Ricoh

Ricoh RDC-2 series (1996)

Ricoh's second consumer digital camera. Licensed to Polaroid. Marketed in 1996. Pretty modular camera with detachable TFT monitor and transmission capabilites. It is uncertain whether Polaroid also offered the transmission capabilites or not. In my opinion they didn't and only offered the point-and-shoot version of the camera. The camera itself had a remarkable 768x567 resolution, internal and external storage possibility, transmission capability, voice memo recording and what not. A complete digital camera setup in a carry case would easily weight up to ten pounds! Ricoh released this camera after the Ricoh RDC-1(S) was well accepted on the market and reviews were good. Ricoh marketed this camera with various options. So, let me compare the various models for you (information comes directly from Ricoh and is not thought up or something).

RDC-2   Just the camera body (Champagne Silver). Monitor optional. 2MB internal storage.
RDC-2E   Revamped RDC-2. Has a darker tone (German Gray). RA button for re-focussing when object has moved. Lost strobe, audio interface and voice memo function.
RDC-2L   Camera bundled with monitor. 2MB internal storage.
DC-2V   Camera bundled with monitor and internal transmission capabilites as a reaction to the demands of the business community. External modem required. 4MB internal storage.
DC-2S   Re-issue of the DC-2V. First camera to allow direct transmission with a mobile phone through PHS. No external modem required but internal modem card. 4MB internal storage
 
In the above gallery you can see the various models. Nowadays you can most likely find the RDC-2L with the monitor but many sellers still mistake this version for the 'plain' Ricoh RDC-2. The initial RDC-2 did not have a monitor! The optional monitor also had a built-in speaker. In this entry you can also see the very rare Ricoh DC-2S for the very first time! The entire series was marketed in Japan as the DC-2 series without the 'R'. Please not that the DC-2S and DC-2V were marketed in Japan only!

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Specifications

  • Brand: Ricoh
  • Model: RDC-2
  • First mentioned: 1996
  • Marketed: yes (partially in Japan only)
  • MSRP: $649 (RDC-2) / $799 (RDC-2L)
  • Imager Type: 0.41MP 1/4" CCD (eff. 0.38MP)
  • Resolution: 768 x 576
  • Internal Storage: 2MB / 4MB
  • External Storage: PCMCIA Flash ATA Cards Type I / II
  • Lens: f=3.7 - 5.6mm /F2
  • Shutter: 1/8s - 1/1,000s
  • Aperture Range: F2
  • LCD screen size: 1.8" LCD (optional)
  • Size: 143 x 27 x 76mm (without monitor)
  • Weight: 285 gr. without monitor and batteries
  • Remarks: Sold in Japan as the Ricoh DC-2

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