Ricoh CX1 Review

Name: Ricoh CX1
Brand: Ricoh

Select a Camera to Compare

Add a Camera for comparison

Main Features

9MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 1600

28-200 mm F3.3-5.2 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

fps continuous shooting

180g. 102 x 58 x 28 mm

CHECK PRICE

Ricoh CX1 Overview

First introduced in February 2009 , Ricoh CX1 is a 9.0MP Small Sensor Compact camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 7.1x zoom 28-200 mm F3.3-5.2 lens.

Ricoh CX1 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Ricoh CX1 is a member of Ricoh's Small Sensor Compact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Ricoh Small Sensor Compact Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Ricoh GR Digital IV Compare	2011	10.0MP - 1/1.7-inch	fps	109 x 59 x 33mm	190g
Ricoh PX Compare	2011	16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	1.0 fps	100 x 55 x 21mm	156g
Ricoh GR Digital III Compare	2009	10.0MP - 1/1.7-inch	fps	109 x 59 x 26mm	208g
Ricoh CX1	2009	9.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	fps	102 x 58 x 28mm	180g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
Ricoh GR Digital IV vs PX vs GR Digital III vs CX1

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ricoh CX1 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Ricoh CX1 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Image Stabilization

920k dots LCD Resolution

180g Light Body

Manual Focusing

Timelapse Recording

Report a correction

Buy Ricoh CX1 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder

No RAW Shooting

No Face Detection Focusing

Low Resolution Sensor: 9.0MP

Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.600

No Manual Exposure

No Environmental Sealing

Slow Lens at Wide: f3.30

Slow Lens at Tele: f5.20

Report a correction

Ricoh CX1 Physical Specs

Ricoh CX1 weighs 180 g (0.40 lb / 6.35 oz) and has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 28 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 1.1″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 28mm, it also has an average thickness.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Ricoh CX1

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Ricoh CX1

Min

Average

Max

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Ricoh CX1, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Ricoh CX1 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Ricoh CX1 with its main competitors:

Ricoh CX1 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs CX1	Thickness	vs CX1
Ricoh CX2 Compare	185g	5g heavier	29mm	1mm thicker
Panasonic LX3 Compare	265g	85g heavier	27mm	1mm thinner
Ricoh CX4 Compare	205g	25g heavier	29mm	1mm thicker
Pentax X-5 Compare	595g	415g heavier	107mm	79mm thicker
Zeiss ZX1 Compare	800g	620g heavier	46mm	18mm thicker
Ricoh GR Compare	245g	65g heavier	35mm	7mm thicker
Olympus SZ-12 Compare	226g	46g heavier	40mm	12mm thicker
Olympus TG-3 Compare	247g	67g heavier	31mm	3mm thicker

Weather Sealing

Ricoh CX1 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Ricoh CX1 Lens

Ricoh CX1 features a 28-200 mm F3.3-5.2 7.1× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 28mm and 200mm reach on tele gives a lot of flexibility and satisfy most of your needs.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

CX1

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

CX1

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f3.30 at 28mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end and neither at tele end with its f5.20.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

CX1

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

CX1

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

CX1 is equipped with Sensor-shift image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Ricoh CX1's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.

Ricoh CX1 Sensor and Photography Features

Ricoh CX1 has a 9.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 3456 x 2592 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2. CX1 has a native ISO range of 80 - 1600 but unfortunately, Ricoh CX1 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 or Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II in the same price range.

Ricoh CX1 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero9 Black with its 23.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Ricoh CX1 vs GoPro Hero9 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Ricoh CX1's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Ricoh CX1 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Ricoh CX1 LCD

Ricoh CX1 has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 920k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

Unfortunately Ricoh CX1 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.

CX1 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 (Lumix DC-TZ200) (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare).
Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

Ricoh CX1 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Ricoh CX1 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

Ricoh CX1 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Ricoh CX2 Compare	640 x 480	shots	No	No	No
Panasonic LX3 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Ricoh CX4 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Pentax X-5 Compare	1920 x 1080	330shots	No	No	No
Zeiss ZX1 Compare	3840 x 2160	shots	Yes	Yes	No
Ricoh GR Compare	1920 x 1080	290shots	No	No	No
Olympus SZ-12 Compare	1280 x 720	220shots	No	No	No
Olympus TG-3 Compare	1920 x 1080	330shots	Yes	No	No

Ricoh CX1 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Ricoh CX1 can shoot continuously at max speed of and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately CX1 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing

Ricoh CX1 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system.

