Ricoh KR-5 III?

[Visionist]

I can get this camera for a pretty good price with a Pentax 50mm lens and I am wondering if it is a good camera, there doesn't seem to be much information available on it(though I did find a manual). This would be my first film camera, and my first slr camera in general as my current camera is a Fujifilm finepix s1600. I'm trying to move away from point and shoot but I can't afford a nice dslr right now and I find film to be very interesting. Does anyone have any input on this camera? Thanks!

Edit: I found these reviews here which seem to all be good for this camera: photographyreview.com/cat/cameras/film-cameras/35mm/ricoh/kr5-iii/prd_102957_3105crx.aspx
Are you sure you didn't just happen upon a few bad camera's bob?

 

[BobD]

My opinion:
Ricoh's later plastic-bodied SLRs like the KR-series had nice features but poor reliability.
In my experience, it's hard to find one that actually works these days. And, if you do find
one, chances are it won't be working for long.

A Pentax K1000 is a much more reliable camera which uses the same lenses as the
Ricoh and which has endured as one of the most popular student (or newby)
cameras of all time.

 

[pentax4ever]

My opinion? This camera looks to be a later version of the Ricoh KR-5 Super II. I have purchased two of the latter and both of them were functional with good mirror bumpers and light seals. I also have a XR-10 that was also functional and did not need new seals. If you can get it for a good price, then I would say check it out with batteries and if it is functional, go for it.

 

[Visionist]

Well it would only be 20$ or so, I bought a Minolta XG-1 that stopped working before I could even get to take any shots with it, so I'm hoping that the Ricoh would work.

 

[Roger Cole]

It's worth $20 if it's in decent shape.

I had an XR-7 I bought in college shortly after they came out and used, sometimes heavily, sometimes (like the previous 10 years) not at all, until last year when the rewind knob broke. The rest of the camera is still fine (I did have the light seals replaced once.) I bought another off eBay for $25 with a junk lens. It's my second body and I do use it a fair amount.

In my defense I'll add that my primary 35mm body is a Pentax LX. ;-) Still, while it's a plastic toy in comparison to the solid and well built Pentax, it is nice to use and has some good features.

 

[Visionist]

It's worth $20 if it's in decent shape.

I had an XR-7 I bought in college shortly after they came out and used, sometimes heavily, sometimes (like the previous 10 years) not at all, until last year when the rewind knob broke. The rest of the camera is still fine (I did have the light seals replaced once.) I bought another off eBay for $25 with a junk lens. It's my second body and I do use it a fair amount.

In my defense I'll add that my primary 35mm body is a Pentax LX. ;-) Still, while it's a plastic toy in comparison to the solid and well built Pentax, it is nice to use and has some good features.

Then again, the list is large of SLR's that pale in comparison to the Pentax LX

 

[Visionist]

My opinion:
Ricoh's later plastic-bodied SLRs like the KR-series had nice features but poor reliability.
In my experience, it's hard to find one that actually works these days. And, if you do find
one, chances are it won't be working for long.

A Pentax K1000 is a much more reliable camera which uses the same lenses as the
Ricoh and which has endured as one of the most popular student (or newby)
cameras of all time.

I ended up getting a k1000 instead for 40$(56$ shipped) with a 50mm 1:2 lens and a case . I lost the auction for the Ricoh(Could have gotten it, but didn't feel confident enough spending more than 20$ with such little info available online for it)and after your post I researched the k1000 and found it to be a really great camera. I can't wait for it to get here!

 

[Nikon Collector]

I have several Ricohs, but none as new as the one you're asking about. I also have a K1000. The XR Ricohs I have are far superior to the Pentax. The K1000 made in Japan was a fine camera, later they were made in China and less well made, the newer ones are made in Korea and are junk.

 

[Roger Cole]

I have several Ricohs, but none as new as the one you're asking about. I also have a K1000. The XR Ricohs I have are far superior to the Pentax. The K1000 made in Japan was a fine camera, later they were made in China and less well made, the newer ones are made in Korea and are junk.

My issue with the K1000, even the very first Japanese ones, is the lack of depth of field preview. To me that's an essential function that they're lacking.