The Ricoh Caplio GX-200 is an update to the company's pro-oriented compact digital, a camera that dates back to the firm's old film heritage, offering photographers a high-quality body in a small size.

Competing with cameras such as the Canon G9 for the hearts and minds of photographers everywhere, the GX-200 keeps the previous 24-72mm (in 35mm equivalent) lens, but increases the resolution of the camera to 12 megapixels and the size of the camera's screen to 2.8 inches. Internally, the GX-200 now includes the company's new Smooth Imaging Engine III. The wide-angle setup of the camera is a bonus to pro shooters that find the often tele-biased selection of other cameras limiting.

There's an optional electronic viewfinder for those who don't want to use the built-in LCD for composition. This is an interesting add-on in a world where more and more cameras seem to eschew them for high-end screens.

A plus for horizon challenged photographers everywhere, the camera has a built-in level meter that indicates when the camera is being held on level, something I'm personally wild about.

An increased buffer allows for five raw shots at a time and the sensor allows for the capture of square-format images.

As the digital photography market flattens out (with everyone and their grandmother owning a compact digital or SLR) it's likely that more companies will come out with cameras that put a spin on the now traditional progress of cameras that are essentially small boxes with big sensors. The Ricoh GX-200 is aimed not only at the pro but at shooters that want more creative control than many systems offer, in a compact body.

The US price wasn't set in the press release, but expect to see this model in July.