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Ricoh XR-2s

Ricoh XR-2s

I bought this brand new Ricoh at Tradera. A Swedish "ebay". It came with a Ricoh XR Rikenon 50mm f2 standard lens: This is rumored to be one of the sharpest lenses ever made for 35mm cameras.

Ricoh XR-2s is a feature-packed K-mount SLR made by Ricoh It s very well-designed and has many nice and features (a multi-exposure device) that would make it a great body in a K-mount kit.
Quite obvious is that the quality of Ricoh cameras is better than expected according to their prices. The price/quality relation is far better than you may assume. Ricoh only lacks the highly affordable Brand name.

Ricoh Co., Ltd. is one of Japan's largest, experienced and diverse manufacturers. With over 16,000 employees in Japan and abroad, as well as overseas branches in the USA, Europe and Asia, Ricoh has the total capability to develop, produce and sell a wide range of products. Ricoh is perhaps best known for its advanced information handling systems. A full lint up of office automation that includes minicomputer data processors, word processing equipment, copying machines, a telephone facsimile transceiver, data retrieval equipment and more. Ricoh is also one of the largest producers of LSI circuits and other sophisticated electronics.

With this kind of technological expertise, it's not surprising that Ricoh also makes some of the world's finest photographic equipment. Ever since the introduction of the Olympic 35mm camera in 1938, Ricoh has been responsible for countless innovations and renowned for Total Quality Control. Chosen the official camera of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics

Specifications (2nd revised edition, thanks to Frank)

Film Format : 24mm x 36mm
Type: :TTL aperture-priority automatic exposure 35mm SLR camera
Lens mount : "K" type bayonet with 65deg rotating angle
Shutter : Vertically moving Copal CCS-E electronically controlled focal plane shutter. Automatic electronic shutter: continuously variable speeds from LT (approx. 8sec.) to 1/1000 sec. Manual mechanical shutter without batteries: "B" and "X" /1/90 sec.).
Synchronization : X type contact for electronic flash at "B" and "X" (1/90sec.) and 4sec. to 1/125 sec. Hot shoe.

Exposure meter: Three CdS photocells TTL full open metering for center weighted average light reading coupled to aperture-priority automatic exposure system. Coupling range EV 0 - 17 (ASA 100 film with 50mm f/1,4 lens).
Manual exposure : Manual electronic shutter: stepped speed from 4 to1/1000 sec.
Exposure compensation dial : + - 2EV (within the ASA film speed range)
Automatic Flash Control : With Ricoh Speedlite 240, set shutter speed dial at Auto, and it will set shutter speed 1/90 sec. automatically. Manually set the aperture ring to the same aperture set on flash.
Metering system : Full aperture center weighted metering.
Measuring range : EV0 - EV17 (ASA 100 with F 1.4 standard lens).

Light sensors : Three CdS photocells
Film speed Setting : ASA 12 - 3200, By lifting and rotating film speed dial.
Battery check : Ring around shutter release button.
Power source : Two 1.5V silver oxide batteries Eveready S-76 or equivalents or alkaline manganese batteries LR 44
Viewfinder : Fixed pentaprism type finder. Exposure meter needle (also battery checker), Shutter speed indicator and battery check zone.

Focusing : Diagonal split image spot in microprism band surrounded by fresnel field.
Finder view-field : 93% of actual picture area.
Viewfinder Magnification : 0.88 X at infinity with 50mm standard lens
Reflex mirror : Oversize, quick return type (without lockup).
Manual film advance : Lever type with 135° angle for one long stroke , pre-advance angle 40 °, Ricoh XR Winder .

Exposure counter : Progressive type with automatic reset.
Film rewind : Rewind crank
Self-timer : ~ 15sec. delay mechanical self timer.
Camera back : Removable hinge type, with memo holder. Interchangeable with Data Back
Weight : 560g (20 oz.), body alone
Dimensions : 139,9 x 91,3 x 48mm, body alone

©2004 Reijo Lauro