there is no battery grip option to extend shooting time.

Overall, 300 shots per charge is pretty good for a compact camera of this type. It should get most users through a day of shooting or an outdoor adventure without needing to find a power outlet. Just be sure to charge it fully before any trips.

Manual Controls

One of the standout features of the Ricoh WG-60 is the level of manual control available, which is impressive for a rugged point-and-shoot camera at this price point. The WG-60 allows you to take full control over exposure settings, with aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual modes.

In manual mode, you can independently set the aperture from F2.8-F8 and the shutter speed from 1/4000 to 4 seconds. This gives you the ability to get creative and achieve long exposures for night shots or motion blur in daytime shots. The camera also has a Bulb mode to hold the shutter open for an extended period.

There is also a full range of white balance presets including auto, daylight, shade, tungsten, fluorescent, and manual. The latter allows you to accurately set a custom white balance for mixed lighting situations.

Having access to these manual controls means you can adjust settings to suit any shooting situation. This allows you to achieve your creative vision and get the most out of the capable sensor and optics. For enthusiasts who want more creative control, the manual settings really increase the versatility of the WG-60.

Value for Money

When considering the WG-60's value for money, it's important to look at its pricing relative to its features. This rugged, waterproof camera typically retails for around £200, which positions it as a budget-friendly option compared to higher-end waterproof cameras.

For the price, the WG-60 delivers good core performance. It has a 16MP sensor capable of producing decent images and 1080p video. The 5x optical zoom lens provides a versatile range for different shooting situations. There's built-in image stabilization, HDR shooting, and various scene modes.

The WG-60 also includes several features not always found at this price point. It's waterproof to 14m, shockproof up to 1.6m, freezeproof to -10°C, and crushproof up to 100kg force. The camera has an outdoor-friendly LCD screen and a ring light around the lens to illuminate close-up subjects. Interval shooting, time-lapse recording, and built-in WiFi extend its capabilities.

Considering its budget-level pricing, the WG-60 manages to pack in a solid range of features for shooting in tough conditions. It covers the core performance competently while also including some bonus features not typical at this price. Overall, it provides good value for the money as a rugged, no-frills waterproof camera. More expensive models add things like RAW shooting, higher resolution, and increased waterproofness. But the WG-60 hits a sweet spot of price and capabilities.

Conclusion

The Ricoh WG-60 is a compact and rugged waterproof camera that excels in outdoor settings. It produces good image quality with vibrant colors and offers a versatile 5x optical zoom lens. The camera is very portable and durable, able to withstand drops from heights of 1.6m and water immersion up to 14m.

Some of the key pros of the WG-60 are its waterproof and shockproof construction, macro shooting capability from 1cm, and the variety of shooting modes like underwater and digital microscope. It also offers a customizable self-timer and flash modes like slow-sync flash. The camera can shoot Full HD video at 30fps.

On the downside, the WG-60 has a small 1/2.3” sensor and high ISO performance is just average. There is no raw shooting capability and the rear LCD screen is fixed. The camera lacks built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Overall, the Ricoh WG-60 is an excellent choice for those needing a rugged, waterproof camera for outdoor adventures and travel. It provides good image quality and useful features for its class at a reasonable price point. If you don't require advanced features like raw shooting or WiFi, the WG-60 is a compact and versatile waterproof camera worth considering.