Ricoh calls its new 3.34 megapixel camera an "i-camera", because it is the first camera with built-in Internet features.

But, as intriguing as that sounds, this only begins to tell the whole story. In fact, the RDC-i700 is the first camera designed to assist the digital photographer's entire workflow, from concept to Web publication. This could be a tremendous boon to anyone capturing images in the field for sharing on the web.

The RDC-i700's first unique workflow innovation is its JOB Navi Image Capture Guide. Essentially this is an application that starts working even before you leave the office, letting you create a checklist or simple database of shots you intend to take. A real estate broker might, for example, load the camera with details about properties he/she would inspect that day. Then, as he/she visited each property they could immediately associate each shot, in-camera, with notes about each feature of interest. With this camera, you'll have no more excuses for missed shots or "mystery" shots.

Of course, even in the field, you can add new shot notes to the checklist or annotate existing shots on the fly using the camera's large 3.5" touch screen and the included stylus. You can scribble your notes freehand or tap text into the on-screen keyboard. Or, if you prefer, you can record voice memos to attach to your pictures. In addition, the camera includes basic point-and-click image processing functions such as crop and resize.

Once you have captured all the images in your checklist, Ricoh's second startling innovation kicks in: Full-featured, PC-free Internet connectivity.

With the optional communication card, the camera can not only dial-up and upload pictures directly to your web site (via FTP but it can automatically create HTML galleries of those pictures based on templates tailored for your site design. Prefer video? You can build a slide show within the camera and play it on any television. The RDC-i700 will even fax black and white copies of your images to your, shall we say, more "retro" clients or editors.

We haven't even touched on this device's respectable features as a digital camera. But the real story is that Ricoh has designed more than a point-and-shoot camera; it is a point-and-publish camera.

Part secretary, part PDA and part webmaster, the RDC-i700 could be a terrific field photographer's assistant: A camera equipped to lend a hand before, during, and after you click the shutter.

Features

- under $1,500
- 3.34 megapixels (2048 x 1536)
- Optical 3x zoom, macro to 1cm
- Records 320x240 AVI video
- Records WAV voice memos
- E-mail: POP3/SMTP
- Emulates an external disc drive
- Web: HTML 3.2 browser
- FTP: Upload HTML galleries directly
- Fax: CLASS 1 or 2
- 3.5" TFT LCD
- 1/1000 sec shutter speed
- Built-in flash
- Auto-bracket, Time-Lapse, and Time-Exposure
- CompactFlash & PC card slot Type II
- NTSC/PAL video out
- Includes: Pen Stylus, Battery Charger
- USB, RS232 (serial)

Copyright © 2006 Stephen Jones All rights reserved.