[Leica] Compact Camera Conundrum

[datamaster at northcoastphotos.com (Gary Todoroff)]

>seems interesting, but why is the lens so darned slow?
>
>-rei

I had neglected to mention that the other advantage of the Ricoh 
Caplio R6 is its image stabilization mode. Its f3.3 lens at 28mm is 
effectively two or three stops faster with IS, allowing me to shoot 
at ISO 64 most of the time.

I will also admit to a Ricoh bias - my first SLR was a Ricoh Singlex 
in 1965, and my favorite all-purpose point and shoot film camera was 
a Ricoh Shotmaster Zoom 105 with its very sharp 28mm lens setting. 
Also liked my various Yashica-T cameras with that Zeiss 35mm razor.

Today I would not consider the Shotmaster a "compact" camera. 
However, the Yashica-T would fit in your front pants pocket. And the 
only time I even notice that the Ricoh R6 is in my pocket is if I 
actually try to fit into that one pair of jeans that I still think 
will fit again some day with the 32" waist!

Gary Todoroff