Ricoh auto 35

david baugh · Mar 19, 2021

This is a fixed focus lens auto exposure 35mm viewfinder camera. It can however be used manually with a bit of fiddling.

Its a quirky camera and was a departure from the usual Japanese fare. It had a "Triggermatic" film advance located at the base of the camera and the shutter release on the lens barrel.

Huss · Mar 19, 2021

That looks like a stripped down version of the stunning Zorki 10, which also had zone focusing.

Donald Qualls · Mar 19, 2021

Huss said:
That looks like a stripped down version of the stunning Zorki 10, which also had zone focusing.

As he said early in the video, the Zorki 10 was actually copied from this camera.

Huss · Mar 19, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
As he said early in the video, the Zorki 10 was actually copied from this camera.

Ahh, I was werkin and couldn't watch the vid.

Donald Qualls · Mar 20, 2021

And with zone focusing, the Zorki 10 is also somewhat similar to an Olympus Trip. Auto exposure with limited shutter speed options, little or no manual control of exposure, in a compact, just about pocketable form factor -- but way cheaper to build than something like a Rollei 35.

Huss · Mar 20, 2021

I wanted one. But pretty much all out there are either 'untested, don't know how...' or 'meter does not work'.
Which is the same thing. As the camera is AE meter dependent, it ruled it out for me.

Donald Qualls · Mar 21, 2021

I can understand that. There surely are some with meters that still work -- I've got an Olympus Pen EES-2 with a working meter (auto exposure works just like a Trip 35 -- same camera only half frame), two Kiev 4 with working meters, and couple old light meters with selenium cells that are still accurate. But with a trap-needle setup, and having to jump through so many hoops to get any kind of manual exposure control (or permanent modification to the camera, as is possible with the Trip 35 and Pen EE family -- and those are only two-speed shutters anyway), it's probably easier to look for an actual manual or manual-option camera, or one with a battery dependent meter with silicon or CdS cell that can be replaced/repaired if needed.

david baugh · Mar 21, 2021

Here's an image from the brochure of the self timer attached to the camera. I've tried to find one but, as expected none for sale. I suspect they are probably 10 or more times the price of the camera..........just like the Konica X-14 flash I looked at.......£8.50 for the Konica C35automatic and £124 for the flash.

Donald Qualls · Mar 22, 2021

An Autoknips or similar should also work, since that appears to be a standard cable release socket.

Ricoh auto 35

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