DUST! And that is all I want to write right now.

Update!
This is the third time within a year this happens to me. I have posted about it before in my “Impression” post. I have written an open letter to Ricoh. You can read it here.

After the “slightly” disappointing review by TrustedReviews of the GX200 (not so much because of the end result, but because of the execution of the review), today PhotographyBlog notified me that they posted their review of the GX200.

From the possible five stars in total, the camera received 4.5 stars from the reviewers. I am quoting them:

At first glance the GX200 seems very similar to it predecessor, but after a week’s shooting it quickly becomes evident that this camera is much more refined, both in terms of speed and features - the only thing lacking is any improvement in image quality. If you can live with the noise at ISO 400 and faster, the Ricoh GX200 is a great backup to your DSLR, and a fantastic pocket camera in its own right.

According to the reviewers the near-instantenous write times in single-shot mode and the ability to shoot up to 5 RAW images at 2fps in continuous mode are some of the best new features of the GX200. If you want to read the entire review see it here.

Without any substantial media coverage from the Ricoh marketing department they started the 8th Ricoh Photo Contest. The application date for this contest is from May, 30 to August, 29, 2008.

The theme of this new contest is “Precious Things, Precious Moments”. Only photographs taken with a Ricoh camera are allowed. The submitted photographs need to obtain EXIF data and in jpeg format.

The grand price will be a GR Digital II with accessories. The other prices can be read on the contest information site. Ricoh will produce a 2009 Photo calendar using winning entries. Thirteen works (including the cover) will be selected for the calendar. When the calendar is completed, it will be sent to the creators of the works used (planned timing: December 2008).

You can find all the information about the contest here and the entry requirements here.

A Foxglove or Fingerflower from a bee perspective.
Wijde Veldweg, Ede, Gelderland, the Netherlands.
June 24, 2008
Ricoh GX100, f4.8, 1/850 sec, ISO 80, -1.0 EV

TrustedReviews today posted the first review of the new Ricoh GX200. They are impressed with the build quality and features. But, according to TrustedReviews the GX200 is a bit of a mixed bag. At lower ISO’s in good light it can produce good looking images (jpegs), but from ISO 400 image noise spoils the pictures. You can read the entire review here.