Ricoh appeared to be going through a period of supreme corporate indecision when they built this camera. Take a look at the front side...shaved (beveled) corners. Take a look at the back side...corners at right angles. I don't mind telling you that is one of the things that aliens are really going to find perplexing when they get here. The viewfinder. Top? Bottom? Well, doggone it, we just couldn't decide so we built it with both. Aliens are REALLY going to be struggle with this concept (especially since they'll already know we had 2 eyes). The meter...well, they included spot and averaging, and that's a good thing. The meter switch is a little wonky, though. You first must turn it on using a fairly recalcitrant switch on the left side of the lens mount hub...but then it won't meter until you cock the camera. ??? Why didn't they just automatically turn on the meter when you cock the camera or push slightly on the shutter button? Well, once again, they probably just couldn't decide. And then you have under the rewind knob what I'll call the "ring of confusion"...which for you students of lens design is a completely different thing than the "circle of confusion." Here's how the "ring of confusion" (or r.o.c. as I'm going to refer to it from now on) works: You load the camera with film. Then you move the r.o.c to your choice of the following settings: B&W, T-Color-D, or Empty. Does the ring do anything? Nope, it has no connection to the workings of the camera at all. And what if you or someone else turns it absent-mindedly (or as a prank) to a different setting after you've set it? Well, I suspect Ricoh took this into consideration. They didn't want to be the only ones in a quandary, so they made sure to include you. Once that ring is turned, you'll have no idea at all what is in the camera (if anything). Did I load it? Should I open it and risk ruining the film? Or should I just merrily act like I'm taking pictures and see what happens later? Then there is a red or green dot on the top of the camera. Let's say you pick the camera up and can't remember if you've cocked it. What does green mean? Ok to cock it? Ok to take a picture? What does red mean? Danger...don't press the shutter button because the camera is cocked? Or hey, dummy, the camera isn't cocked yet? And how about that lens on top of the prism? Does that let light run into there and affect the meter reading when it is open? What do you think?
Gee, I've done a bang-up job of selling this one, haven't I? Well, all in all it is an interesting camera and this one could be used as a camera if it were not for the mirror...it is broken and this does seem to affect the ability to focus. And while we're talking about that mirror, you need to know the meter sensor is right behind it, so when you get ready to replace it, you'll need to use semi-silvered glass. More indecision...mirror or half-mirror? I get the mental image of a group of engineers scurrying around like ants who can't find their home wearing bracelets egraved WWND (What Would Nikon Do?).
The body is not in bad condition...couple of bumps and dings, but maybe you could fix them, and they might not matter much anyhow. Lens? Couldn't say for sure. A Vivitar 50mm 1.9 which could be ok or not. Focus is smooth, but the rubber ring looks like it was made out of mousepad material which was measured by a caveman whose complete vocabulary consisted of "ugh" and whose toolkit consisted of one stick and one rock. But the shutter works fine at all speeds, and the action is smooth (a little loud, though). When I fired the shutter, birds in the next block left the telephone wires and two policeman drew their weapons.
The meter does work, but I couldn't say how accurate it is.
$5 plus the cost of postage for this parts camera.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Jon
Gee, I've done a bang-up job of selling this one, haven't I? Well, all in all it is an interesting camera and this one could be used as a camera if it were not for the mirror...it is broken and this does seem to affect the ability to focus. And while we're talking about that mirror, you need to know the meter sensor is right behind it, so when you get ready to replace it, you'll need to use semi-silvered glass. More indecision...mirror or half-mirror? I get the mental image of a group of engineers scurrying around like ants who can't find their home wearing bracelets egraved WWND (What Would Nikon Do?).
The body is not in bad condition...couple of bumps and dings, but maybe you could fix them, and they might not matter much anyhow. Lens? Couldn't say for sure. A Vivitar 50mm 1.9 which could be ok or not. Focus is smooth, but the rubber ring looks like it was made out of mousepad material which was measured by a caveman whose complete vocabulary consisted of "ugh" and whose toolkit consisted of one stick and one rock. But the shutter works fine at all speeds, and the action is smooth (a little loud, though). When I fired the shutter, birds in the next block left the telephone wires and two policeman drew their weapons.
The meter does work, but I couldn't say how accurate it is.
$5 plus the cost of postage for this parts camera.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Jon
