Ricoh WG-4 GPS Review

What's in the Box

Earlier members of the WG family of cameras came in plain cardboard boxes.  This ugly design is no more, as the WG-4 now comes in a stylish box matching the design of other Pentax- and Ricoh-branded products.

Ricoh WG-4 Box, the first WG-series box to feature colors

After opening the box and removing the manual, you are greeted by a poorly-worded but very encouraging message from the makers of the camera:

"Our Promise: Wish to be a partner to form important moments of your life ; Always with you ; Thank you for choosing Ricoh Imaging product."

The Ricoh Promise

In the box, you'll find a number of accessories, including:

• Ricoh WG-4/WG-4 GPS Camera
• Carabiner Strap (O-ST144 for WG-4 GPS, else O-ST145)
• USB Cable (I-USB7)
• Macro Stand (O-MS2)
• Battery (D-LI92)
• Adapter (D-PA135J & D-PL135)
• Software CD (S-SW145)
• Operating Manual*
• Quick Start Guide*
• Serial Number Card*
• Warranty Information Paperwork*

*contents vary by region

The Macro Stand is a cool accessory allowing you to use the WG-4 as a digital microscope.  It is also threaded to accept 46mm filters.

The supplied power adapter can be connected directly to the camera so that you do not need to remove the battery to charge it.  You use the USB cable to connect the adapter to the camera once it's plugged in to the wall.  This is only a nuisance if you have multiple batteries and would like to charge them all before an outing, as you would need to keep removing and inserting the batteries into the camera for charging.

WG-4 Box Contents - Click to Enlarge

As you can see, a few traces of the Pentax logo and name remain, namely on the charger, battery, and company name paperwork.  The camera and box have been completely re-branded, however.

Warranty

In the US, Pentax/Ricoh does not supply or require warranty cards.  If you get a WG-4, be sure to hang on to the original receipt, as it is needed when requesting warranty service.  The warranty period is one year from the original date of purchase. You can also get an extended 3-year warranty for an additional $5.99 (reduced from $12.00).  The extended warranty must be acquired within 30 days of the original purchase, and it will only be valid if the camera was purchased from an authorized Pentax dealer such as B&H photo.  A complete list of authorized Pentax dealers is available on the Ricoh Imaging web site.

Other regions may feature different warranty terms or durations: for example, the European and Canadian warranty is good for two years.