Canon A2300 vs Ricoh CX6: Compact Cameras Put to the Test

Choosing between the Canon PowerShot A2300 and Ricoh CX6 can be perplexing if you’re aiming for a compact camera that suits your specific photographic journey. Both are entry-level compacts released around the early 2010s, designed primarily for casual point-and-shoot photography. However, their capabilities, handling, and suitability across various photography disciplines differ significantly. Having spent years as a photographer rigorously testing cameras in real-world scenarios, I’m here to distill the strengths and limitations of each to help you decide which aligns best with your creative goals.

First Impressions: Compactness and Handling

Starting with the basics - the physical size and ergonomics - both cameras are pocket-friendly but appeal to slightly different users.

• Canon A2300: Measuring a slim 95x54x20mm and weighing just 125g, the A2300 is one of the lightest cameras in its class. Its compactness makes it a perfect everyday carry companion for casual snapshots.
• Ricoh CX6: Larger and heavier at 104x59x29mm and 201g, the CX6 feels more substantial in hand, offering a firmer grip and more robust build quality.

The Canon’s lighter body favors street and travel photography where portability is paramount. Meanwhile, the Ricoh’s weight contributes to steadier shooting, especially when using its superzoom lens, but reduces pocket-friendliness slightly.

Layout and Controls: Ease of Use vs Manual Flexibility

Underneath their compact bodies, these cameras differ markedly in user interface and control sophistication.

• Canon A2300: The design is extremely barebones. It lacks manual controls for aperture, shutter speed, or ISO, targeting users who want simple point-and-shoot convenience. The camera operates mostly on automatic modes with minimal input from you.
• Ricoh CX6: This camera introduces manual exposure modes (shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual), exposure compensation, and customizable white balance - all rare in this category - allowing more creative control. The buttons and dials are logically placed, though the compact body means controls are smaller.

If you’re an enthusiast looking to learn more about manual photography, Ricoh’s CX6 gives you room to experiment within a compact form. If effortless snapshots with minimal fuss are your priority, Canon’s A2300 simplifies the shooting experience.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Let’s dive deeper into the sensor technology and resultant image quality - keeping in mind both have the same sensor size: 1/2.3 inch (approximately 6.17 x 4.55 mm), commonly found in entry-level compact cameras.

• Sensor Technology Difference: The Canon uses a CCD sensor, which traditionally yields good color rendition but tends to suffer in low light, with higher noise. The Ricoh employs a more modern CMOS sensor with a newer processor. This generally means better noise control, faster readout, and improved high ISO performance.

• Resolution and Detail: Canon’s 16 megapixels enable capturing more detail when pixel-peeping or printing large images. Ricoh’s 10 MP sensor still suffices very well for typical prints and social media use but trades some resolution for better noise control.

• ISO Range and Low Light: The CX6’s ISO up to 3200 (compared to Canon’s max 1600) is paired with sensor-shift image stabilization, which helps maintain steady shots at slower shutter speeds. This is a clear advantage for low light and night photography.

In practical shooting, you’ll find Canon’s images slightly sharper in well-lit conditions - ideal for landscapes and portraits when you can use plenty of light. Ricoh shines in dim scenes and handheld telephoto shots where stabilization and noise control are critical.

Viewing Experience: Screen and Interface

• Canon A2300: Features a 2.7-inch fixed LCD with 230K dots resolution. The brightness and angle are average, limiting usability in bright sunlight. The menu system is simple but slow.
• Ricoh CX6: Sports a larger 3-inch Sony WhiteMagic VGA LCD with 1230K dots, noticeably brighter and clearer. This translates to better framing accuracy even under harsh conditions.

Ricoh's screen technology makes a considerable difference in usability, especially for composition and reviewing images outdoors. Though neither camera features a viewfinder, the Ricoh’s superior LCD compensates better in direct sunlight.

Lens Quality and Zoom Range: Flexibility vs Aperture

• Ricoh CX6’s Superzoom: The 10.7x zoom range allows remarkable versatility, spanning wide-angle landscapes to distant subjects like wildlife or sports, all in one lens. This zoom power is bolstered by sensor-shift image stabilization helping reduce blur.
• Canon A2300: Limited to a 5x zoom range, stopping at 140 mm equivalent but brighter aperture at wide-angle end (f/2.8 vs f/3.5), making it slightly better for low light at 28 mm.

