Ricoh FF-1 - so good I bought a second one

[Huss]

I've gone through (still have) a bunch of super compact 35mm scale focus cameras.
I've settled on the Ricoh FF1 as my favourite. Superb handling, excellent single stroke film winding, super easy to use, excellent meter and fantastic lens.
I like it so much I bought another just to have one for each hand...

Shot using Fuji C200:





And here it is on top of a regular size camera....

 

[Huss]

These pics are pin sharp. The super crappy Flickr algorithm removes that when posted..

 

[p.giannakis]

I always liked the Ricoh lenses. I have quite a few good pics from a 500G and then I got a pancake 50f/2 for peanuts that stayed for years on a Pentax ME. Lovely optics and very cheap.

 

[Huss]

Ricoh FF1, Lomo Berlin Kino 400, Z7 scan

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Are they as “reliable” as famous Ricoh in real use? Minox and Oly aren’t due to tiny electronics age.

 

[Huss]

Are they as “reliable” as famous Ricoh in real use? Minox and Oly aren’t due to tiny electronics age.

I have no idea. But I hope so! They are very nicely made, the one "issue" is that the VFs become a little hazy - just like my M4-2 (which I cleaned). No hints anywhere how to open up the camera so I have not bothered as it works fine and does not effect actual shooting. Plus I'd hate for something to break while a cleaning attempt is made.

 

[Jeremy Z]

These pics are pin sharp. The super crappy Flickr algorithm removes that when posted..

I think it might be your settings in Flickr. When I click on the pix here, it takes me to a Flickr page that says the pix are private.

I have mine set so that when someone clicks on them, they're viewed full size, but right-click downloading is not allowed. Does it work for you when you click an image of mine? (just checking, in case it doesn't work like I think it's working...)

By the way, if you haven't already, click the little switch to try Flickr Beta; it is a lot better than the previous version, and not buggy at all.

PC052580 by Jeremy, on Flickr

 

[Godfrey]

I think it might be your settings in Flickr. When I click on the pix here, it takes me to a Flickr page that says the pix are private.

I have mine set so that when someone clicks on them, they're viewed full size, but right-click downloading is not allowed. Does it work for you when you click an image of mine? (just checking, in case it doesn't work like I think it's working...)

By the way, if you haven't already, click the little switch to try Flickr Beta; it is a lot better than the previous version, and not buggy at all.

https://flic.kr/p/2hVzc4P

I found the same thing: Huss' photos are private and only a specific rendering resolution is posted, so whatever RFF's imaging is set to affects their quality. Yours work fine. 🙂

This Ricoh FF-1 seems to be identical in almost every way to my Minox GT-E. Sheesh, I haven't had that camera out for a shoot in years! I remember it being a great pocketable with a superb lens, used to carry it a lot. Perhaps I'll drag it out for a walk.

...Yeah yeah, I say that all the time. There are simply too many cameras in my closet and not enough days to walk! LOL!!!

G

 

[Huss]

I found the same thing: Huss' photos are private and only a specific rendering resolution is posted, so whatever RFF's imaging is set to affects their quality. Yours work fine. 🙂

This Ricoh FF-1 seems to be identical in almost every way to my Minox GT-E. Sheesh, I haven't had that camera out for a shoot in years! I remember it being a great pocketable with a superb lens, used to carry it a lot. Perhaps I'll drag it out for a walk.

...Yeah yeah, I say that all the time. There are simply too many cameras in my closet and not enough days to walk! LOL!!!

G

It is very similar to the Minox, but it has nice differences like a single stroke film winder, sweet big shutter release. And it works!

Interestingly if you put anything in the hot shoe, it pushes down a switch that activates the 1/60 sec flash sync speed. A well regarded Youtube reviewer Eduardo Pavez Goy tested it, did not realize that , put a GoPro in the hot shoe, and all his shots in his review came out overexposed!
He thought the camera was broken. I like Eduardo and he is a really smart guy (just got his pHD ), but I'm not sure why he doesn't just google the owner's manuals before he reviews cameras. Instead of winging it.

I'll have to look into my Flickr settings.

 

[Huss]

Shot on Lomo Berlin 400

 

[Godfrey]

It is very similar to the Minox, but it has nice differences like a single stroke film winder, sweet big shutter release. And it works!

