Routeplanners: SatNav & GPS News

Ricoh has released the 500SE and its 500SEW variant in the U.S. market, making it available through industrial and commercial equipment retailers. First introduced to the international market at Photokina 2006, the 8.13-megapixel camera features an f/2.5-4.3 28mm-85mm 3x zoom lens (35mm equivalent), a 2.5-inch LCD, an optical viewfinder, and a shock-resistant, waterproof body equipped with a hotshoe.

What sets this sturdy point-and-shoot apart from other models is its GPS receiver, which is a separate component that integrates with the camera body. When the GPS unit is attached, the camera automatically embeds location data in photo and video files. Images can also be tagged with memos in-camera.

The 500SE offers integrated Bluetooth connectivity, allowing it to wirelessly receive location information from standalone GPS units and embed it in image files. The pricier 500SEW variant also includes integrated 802.11b/g WiFi connectivity for sending images wirelessly to a computer or PDA.

Ricoh is marketing this camera for industrial and business uses, so instead of scene modes for photographing food and kids, you’ll find selections such as Fire and Skew Correction. There are also high-ISO, text, and zoom macro modes that civilians who get their hands on the 500SE might find more applicable to their usual subjects. The camera doesn’t offer full manual exposure controls.

The 500SE is available from the authorized Ricoh Geo-Imaging resellers listed at www.ricohsolutions.com/geo. In other words, geocoding afficionados won’t be able to pick it up at their favorite camera or electronics store, and the resellers who do carry the camera may not be willing to sell it to individual consumers. However, if you have a business connection that can order the 500SE, it will run you $899, or $950 for the 500SEW. The GPS module costs an additional $189.