Ricoh announced the RICOH WG-70, a durable, lightweight and waterproof compact digital camera that produces super-high-resolution photos and high-definition (HD) video. Equipped with a 5x optical zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle coverage and a large, outdoor-friendly wide-frame LCD monitor, the new model in the rugged WG series makes it easy to capture a range of images – from eye-catching close-ups to sweeping landscapes – in extreme conditions, both on land and under the sea.

The RICOH WG-70 adds a number of newly designed features including a digital microscope mode that, when coupled with the use of the camera’s six-LED macro lights, enables the user to clearly see a magnified view of the microscopic world and effortlessly capture eye-catching close-up images. It also features an advanced underwater shooting mode that optimizes color, contrast and white balance to deliver sharp, true-to-life images. Ricoh has also added a new digital Cross Processing effect option, allowing the user to give an artistic, altered color finish to images, similar to the result of cross-processing film images.

The RICOH WG-70 camera’s back-illuminated CMOS image sensor with approximately 16 effective megapixels and a high-performance imaging engine delivers super-high-resolution still images and HD video clips. It features triple anti-shake protection to prevent blurred images and videos in all applications.

The RICOH WG-70 is waterproof to a depth of 46 feet (14 meters), shockproof against a fall from a height of five feet (1.6 meters) and freeze-proof in temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C). It also comes equipped with an outdoor-friendly LCD monitor with a brightness level that can be instantly adjusted to the lighting level of a shooting situation. The camera is 4.8 inches wide by 2.4 inches high by 1.2 inches deep and weighs approximately 6.8 ounces (including battery and SD memory card).

RICOH WG-70 is in pre-order at $279.95.

More info on RICOH’s website.