Ricoh AD-1

allmotionisrelative · Oct 31, 2022

Hello all,
I normally shoot with medium format but a mate of mine is trying to unload some 35mm and I can't resist. He's got 2 that I'm interested in: a Ricoh AD-1 and a Ricoh ff-1.

I did a search on the forum and nothing came up for the AD-1. Is it junk? I saw a few comments about the ff-1 and people seem to like that camera.

Any thoughts on either? Just looking at it as a very portable pocket point and shoot for street and urban life photography. Both are very low priced but I'd like to only get one so if there's any pros/cons to share, please do. Thanks!

Autonerd · Oct 31, 2022

Wow! Interesting little cameras that I knew nothing about. Unfortunately (and obviously) I can't offer much on these particular cameras, but I can say good things about Ricoh -- I own several of their SLRs from the late-70s era and I find them to be great cameras, unrefined but very robust and with good lenses. The 35/2.8 on those cameras looks pretty good.

I personally don't go much for point-and-shoots, but I have one favorite which is the Pentax PC35AF. It also has a 35mm f/2.8 lens, and it's very small and fairly quiet. It's a manual-wind camera and they sell a motor-drive version (PC35AF-M) which I have not tried. You should be able to find a working one in the $50-$75 range.

Aaron

gkardmw · Oct 31, 2022

I just recently acquired the FF-1. It is very reminiscent of the Minox GT; it is very small and light. It should be pocketable. Mine has meters marked off instead of feet but there is a conversion chart on the flap that folds down so it is not a big deal. The shutter release cable screws into the camera next to the shutter button instead of directly into it. Hot shoe. Takes 2 common button batteries (A76). The shutter is pretty quiet. You can use automatic or aperture priority. A common problem I have read about is fog in the viewfinder. A nice portable camera all in all.

Dave

AgX · Oct 31, 2022

Isn't a Tessar-type of 35mm @ F2.8 @ full-format a bit far fetched? Even Zeiss only very late made such.

Aside of this I consider it an interesting camera, I would add to my heap, unless having to pay an unreasonable premium for that motordrive.

allmotionisrelative · Nov 1, 2022

gkardmw said:
I just recently acquired the FF-1. It is very reminiscent of the Minox GT; it is very small and light. It should be pocketable. Mine has meters marked off instead of feet but there is a conversion chart on the flap that folds down so it is not a big deal. The shutter release cable screws into the camera next to the shutter button instead of directly into it. Hot shoe. Takes 2 common button batteries (A76). The shutter is pretty quiet. You can use automatic or aperture priority. A common problem I have read about is fog in the viewfinder. A nice portable camera all in all.

Dave

Oh that's great to know. He asking a few quid and a flash I have. I take it that's a pretty good trade then, especially since I don't use the flash. Thanks am gonna go with the FF-1!

allmotionisrelative · Nov 1, 2022

AgX said:
Isn't a Tessar-type of 35mm @ F2.8 @ full-format a bit far fetched? Even Zeiss only very late made such.

Aside of this I consider it an interesting camera, I would add to my heap, unless having to pay an unreasonable premium for that motordrive.

He's asking for a few quid and an old flash I have. I'm not sure re: Tessar-type; I'll give it a whirl and see what the results are. Can't be awful, I'd think.

Bushcat · Nov 1, 2022

Ricoh Imaging lists all its cameras going way back. The AD-1 was released July 1979. Ricoh comments that date setting had to be done manually, since this predates the quartz watch era. Other features are "the first continuous shooting function... (and)... has a date burning function."

Google Translate or your browser translate is probably your friend here: https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/ricoh-filmcamera/cameralist/ad-1.html

gkardmw · Nov 1, 2022

allmotionisrelative said:
Oh that's great to know. He asking a few quid and a flash I have. I take it that's a pretty good trade then, especially since I don't use the flash. Thanks am gonna go with the FF-1!

If I was you, yes, definitely make the trade. Check the viewfinder. It is one of those carry around cameras. Let us know how you like it.

AgX · Nov 1, 2022

allmotionisrelative said:
I'm not sure re: Tessar-type; I'll give it a whirl and see what the results are. Can't be awful, I'd think.

I am not sure either, but a Tessar-type is what you expect in that class. Not even sure whether that much later Zeiss Tessar I hinted at is a true Tessar...

Ricoh AD-1

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