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Ricoh CX5

 
Ricoh CX5 front
 
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 205g - 102 x 59 x 29mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34

Ricoh CX5 summary

Ricoh CX5 is Ricoh's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera originally revealed on July of 2011. It features a 10 MegaPixel, CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 3648 x 2736.

The CX5 is placed #216 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & overall #964 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should check our Smart camera finder to see camera listings based on your custom requirements.

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The following is a diagram of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Ricoh CX5 history

The Ricoh CX5 is part of a family of products. You can view the detailed list below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Ricoh-CX6 front thumbnailRicoh CX6
CX5 vs CX6
28-300mm
F3.5-5.6
10MP1/2.3"2011
Ricoh-CX5 front thumbnailRicoh CX528-300mm
F3.5-5.6
10MP1/2.3"2011
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Ricoh-CX4 front thumbnailRicoh CX4
CX5 vs CX4
28-300mm
F3.5-5.6
10MP1/2.3"2010
Ricoh-CX3 front thumbnailRicoh CX3
CX5 vs CX3
28-300mm
F3.5-5.6
10MP1/2.3"2010
Ricoh-CX2 front thumbnailRicoh CX2
CX5 vs CX2
28-300mm
F3.5-5.6
9MP1/2.3"2009
Ricoh-CX1 front thumbnailRicoh CX1
CX5 vs CX1
28-200mm
F3.3-5.2
9MP1/2.3"2009
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Ricoh CX5 Pros and Cons

Here is a shortlist of benefits and drawbacks of the Ricoh CX5 based on features that are oftentimes considered useful in a digital camera.

decent sized screen (3 inches)
good minimum ISO (100)
great reach (300mm)
has built in flash
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has manual focus
in built lens has zoom (28-300mm 10.7 x zoom)
lighter than competition (205g)
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good screen resolution (920 thousand dot)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of aperture priority mode
lacks phase detect AF
lacks RAW files
missing HDMI support
missing headphone jack
missing microphone jack
no articulating screen
no external flash support
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sluggish at full zoom (f5.6)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
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Ricoh CX5 Sensor features

The Ricoh CX5 houses the Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor chip. The size of the sensor in the Ricoh CX5 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 3648 x 2736 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Optical stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter might lead to cropping.

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The CMOS sensor has 10MP and includes a standard ISO range of 100 - 3200. Sadly, RAW photos are not saved so you have less margin for error.

The picture below displays the CX5's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The CX5 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is pointed out in green.

Ricoh CX5 sensor size Kodak's Tri-X Black-and-White Film Now 30% Cheaper

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Ricoh CX5 dimensions

Ricoh CX5 weighs in at 0.45 pounds (205g / 7.23 ounces) & the size of the camera is 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g so the Ricoh CX5 is less heavy compared to other competitors.

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The following is a visual of the Ricoh CX5 next to a softdrink to help you get a feel for its size.

Ricoh CX5 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will highlight the button layout on the CX5.

Ricoh CX5 topview buttons dials

Ricoh CX5 Lens features

The CX5 offers a fixed lens giving a focal range of 28-300mm giving it a 10.7 x zoom which isn't amazing nevertheless it is likely to be helpful in a few conditions.

At it's widest 28mm, the lens comes with an aperture of f3.5 which will be kind of sluggish and not ideal for low light circumstances and you might find it hard to get good bokeh. You will probably also need to up your ISO which results in noisy images. With the long end, 300mm is incredible zoom and comes to f5.6 making it really sluggish and you would have to set slower shutter speeds.

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Ricoh CX5 Connectivity

The CX5 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras with NFC or Bluetooth connectivity can be used wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to transfer files and oftentimes alter settings without connecting physically with the camera.

Some apps also enable a Liveview and hit the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI port, it can be connected to an external screen. A lot of cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack using the USB port.

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Ricoh CX5 Video features

The max video resolution in the Ricoh CX5 is 1280 x 720 and you can save in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is low for today's standards. You should really shoot for at least FUll HD resolution for good video. The body does not have a microphone or headphone port so you have got zero control over the sound. It is probably a better idea to look into a different camera if you require decent sound for your videos.

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Ricoh CX5 Weather Sealing

There is no environment proofing on the Ricoh CX5 so you have to be careful in rainy or dusty situations.

Ricoh CX5 Screen and Viewfinder

The Ricoh CX5 features a 3 inch fixed display with a resolution of 920 thousand dots.

Sadly the display isn't a touch screen.

Ricoh CX5 screen and viewfinder OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

The View Finder details for Ricoh CX5 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

For bright outdoor situations that make the camera displays washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders will be pretty helpful.

Ricoh CX5 Shutter features

Ricoh CX5 continuous shooting speed is 5.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000 sec.

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Ricoh CX5 Flash and Hot shoe features

Ricoh CX5 comes with just inbuilt flash with no external flash support.

Ricoh CX5 Autofocus features

Ricoh CX5 comes with only Contrast Based AF & doesn't have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is more snappier & accurate compared to Contrast Based autofocusing.

Ricoh CX5 features manual focusing if needed during low light occasions or you need to have more precise control on focusing.

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Ricoh CX5 Battery life

The usual Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR comes with the maximum (600) battery life within this kind of cameras.

Listed below is a collection of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that have the best battery life:

Ricoh CX5 for specific types of photography

The following diagram provides a rundown of the Ricoh CX5 for specific types of photography. To find out more, check out the specific section below.

Ricoh CX5 as a Portrait photography camera

The Ricoh CX5 gets a points tally of 28 which is low, and means the camera is simply not appropriate to use for portrait photos. Shooting portraits leans greatly towards sensor dimension, support for RAW photos along with the potential to work with off-camera flash.

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focusing manually
no external flash support
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support

Ricoh CX5 Street photography highlights

Getting a nice points total of 61, the Ricoh CX5 is a very decent choice to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera offers a fine balance of image quality plus portability.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (205g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support

Ricoh CX5 Sports photography highlights

A low sports photography score of 25 suggests the Ricoh CX5 is simply not appropriate for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs to have good autofocus and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus

Ricoh CX5 as a Travel photography camera

Portability is extremely crucial in buying a travel camera. Overall, the Ricoh CX5 gets a very good 66 for a travel camera which makes it a fine choice to take with you on your trips.

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lighter than competitors (205 grams)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
great reach (300mm)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)

Ricoh CX5 Landscape photography details

When you are looking to choose a digital camera for landscape photographs, the biggest factor will be image quality. The Ricoh CX5 with it's low grade of 45 as a landscape camera is simply not appropriate among it's competition.

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manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files

Ricoh CX5 Vlogging details

A vlogging camera ought to come with a moving screen, mic port and ideally image stabilization. Considering everything, the Ricoh CX5 is simply not appropriate for vlogging as it comes to a low rating of 30.

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rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (205 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack

Ricoh CX5 Alternatives

If you need alternatives to the CX5, here is a range of the highest placed cameras that fall under the class of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line chart down below shows you a bird's eye view of the CX5 versus it's highest rated competitors listed earlier.

Here are a few more cameras you may take into account as alternative options. To see a detailed comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Ricoh
Model type
Ricoh CX5
Category
Small Sensor Superzoom
Released
2011-07-19
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor Chip
Smooth Imaging Engine IV
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution
3648 x 2736
RAW images
Highest native ISO
3200
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross type focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
28-300mm (10.7x)
Highest aperture
f/3.5-5.6
Macro focusing range
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3 inches
Resolution of screen
920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
8 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed
5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
4.00 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
205g (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions
102 x 59 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
Other
Battery ID
DB-100
Self timer
Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots
Single
Pricing at release
$399