Ricoh 300

In 1958, together with the high-end Ricoh 500, Ricoh introduced the mid-tier Ricoh 300. I say mid-tier and not entry-level, as the 300 has what an advanced hobbyist would ask for, yet no fancy frills.

While the 500 was aimed to compete with the German cameras, The 300 is typical Japanese hardware, not much different from other compact rangefinder 35mm models of the late 1950s. I guess the name reflects the maximum speed of the camera, 300, whereas the Ricoh 500 had a maximum speed of 500.

A second model followed three teas later, the Ricoh 300 S, a plain, vanilla camera, keeping all the 300 features in a more modern package.

Today, both variants are slow sellers and fetch meagre values. Only a few show up for sale, and hardly any change hands. It is either not many that were made or perhaps only a few that have survived to date.

The camera has dropped all the features that stand out in the Ricoh 500. It borrows much from the Ricoh 35, in an updated envelope. The winder is a traditional top-mounted lever, unlike the elaborate bottom-mounted of the 500. The frame counter takes a manual reset, and the back door is hinged.

All the settings are on the lens assembly. The first dial on the assembly is the distance, marked feet, hinting at the target market. Next is the aperture dial, and the shutter speed dial is at the front. Synch speed is marked as 50, with a graph showing the capabilities of M, F, and X bulbs marked by the speed dial.

The lens is the same as on the Ricoh 500, a Rikenon 2.8/45. The viewer is large and bright, better than what was common then. No self-timer.

My camera looks excellent, with no dings, rust or scratches; the skin is intact. On the more important front, operationally, only the aperture dial is receptive; the rest is stuck solid. I will set it aside for dissection when time permits.

For the collector, there is no significance. It is a boring camera that does not stand out in design, features, or history.