Interestingly if you put anything in the hot shoe, it pushes down a switch that activates the 1/60 sec flash sync speed. A well regarded Youtube reviewer Eduardo Pavez Goy tested it, did not realize that , put a GoPro in the hot shoe, and all his shots in his review came out overexposed!
He thought the camera was broken. I like Eduardo and he is a really smart guy (just got his pHD ), but I'm not sure why he doesn't just google the owner's manuals before he reviews cameras. Instead of winging it.

I'll have to look into my Flickr settings.

The Minox 35GT-E has essentially the same things ... both with the hot shoe and the film wind (it's a knurled thumbwheel wind, IIRC; I can wind a frame with one swipe of my thumb if I position it right). The Minox has a nice "+1.5 EV" switch, very convenient. Never saw anything wrong with the shutter release on the Minox so I don't know that that's very significant.

The Minox is a great little camera, I'm sure the Ricoh is too. I also have the copy stand and close up lens for the Minox, very handy to capture a Polaroid or other small image with onto 35mm film. (Now, how often do I need that nowadays...? LOL!)

I think I'll dig out the Minox today and load it with some Ferrania P30, just for the lark of it. 😀

G

 

[Huss]

I really wanted a Minox 35 which started me down this path. At the time I had not even heard of the Ricoh. But after reading so many horror stories about them failing I gave up on that plan.

Here's RRF's own Giganova's account of it:

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2928381&postcount=112

All 10 that he owned failed..

I'm glad that yours works G - I actually bought the lens in a hacked LTM mount and use it on my Bessa L.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

The Minox 35ML has program AE and aperture preferred AE modes.
LEDs in finder show shutter speed selected by camera.

The Ricoh FF-1 has program AE only. Manual aperture selection is for flash only.
Single LED only indicates slow shutter speed/shake warning for speed <1/30.

I have two Minox 35ML cameras. The shutter on one failed years ago. DAG fixed it.
They are great true pocket cameras. Image quality is excellent.

I had a Ricoh FF-1. Images were properly exposed but never super sharp.
I dropped it on soft sand on the beach at Fort Tilden. The shutter never fired again.
I was unable to find a repairer. I have a Sears mini 35 aka Ricoh FF-1s somewhere.

Chris

 

[Godfrey]

I really wanted a Minox 35 which started me down this path. At the time I had not even heard of the Ricoh. But after reading so many horror stories about them failing I gave up on that plan.

Here's RRF's own Giganova's account of it:

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2928381&postcount=112

All 10 that he owned failed..

I'm glad that yours works G
...

I've had three Minox 35s over the years ... one the original 35EL, then a 35MX, and the current 35GT-E. All have worked perfectly. The first two were bought used and just succumbed to the usual "sell it to buy something else" thing. The 35GT-E I bought new in the middle 1990s.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. 😀

G

 

[Huss]

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. 😀

G

I dunno. Chris above u had one fail. Gig had 10 fail. I think Raid had one fail. And that’s just on this site! All were shutter failures.
On apug/photrio the pattern is the same. As on the flickr group. etc etc.

 

[Huss]

I had a Ricoh FF-1. Images were properly exposed but never super sharp.
I dropped it on soft sand on the beach at Fort Tilden. The shutter never fired again.
I was unable to find a repairer. I have a Sears mini 35 aka Ricoh FF-1s somewhere.

Chris

Luckily both mine are super sharp. Pics above.. 😉 (And much sharper looking at the actual files not contaminated by Flickr).

If you find your Sears Mini, and it works, let me know. Perhaps we can work something out.

 

[Huss]

Just did a search for Minox 35 on ebay. Out of about 90 results, only 3 or 4 claim to be working.

ergo my discovery and v happy use of the Ricoh!

Ricoh FF-1, Fuji C200, negativelabpro.com



And 1:1 crop in case anyone thinks this lens isn't sharp! Check out the girl's braids.

 

[Axel]

We have had three Minox 35 during their lifetime in the 70s/80s in our family. All had failures
sooner or later. I think that it is the right decision to get a Ricoh today.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have one Minox 35 crapped out as soon as I started to use it and received one as parts in the plastic bag after it crapped out with another user, after actual use. But it might work for some who used it just once a year...ten years ago.

 

[giganova]

You never hear of FF failing because nobody has them 😀