Ricoh S-2. Anyone familiar with it?

EdColorado · Aug 7, 2015

I just finished working on this one and it seems like a pretty nice camera. A Ricoh S-2. I think its a late 50's model but its the only camera to date I've not been able to find on the internet. I cant find anything at all except a couple of old Ebay auctions. Does anyone know anything about these, or know of a web site with information?

It was dirty and needed the shutter cleaned. I also cleaned and lubed the winding/shutter cocking mechanism and adjusted the rangefinder. Hopefully I'll get some film through it soon to see how it does.

cuthbert · Aug 8, 2015

It looks like a pretty camera, I never heard about it, does it work fine?

David Lyga · Aug 8, 2015

DeColorado: You certainly will not have any problems with the lens on this one. But ... after all these years make certain to determine if what APPEARS to be in focus (VF alignment) actually IS in focus (actual negative: film plane).

For too many people, the VF is the ONLY test given and, oftentimes, a wrong conclusion is made about lens resolution. You probably already cleaned the VF area when you removed the top. But this extra test is essential if you wish to truly enjoy its glories. Japan was ignorant of how to make a bad rangefinder camera. - David Lyga

Richard S. (rich815) · Aug 8, 2015

I have a Ricoh 519 which is quite similar. Nice cameras.

EdColorado · Aug 8, 2015

cuthbert said:
It looks like a pretty camera, I never heard about it, does it work fine?

It seems to work fine but with the exception of a intermittent sticky shutter. I thought I had it cleaned out but then the next day it was sticking again. Problem is I don't have a long enough spanner wrench to get in the back and completely remove the lens so I'm flush cleaning it from the front. I flushed it again last night... we'll see. If it still sticks then it will wait until my longer spanner is here and I can fully disassemble the shutter. Otherwise, its in great shape.

If anyone knows how to get it all apart from the front I'm all ears!

EdColorado · Aug 8, 2015

David Lyga said:
DeColorado: You certainly will not have any problems with the lens on this one. But ... after all these years make certain to determine if what APPEARS to be in focus (VF alignment) actually IS in focus (actual negative: film plane).

For too many people, the VF is the ONLY test given and, oftentimes, a wrong conclusion is made about lens resolution. You probably already cleaned the VF area when you removed the top. But this extra test is essential if you wish to truly enjoy its glories. Japan was ignorant of how to make a bad rangefinder camera. - David Lyga

Yep, your right David. I check all my cameras with a ground glass on the film plane. I set this one and then noticed that the rangefinder didn't agree with infinity focus so I gave it a quick tweak. On these old rangefinders I just make the assumption that they've taken enough hits over the years that the rangefinder is going to be off. That's the next step on an otherwise working but dirty Retina II I'm working on. Everything works but I'll put it on the collimator and probably have to make a few adjustments.

GRHazelton · Aug 8, 2015

I remember these from my teenage years. IIRC the 519 mentioned by Richard has a f1.9 lens. I'd be happy to find a clean working example of one of these.

Richard S. (rich815) · Aug 8, 2015

GRHazelton said:
I remember these from my teenage years. IIRC the 519 mentioned by Richard has a f1.9 lens. I'd be happy to find a clean working example of one of these.

Right you are, also has the "teeter-totter" double focus knobs, otherwise quite similar looking. Mine the focus is quite stuff but useable. Ricoh lenses are no slouch performers, I'll bet this S-2 makes wonderful images.

GRHazelton · Aug 8, 2015

"Teeter=totter focus" A good description. My brother had a Ricoh Diacord TLR with auto film stop, manual shutter cocking (!) and a fine f3.5 lens. It had the same sort of focusing arrangement, so one could focus with either hand. Excellent idea, perhaps even better than the Minolta Autocord. Sadly his was in the truck with their furnishings which was stolen on their move to Chicago.....

Ricoh S-2. Anyone familiar with it?

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