Ricoh R1

David Hughes

David Hughes

David Hughes
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Hi,

Can anyone tell me anything about this camera? I've done the usual searches but nothing much has come up, apart from a lot of batteries for a similarly named digital one. Mostly I'd like opinions of it.

Regards, David
 
I have one, David. A thrift store find for 2 dollars. It's a beat-up "user" but the price was right. Build quality is fine but I think Stylus Epics are alot more robust. I actually dropped it days ago directly on some large rocks - direct hit. After cursing out loud, I picked up the ejected battery and pushed a plastic tab back into place on the bottom of the camera. Finished it's second roll no problem.

First roll of Walgreens 800 color film was good. I will post some pics once I figure out the best way. Can flikr be used as URL?

Anyway, the 30mm MACRO mode is really nice but the 24mm (f8 only) mode automatically puts you in "pano" mode that can be bypassed by an easily reversible mod. Expected light fall off in the corners as well as sharpness for the 24mm. Higher end point & shoot features are:
  • remote capable
  • self timer
  • night time flash sync
  • infinity focus mode (very nice)
  • flash "off" control
. . . only problem is the slight shutter lag, other than that it's a stealthy little thing. As an eyeglass wearer, the viewfinder is just OK and the autofocus is actually very good for me.

I'm hoping to find a "minty" example at a garage sale this summer - they're nice little (slippery)😱 cameras with the Ricoh "flavor".
 
btgc said:
Don't you use google to search? 🙂

http://classicameras.blogspot.com/2009/02/ricoh-r1.html

At 24mm setting it's said to be not very good, also vignetting.

AKA Rollei Prego Micron.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I spent about an hour looking at the Google search results and found very little, except batteries for the digital version and the digital version as well.

Anyway, your suggested page was nowhere to be seen and I tried several variations on the basic search.

Thanks also for the info about the Rollei version. I've now killed two birds with one stone.

Regards, David
 
driver said:
I have one, David. A thrift store find for 2 dollars. It's a beat-up "user" but the price was right. Build quality is fine but I think Stylus Epics are alot more robust. I actually dropped it days ago directly on some large rocks - direct hit. After cursing out loud, I picked up the ejected battery and pushed a plastic tab back into place on the bottom of the camera. Finished it's second roll no problem.

First roll of Walgreens 800 color film was good. I will post some pics once I figure out the best way. Can flikr be used as URL?

Anyway, the 30mm MACRO mode is really nice but the 24mm (f8 only) mode automatically puts you in "pano" mode that can be bypassed by an easily reversible mod. Expected light fall off in the corners as well as sharpness for the 24mm. Higher end point & shoot features are:
  • remote capable
  • self timer
  • night time flash sync
  • infinity focus mode (very nice)
  • flash "off" control
. . . only problem is the slight shutter lag, other than that it's a stealthy little thing. As an eyeglass wearer, the viewfinder is just OK and the autofocus is actually very good for me.

I'm hoping to find a "minty" example at a garage sale this summer - they're nice little (slippery)😱 cameras with the Ricoh "flavor".
Click to expand...

Hi,

Thanks; that's very interesting. I shall now invest a little of my pension into a roll of film etc.

Mine was very a very unexpected find. I was going through the junk on a stall and found an empty camera case I wanted. Only this was inside it and £3 so I reckon a pound for the case and two for the camera. In a nice mint condition but - obviously - a little weird. The sprocket-less drive is very interesting and I am wondering if the gap between frames will slowly spread as the old Periflex did...

I wish I could answer your question about flikr in return.

Regards, David
 
David Hughes said:
The sprocket-less drive is very interesting and I am wondering if the gap between frames will slowly spread as the old Periflex did...
Click to expand...

I didn't know R1 has sprocket-less drive. Ricoh XR-X (aka XR-M) SLR uses that (based on IR-light/photodiode and electronics, counting 7 holes) and it delivers most even gaps between frames. As a consequnce one can not use sprocket-less film (movie stock?) in this cameras.
 
btgc said:
I didn't know R1 has sprocket-less drive. Ricoh XR-X (aka XR-M) SLR uses that (based on IR-light/photodiode and electronics, counting 7 holes) and it delivers most even gaps between frames. As a consequnce one can not use sprocket-less film (movie stock?) in this cameras.
Click to expand...
Hi,

If you look at the 4th picture down on that website you gave me a link to, it's fairly clear to see.

