Ricoh XR 7 shutter

Good afternoon ladies and gents!

I have come into possession of a Ricoh XR 7. When I first got the camera, the camera had been left wound for an undetermined amount of time. After getting batteries, the shutter clicked right away, and every time thereafter the meter works as well. I loaded up a roll of film, and put the camera in the camera bag until my next outing. Fast forward two weeks to this Saturday. I took the camera out to shoot some, and when the lens cap off, the meter would not turn on until wasting the first shot. Just lightly pressing the shutter button was not enough. I wound almost half the roll through after that first shot because the [whatever] that stops you from winding because the camera is ready to take a picture didn't work until picture 20. So I took pictures until I ran out. Then I rewound the film and took pictures from one to nineteen.

I put another roll in the Camera. Again the meter did not register until I shot the first picture. But this time the winder worked correctly. However on picture four the camera locked up. The viewfinder was dark. I rewound the film, and took it out of the camera. The shutter is closed. Removing the lens showed that the mirror is in the up position. No amount of fiddling would get anything to happen. I have removed the batteries, and placed the camera back in the cabinet.

Sorry for the novel, but I have tried to cover anything that I believe might be relevant to the problem. Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

Thank you.
Eric

I have a Sears KS-2, which is a rebranded Ricoh XR-7, and had similar issues.

For the meter, try pressing the front "Exposure Indicator Switch" - the long vertical button on the front, just below the red LED. If you've not yet found a manual, here is a link for reference:
If that doesn't work, you could do a work-around by firing the first shot with the lens cap on, then hold the Multiple Exposure "ME" lock lever on the back (below the winding lever) so you can cock the shutter by winding but not advancing the film.


Be careful, and don't poke at the shutter. I've had the shutter stick and mirror stay up too. At one point I removed the bottom plate of the camera and found a large amount of lint that I carefully clean out.

However, for me, it turned out the issue was the foam light seals on the back had degraded and a piece got in between the shutter blades. If this is the problem, you may notice your light seals are deteriorating, but it will be very difficult to see where anything may be sticking to the shutter.
It only takes one tiny little sticky piece to cause this issue.

After letting it sit for a few days, try firing the shutter without film to see if it works. Often the foam will release (if this is indeed the issue).
If it turns out to be the foam, the best thing to do is carefully remove the old foam light seals and replace them.

This forum has a number of generic threads on replacing degraded light seals - try the search engine. People have used various replacement foams. I used cotton yarn (from a craft store) carefully tacked into the channels with contact cement - someone also had a thread about this. I used a thick piece of felt to replace the foam at the edge of the door.


I'm not sure about the winding-on issue. Check the bottom of the camera and make sure the "Film Rewind Release" button is not stuck. It disengages the film transport - it should be sticking out when you're taking pictures, and you push it in to rewind. Also make sure the Multiple Exposure "ME" lock is not stuck. You might try "exercising" them a bit. Just fiddle with them for a while and see if they'll move more freely.


There are many versions of the basic camera design in several brands (Ricoh & Sears at least). Some only have auto mode (aperture priority) and no options, but most of the internal components are identical. You can pick them up cheap to use for parts if you need to replace something. Make sure you get compatible parts-cameras, though. Somewhere on the internet is a page cross-referencing them, but unfortunately I lost the link.

First, if you haven't already, make sure the batteries are good (they should last more than one roll of film, but were they new batteries?).

Second -- I can't remember if the XR-7 requires the film winding lever to be popped out into the "stand-off" position for the meter to work. (I have a few old Ricohs but only one with the "newer" meter button on the front, which I assume you tried pressing).

Third -- I have had this stuck-shutter issue, and I found that by taking off the bottom plate and poking around a bit, I was able to get it to re-set. I don't remember exactly what I poked at, but playing with the winder, shutter button, etc., I was able to get a feel for how things worked. I think I saw some articles online telling me what to poke and prod. I'm away from home so can't do much searching at the moment.

Ricohs are great SLRs, cheap and (relatively) durable. My XR-2s is one of my go-to travel cameras. GOOD LUCK and I hope you can get it fixed. If you can't, remember that the Sears KS-2 is the same camera and probably sells a little cheaper. Personally I prefer the XR-2 (KS Auto) -- I prefer the match-needle meter to the LCDs in the newer cameras.

Aaron

Truzi and Aaron;

Hello, and thank you for responding.

I had not pressed the exposure indicator switch. Heck I didn't even know what that lever was, as I had not gotten a manual for the camera yet. Ha!
So thank you for the link.

The batteries are brand new, and the battery compartment is very clean, so this area should not be a problem.

I am not sure I understand what "standoff position" means, nor where the meter button is, unless that is the exposure indicator switch?

I will check the seals a little closer than my initial cursory check. I have replaced seals before and also used yarn (old Kodaks) as well, I will also be careful around the shutter blades. Thank you for that caveat.

I used the multiple exposure switch after shooting once with the lens cap on to see if the meter would turn on (it did) without wasting the film. But did not double check the rewind button on the bottom. I will do so this weekend when I get time to get the camera back out.

I will also be taking the bottom off the camera to have a little look-see. Maybe I have a dust bunny causing an issue.

Aaron, everything I have read about the Ricoh agrees with your assessment of the camera in general, and I remain hopeful that I can rectify this problem. One of the nice things about the Ricoh, is that it can use the lenses from my K1000SE.

Thank you both again for your help.

Eric

Eric the Red said:

I am not sure I understand what "standoff position" means, nor where the meter button is, unless that is the exposure indicator switch?

Click to expand...

Disclaimer: I'm away from home and can't pick up my KR-10 Super (a simpler version of the XR-7). Also, I'm not sure this is relevant -- I believe Truzi is correct, and you need to press that vertical bar on the left side (as you look at the front of the camera) to turn the meter on.

On older Ricohs (XR-2, KR-10, etc) when the film advance (winding) lever is all the way in (towards the camera) it locks the shutter button and disables the meter. To use the camera, you have to pop the lever out slightly to one of two "stand-off" positions. (There are two detents, and as far as I know they do the same thing.) Some Pentax K/M-series cameras work the same way. I cannot remember if post-'82 Ricohs (like yours) have this feature, though.

Eric the Red said:

One of the nice things about the Ricoh, is that it can use the lenses from my K1000SE.

Click to expand...

Agreed! That's one of the many things I like about Ricohs. As mentioned, I'm on a trip right now, and I've taken my Sears KS Auto (XR-2s) with Pentax lenses.

Aaron