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It wasn't long ago that most point-and-shoot digital cameras were easy to spot in a crowd-they looked like a funky pair of binoculars with a built-in flash. Not any more! Newer models have both the look and feel of film-based cameras, plus some unique digital features. A prime example of this design convergence is the Ricoh RDC-2 digital camera ($799 street price). Not only does it offer most of the features of a good point-and-shoot camera, but with the optional color LCD attached ($200), the RDC-2 becomes the first camera in its price class to offer digital still and sound capture, video and sound output, removable storage, builtin flash, and a dual-position lens. Naturally, we were eager to take it for a test drive down the digital highway to see how well its pixels and perks perform.
At first glance, the RDC-2 could easily be mistaken for a top-of-the-line pocket 110 camera-it's fairly flat, about the same length, has a dual position lens, and the flash and shutter button are where you'd expect them to be. But a closer look at the controls reveals under- and overexposure settings, a self-timer, several flash options, and an LCD control panel on top, something you'd never find on a 110 camera. Also, there's no place to put film! Instead, there's a record and play switch where the film door would be alongside a tiny microphone and viewfinder with a diopter control.
As soon as we mounted the optional Ricoh DM-2 color LCD monitor ($200) and started playing back images we drew a crowd. The 1.8-inch monitor fits snugly into a slot next to the control panel, folds down against the main body of the camera for protection, and features a built-in speaker and audio and brightness controls. The brightness control dial is essential for viewing images under bright lights. (Cameras without this feature should be avoided.) There's also a headset jack and a separate on/off switch for conserving batteries (although the LCD turns off when folded...