Out of curiosity I compared the width of the body beyond the hand-grip and it the same width as a commercial cassette. That's quite a design achievement in my book.

Regards, David
 
David Hughes said:
If you look at the 4th picture down on that website you gave me a link to, it's fairly clear to see.
Click to expand...

When you say, then right, it's visible from picture. I just have never paid attention to R1 in details.

Here's picture of XR-X, there's is little hump inside film chamber, containing optical unit to count perforation holes. R1 has different construction to save space.
 
Hi,

I'm impressed that the XR-X has 6 contacts for the DX readings. Not many have that.

Looking at the R1 and running a piece of 35mm film along the film guides I can see what might be an optical counter for the holes. In the 4th picture down where it is marked in red, it's by the left hand mark. To the left and the red mark's like this [ but it's very small, about 1mm square.

This camera gets more and more interesting. I shall have to move it into the "test with film" heap...

Regards, David
 
This manual displays early type of DX contacts, or it's technical drawing not photo. In life XR-X has 9 (right, nine) DX contacts. Here you can also see better film measuring unit.


Ricoh XR-X by Mario Groleau, on Flickr


Well, this is kind of offtopic, bet shows Ricoh is A COMPANY.
 
Marvelous slim design, yes, but be aware of the potential LCD display problem.
I've given up on my R1s, after its LCD stopped working And even the VF frameline faded away.
Then I came across a used Rollei Micron with good working LCD. Bought it (seemingly)cheap. Then months later when I want to test shooting with it, I found its LCD had died, too!
 
btgc said:
This manual displays early type of DX contacts, or it's technical drawing not photo. In life XR-X has 9 (right, nine) DX contacts. Here you can also see better film measuring unit.


Ricoh XR-X by Mario Groleau, on Flickr


Well, this is kind of offtopic, bet shows Ricoh is A COMPANY.
Click to expand...

This got me curious, so I popped open the back of my Fuji DL 100, the very first camera to read DX-encoded film, and it has two, count them, two, DX contacts. Of course, the only DX-encoded film made at the time of its production where Fuji 100 and 400 ASA films, so I suppose that was just what it needed.
 
Hi,

Six contacts is rare but 9 must be a record. But is there a camera with the full range of twelve out there?

BTW, the Ricoh has them in pairs and so I guess that identifies the bare metal without needing the earth contact...

As for the LCD, I guess I'll have to keep my fingers crossed.

Regards, David
 
Mike Butkus has the manual: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ricoh/ricoh_r1/r1-splash.htm

I have the R1s and I can never remember if the "s" just stands for "silver" or if there also were more meaningful differences between the versions.

Both the top LCD and framelines are dead on mine but IMO it's the kind of camera you take along for a quick shot just in case, not for optimum results. Not the fastest to start up and there is that shutter lag. I wouldn't bother with slower than 400 speed film.
 
I've owned two GR1v's in the past and never had a problem with the LCD. It was the last of the 35mm GR line, so maybe they had a more reliable LCD. That, or I was very lucky.
 
Hi,

I've just run a film through it and am very pleased with its behaviour, handling and - most important - the prints. 'though they managed to de-panorama some of them...

Regards, David
 
The R1 is an amazing little camera. The 30 mm lens is super sharp and contrasty, and the shutter is very silent. Light and slim enough to fit in any pocket. I took mine to India as a backup for my M6, and it certainly held up quality wise. Bold statement, but it's true. Mine even went underwater for few seconds once, and after a few days of drying, it was as good as new. Even the display.
The 24 mm lens is a fun feature, but its aperture is fixed at f8. You can disable the lame panorama curtains and get full frame 24 mm with a heavy vignette if that's your taste.
If you can find one at a good price, get it. You won't regret it.

Here's a sample:

scan114.jpg
 
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