Ricoh Caplio GX100

The Ricoh Caplio GX100 is a lovely little camera for anyone who wants more than a basic point-and-shoot. It has a 10 megapixel CCD sensor, a sharp 24–72mm wide-angle Ricoh zoom lens, RAW shooting, manual controls and a proper photographer’s feel in a compact body.

This camera is especially loved for black and white photography. The built-in black and white mode gives deep blacks, strong contrast and rich mid-tones, so photos can look moody and film-like straight from the camera. At higher ISO settings, the CCD sensor produces a grainy texture that looks more like old film grain than modern digital noise, which is exactly why many people still enjoy cameras like this.

The wide 24mm lens makes it great for street photography, travel, buildings, interiors and everyday documentary-style photos. It also has Ricoh’s Snap Focus feature, which is brilliant for quick street shooting when you do not want to wait for autofocus to lock.

A great choice if you want a compact retro digital camera with real character, creative control and that classic CCD look people love.