Ricoh Auto 35 / Auto 35-V

Ricoh had their cameras offered in bunches. Models in case: Ricoh Auto 35 and the Ricoh Auto 35-V, both viewfinders described here, complemented with the Japan-only rangefinder Auto 35-L, AKA Richomatic 35 in other markets. The three models are similar and presented within a year, in 1960-61. The Zorki 10 and Zorki 11 are lookalikes, if not straight copies of these models, true to the Soviet ingenuity in copying anything of value.

The first of the trio was the Ricoh Auto 35, an odd-looking camera that broke all design conventions of the time. A boxy body, two-tone, no skin, all exposed plastic, immaculately metal-like finished. Ricoh did not stop with the overall design and added several bold, eye-catching features: the large selenium meter lens, an equally prominent trigger lever, and a bottom-mounted, folding latch winder. Letting creativity go wild, the designers threw a spanner in the gears by creating a peculiar setting dial, supported by a film guide table posted on the camera back. The table pointed to commercially available films, whereas using other makes was left to the user’s competence or imagination. This was corrected later in the model’s life, where the table referred to film speeds rather than brands. See the images below.

With camera eccentricities, for lack of other words, it is classified in the ‘read the manual first’ category.

• A fully automatic shutter and aperture settings. To shoot:
• Set the film value on the top of the lens assembly as suggested by the table on the back door. The values are translated to:
  • B
  • M: flash synch, 1/25
  • 2: 1/25
  • 3: 1/32
  • 4: 1/ 50
  • 5: 1/100
  • 6: 1/160
• For auto setting, set the fin at the side of the lens barrel to auto.
• For manual shooting, set this fin to the following:
  • 25ft = f4
  • 12ft = f8
  • 8ft = f20
• It seems that the distance settings correspond with the depth of field,
• The manual appears overconfident about flash photography, using M synch with a bulb, as I am yet to see the bulb lighting 25ft.
• What priority is set by the automatic exposure is not clear.
• Other notes:
  • The shutter is cocked by the sprocket on the film pathway. It means that it will not fire with no film loaded.
  • To rewind, press and hold the pinhead button at the bottom by the winder.
  • The frame counter is self-resetting. Unlike other Ricoh models, it is readable.
  • At both sides, a hole takes the hand strap. If you have one, plug it in and turn towards the red zone to lock it in place. Turn to the blue to release.
  • The viewer is large and clear, with bright parallax marks.
  • A needle over the red line at the bottom indicates underexposure.
  • There is no focusing dial. It is a fixed distance from 1.5m / 5′ to infinity.
  • Typical to Ricoh branding camera features, the winder is crowned as “Triggermatic action lever”
• The back pasted film guide for camera settings saw several incarnations; early models specified specific film brands, later changed to generic film speeds, and after, there was a dial calculator.

The next model was a rangefinder, the Ricoh Auto 35-L, AKA Richomatic 35, which I do not have. Please see 35mmc for further details.

The Ricoh Auto 35-V was the last in this group. It is based on the Auto 35, with several updates, making it a more reasonable, say friendly, camera.

• The bottom section is better designed at the outset, with the rewind lever granted a drop-in socket. It is a minor offering but more apparent where it is stored.
• The lens is still fixed, 1.5m / 5′ to infinity.
• The fold-down arm at the winder is larger, so it does not drop off the finger.
• Flash settings show guide number values marked at the lens assembly’s bottom and showing as colour codes on top of it, with distance icons for extra clarification.
• The camera sets the shutter speed and aperture opening.
• An added self-timer lever marked ‘V’ on the top of the lens assembly.
• The film speed dial has two windows, for ASA and DIN. ASA range 10-100.
• The winder also cocks the shutter, unlike the earlier model.
• The online specifications I find differ from the model I have. It could be either a variant or creative writing.
• Other than that, the specifications and modes are similar to those of the Ricoh Auto 35.

Ricoh Auto 35 images

Ricoh Auto 35-V images