Ricoh GR-Digital

Sometimes it's good to have limitations. They push you to think more and try new things. The Ricoh GR-Digital ($650) is a perfect example. Its fixed, prime lens means no lazy zooming from across the street. It makes you get up and fill the frame yourself. With classic, no-nonsense styling, the pocketable 8.1-megapixel camera takes excellent, natural-looking shots thanks to the high-performance lens and the legendary GR Engine. Our shots were super sharp and had great contrast. The GR-D sports a 2.5-inch LCD and has a magnesium body underneath the jet black. You also get great single-hand operation thanks to the mode dial, while the twin-dial system lets you quickly control manual exposure, white balance and other functions like a camera four times its size.