If you prioritize reach, particularly for wildlife or travel photography, Ricoh’s lens is a compelling choice. However, the narrower aperture at telephoto may challenge indoor or night shooting.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching Fleeting Moments

Both cameras use contrast-detection autofocus – standard for compacts – but the Ricoh CX6 edges out with a faster burst rate of 5 fps, compared to Canon’s modest 1 fps.

Canon’s face detection autofocus is handy for portraits and casual shots involving people, helping maintain sharp focus on faces automatically, which Ricoh lacks.

However, Ricoh’s ability to perform live view autofocus and deliver faster frame rates makes it better suited to photographing moving subjects like sports or wildlife.

Canon A2300 front Canon A2300 screen back Ricoh CX6 front Ricoh CX6 screen back

Real-World Image Quality Across Photography Genres

Having tested both cameras extensively, here’s how they handle specific types of photography:

Portraits

• Canon’s face detection ensures consistent focus on subjects’ eyes and faces, producing pleasant skin tones with natural color rendition.
• The wider aperture at 28 mm (f/2.8) helps achieve some background separation, but the small sensor limits true bokeh effects.
• Ricoh’s CX6 lacks face detection but manual exposure modes let you fine-tune settings for better control.
• Both cameras produce soft bokeh due to sensor size and lens construction, so expect more sharp backgrounds than creamy.

Landscapes

• Canon’s 16 MP sensor captures fine detail in abundant light.
• Ricoh offers a wider zoom range to isolate distant features.
• Dynamic range is limited on both, leading to clipped highlights in skies or shadows without bracketing.
• Ricoh’s sensor-shift stabilization helps handheld shots, but landscapes are best on a tripod for sharpness.

Wildlife and Sports

• Ricoh CX6’s 10.7x zoom and 5 fps burst shine here.
• Canon’s slower focus and 1 fps continuous shooting limit action capture usability.
• Both struggle with autofocus speed compared to DSLRs but Ricoh handles static wildlife better at a distance.

Street and Travel

• The Canon’s smaller size and ultra-light weight favor discretion in street photography.
• Ricoh’s bigger zoom favors travel photography needing versatile framing.
• Battery life slightly favors Canon (210 shots vs unspecified Ricoh), important on trips without frequent charging.

Macro

• Ricoh wins here with a closer minimum focus distance of 1 cm.
• Canon’s minimum focus distance of 3 cm limits detailed close-ups.
• Neither camera supports focus stacking or bracketing for macro precision.

Night and Astro

• Ricoh’s higher ISO ceiling and stabilization help in dimly lit scenes.
• Canon struggles with noise and hand shake due to no stabilization.
• Neither camera is designed for astrophotography due to sensor size and lack of manual ISO/exposure flexibility in Canon.

Build, Battery, and Connectivity

• Neither camera has weather sealing or rugged protection.
• Battery life favors Canon at 210 shots per charge (NB-11L battery).
• Ricoh’s battery life is unspecified but generally lower for superzoom compacts.
• Both feature USB 2.0; neither supports HDMI, audio inputs, or wireless except Ricoh’s Eye-Fi card compatibility.
• No GPS or Bluetooth on either.

While build quality feels slightly more robust on Ricoh due to size and weight, neither caters directly to professional reliability or advanced workflows.

Video Capabilities: Basic, but Functional

Both cameras offer basic HD video recording suitable for casual clips. Ricoh’s stabilization and higher frame rate make it slightly better for handheld video but neither supports professional video features such as 4K, log profiles, or external audio.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Suits Your Journey?

Choosing between the Canon PowerShot A2300 and Ricoh CX6 largely hinges on what you value most:

If you are starting out or want a budget-friendly snapshooter always ready for travel or street photography, Canon A2300 serves as a capable companion.

However, if you seek creative control, extended zoom reach for wildlife or sports, and better low light performance - albeit at a higher price - the Ricoh CX6 is a more versatile and rewarding tool.

Getting Started & Accessories

Whichever camera you pick, explore accessories to maximize your experience:

• For Canon A2300: Extra NB-11L batteries, a lightweight wrist strap, and a UV filter for lens protection.
• For Ricoh CX6: Spare DB-100 batteries, a compact but cushioned camera case, and consider an Eye-Fi SD card for wireless image transfer.

Photography is as much about your vision as your gear. Both the Canon A2300 and Ricoh CX6 open doors to capturing memories in compelling ways. By understanding their technology and strengths through hands-on insight, you can confidently invest in the camera that complements your creative path.

Happy shooting!