Ricoh has long been one of the leading "secondary" manufacturers - like Konica, they have produced a wide range of cameras from point and shoots through SLRs, and Ricoh has even produced some medium format TLRs. For the most part, the Ricoh SLR systems have gained a good reputation as budget and student cameras and a cheap way to get into the Pentax-K mount.
Ricohs also have been known for resonable quality. In the case of the A-100 Super that I own, a repair tech informed me that the shutter used in the camera is the same Copal shutter Nikon used in the highly regarded FM. He also mentioned that while the shutter is top notch, the rest of the camera is primarily cheaper stamped parts and not as well built as a Pentax or other major brand. In all, the camera is a reasonable amateur model, and would work well for both students and normal amateur use.
Such is the case with most Ricoh SLRs - while not recommended for heavy usage or professional photography, they often perform well for student and amateur use. Prices for the cameras also tend to be quite reasonable, and combined with the wide availability of K-mount lenses makes them good options to consider for an inexpensive manual focus 35mm system.
At the present, I only have information on two Ricoh models. I will add more models as I find information and receive details from those people submitting camera information.
Ricoh XRP Multi=Program
- Aperature Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, and 3 Program Exposure modes.
- Pd = Distance Program (large depth of field for landscapes)
- P = Standard Program
- P? = ? Program
- Electronically controlled speeds from 16 sec to 1/2000 sec plus B on dial, will extend down to 30 sec on program modes.
- Flash sync at 1/125 sec
- Adjustable Self-Timer
- Takes all Pentax K-mount lenses
- Optional Motor winder available.
Ricoh A-100 Super
- Aperature Priority and Manual Exposure modes.
- Electronically controlled shutter speeds from 16 sec to 1/1000 sec, plus B.
- Flash sync at 1/125 sec.
- +/- 2 stops exposure compensation, in 1/3 stop settings
- Self Timer (cancelable)
- Motor winder capable
- Repair tech I spoke with mentioned this camera was exactly the same as the KR-5 Super
- Button the front of the camera activates the metering w/o pressing shutter release.
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