Ricoh GXR digital camera with unique interchangeable lens

Japanese company, Ricoh has announced a digital camera with an innovative system, GXR, which are the external removable modules with integrated camera into the lens matrix and image processor.

The Ricoh GXR is interchangeable unit camera system featuring the world’s smallest and lightest digital camera with the ability to change lenses.

To implement this concept, Ricoh engineers have developed an unprecedented mobile system of interchangeable modules mount to the camera body, which eliminates the ingress of dirt or dust on the image sensor while changing lenses.

Initially, the Ricoh GXR camera will be available to only two lens modules: GR LENS A12 50mm F2.5 MACRO (matrix APS-C size 23.6×15.7 mm with a resolution of 12.3 megapixels, the maximum sensitivity 3,200 units of ISO) and RICOH LENS S10 24-72mm F2.5-4.4 VC (CCD-matrix of size 1/1.7 inches and a resolution of 10 megapixels, the maximum ISO 3,200).

Release of new Ricoh GXR planned for the second quarter of 2010. The primary Ricoh GXR camera module is equipped with a 3-inch display with a resolution of 920000 pixels, 86MB internal memory, slot for SD/SDHC card, USB 2.0 port and HDMI. The Ricoh GXR dimensions are 68.7×57.9×38.6 mm and weight is 161g.

Sales of Ricoh GXR will appear in December this year. Ricoh GXR body camera can be purchased for €460, the GR LENS A12 is €670, and RICOH LENS S10 is €330.