If you like the convenience of owning a compact digital camera but at the same time want something that offers a wide range of image controls and a few unexpected features that steal a march on its rivals, then Ricoh's CX1 may just be the kind of kit you're looking for.

Styled in sexy jet black (cool silver and muted pink are also available), it feels reassuringly weighty (180g) in the palm, measuring a relatively standard 101.5 x 58.3 x 27.9mm.

Boasting 9.29 megapixels, the CX1 showcases a new image processing engine (Smooth Imaging Engine IV) and a new high-speed image processing CMOS sensor. At the front Ricoh has managed to insert a 7.1x optical wide-angle zoom lens (28-200mm in 35mm film equivalent) and at the back a 3-inch, 920,000-pixel screen, alongside a neat row of buttons for Menu, Function, Self-timer and Display.

As you'd expect, there's a mode dial on the top alongside the shutter, zoom and (recessed) power button, plus a D-pad control with an ADJ/OK joystick to the right of the LCD display and just above the playback button. The rechargeable battery compartment and SD card holder is in the base and for some unfathomable reason the tripod mount is set well off centre.

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A more detailed glance at the mode dial and menu lists reveals some of the new features. The continuous shooting options are the most noticeable. Using the normal mode dial setting you can have smooth 4 frames/sec results, but using the Menu settings you can expand that via M-Cont Plus to 30 frames/sec or via Speed Cont to an amazing 120 frames/sec; ideal for all those sporting events.

The other mode dial setting that may be unfamiliar to you is Dynamic Range. Thanks to the new engine and sensor you now have a feature called Double Shot mode which takes two high-speed consecutive shots with different exposures and then combines the optimum levels in each image to make a ‘best' finished photo with a higher dynamic range than you'd usually get with one shot. By altering the expansion effect from weak to strong, you can modify the range of brightness that can be processed by the camera.

In a similar vein, the new multi-pattern auto white balance function adjusts the white balance to accommodate different light sources in separate areas of the image, thus overcoming strong contrasts in light and shadow, flash and natural light.

The AF has also been beefed up, with a multi-target option where seven focal distances are automatically detected and then shot consecutively, shifting the focus to each point. An electronic level also helps you prevent horizons and buildings from tilting when taking the shot, but if you still get it wrong then the Skew Correction ability lets you correct this during playback.

The quality of the images is sharp and the colours authentic and vibrant, although it would have been good to have more Scene mode varieties apart from the standard Portrait, Landscape, Sports and Night (Text and High Sensitivity are welcome additions).

Relative beginners will also appreciate the Easy mode which takes most of the micro-management burden off you, as well as the two custom settings where you can store your optimal configurations.

Ricoh has managed to pack a lot under the stylish hood of the CX1, including some welcome new features like very high-speed continuous shooting and increased dynamic range, plus multi-targeting AF and WB.