What type of Photography is Ricoh CX1 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Ricoh CX1 in 5 different photography areas.

Ricoh CX1 for Portrait Photography

Ricoh CX1 has a score of 27 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theCX1.

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 9.0MP
No RAW shooting capability

No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Ricoh CX1 for Portrait Photography

Ricoh CX1 for Street Photography

Ricoh CX1 has a score of 61 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.

Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Image Stabilization
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage

Small Body
No Built-in Viewfinder
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Ricoh CX1 for Street Photography

Ricoh CX1 for Sports Photography

Ricoh CX1 has a score of 20 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theCX1.

Manual Focus Mode
Image Stabilization
200 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points

Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Built-in Viewfinder
No External Flash Shoe
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Ricoh CX1 for Sports Photography

Ricoh CX1 for Daily Photography

Ricoh CX1 has a score of 58 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
180g
7.1X Optical Zoom

Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Ricoh CX1 for Daily Photography

Ricoh CX1 for Landscape Photography

Ricoh CX1 has a score of 18 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theCX1.

Manual Focus Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
No Manual Exposure Mode
No RAW shooting capability

Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 9.0MP
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Ricoh CX1 for Landscape Photography

Ricoh CX1 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Ricoh CX1 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Ricoh CX1 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Ricoh CX1

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Ricoh CX1 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Compare

Compare

Compare

Compare

Compare

Compare

Compare

Compare

Ricoh CX1 Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Ricoh CX1 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Ricoh CX1's price range.

Ricoh CX1 Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Ricoh CX1 has an Overall Score of 35/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Ricoh CX1 is ranked #311 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #889 out of 1242 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#889 out of 1242 in Top Ranking Cameras
#311 out of 631 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
#87 out of 262 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Compact Cameras
#406 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
#318 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(180g)
#567 out of 917 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ricoh CX1

Does the Ricoh CX1 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Ricoh CX1 have RAW support?
Does the Ricoh CX1 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Ricoh CX1 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Ricoh CX1?
What is the Sensor Size of Ricoh CX1?
is the Ricoh CX1 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Ricoh CX1 have Touch Screen?
Does the Ricoh CX1 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Ricoh CX1?
What is the Weight of Ricoh CX1?
What are the Dimensions of Ricoh CX1?

Ricoh CX1 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Ricoh
Model	Ricoh CX1
Announced	2009-02-19
Body Type	Compact
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	28-200 mm (7.1×)
Max Aperture	F3.3-5.2
Macro Focus Range	1cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	3.00"
Screen Resolution	920k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	8s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/2000s
Continuous Shooting	n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	n/a
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	3.00 m
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CMOS
Sensor Size	1/2.3-inch
Sensor Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Sensor Area	28.07mm²
Sensor Resolution	9 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	3456 x 2592
Max Native ISO	1,600
Min Native ISO	80
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Video Features
Video Resolutions	640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	640 x 480
Video Formats	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	180g
Physical Dimensions	102 x 58 x 28mm
Battery Model	DB-70
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage Slots	1

Most Popular Small Sensor Compact Cameras

Nikon P7800
12 MP | 1/1.7-inch Sensor| 28-200 mm

Canon G16
12 MP | 1/1.7-inch Sensor| 28-140 mm

Sony W800
20 MP | 1/2.3-inch Sensor| 26-130 mm

Fujifilm X30
12 MP | Sensor| 28-112 mm

Canon S120
12 MP | 1/1.7-inch Sensor| 24-120 mm

Fujifilm X10
12 MP | 2/3-inch Sensor| 28-112 mm

Leica D-Lux 6
10 MP | 1/1.7-inch Sensor| 24-90 mm

Canon G12
10 MP | 1/1.7-inch Sensor| 28-140 mm

Latest Compact Cameras

Sony ZV-1
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 24-70 mm

Fujifilm X100V
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | 35 mm

Sony RX100 VII
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 24-200 mm

Canon G5 X MII
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 24-120 mm

Canon G7 X MIII
20 MP | 1' Sensor | 24-100 mm

Leica Q2
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm

Leica Q2 Monochrom
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm

Nikon A1000
16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 24-840 mm