Ricoh WG-6

I had the WG-6 in my hand for the first time a few weeks ago at the Ringfotomesse and thought to myself – Hey, this thing can do almost everything like the TG-6 and has 21MP. And costs 200 euros less. I have to try it out. Two days ago, I took some photos with it in Hallein. First real-live, test in the studio will come later.

I’ve already wisely limited the auto-ISO to 400. RAW is not available. The number of picture styles is limited to five. Vivid, Standard, Luminous, Color reversal film and BW. Not much more can be set. Beware of the “green button”, which activates a “green mode” in which, among other things, the display switches off.

This is the “color reversal mode”. So it’s basically a slide film simulation. ISO 400. Looks pretty decent, doesn’t it?

Here is a 100% crop:

Details blurred, color gradients watercolored, but the black frame of the sign is sharp. You can actually see in all the pictures, even those with ISO 125, that hard structures are sharpened, but the colour gradients fall victim to digital optimization. I will then take the other comparison photos in the studio – it’s not a pity if you can only see the pictures in web resolution.

Of course, the conditions here are also really tough for the compacts. Diffuse light, hardly any contrasts, the processor can’t find anything to optimize – but you can’t always just take photos in the sunshine…..