Ricoh Hi-Color 35

The Ricoh Hi-Color 35 belongs to a family of similar-looking models under the Hi-Color name. All are spring-loaded, compact viewfinders, full-frame #135 format. Easy to use once reading the user manual. I’m not sure about the entire family, but the unit on my bench can shoot shutter-priority auto, governed by a CdS meter or fully manual. These models seem to be a later incarnation of the Ricoh Auto Shot of 1964.

The family consists of:

• Hi-Colour, 1968, The first model has a front-mounted trigger.
• Hi-Colour 35, described here, 1969. Per McKeown, it is half-frame. It could be another sub-model.
• Hi-Colour 35 S, 1970, with an added self-timer mounted at the top front.
• Hi-Color 35 BT, 1971. It also sold as Sears Auto 35, whereas the Ricoh model is elusive, perhaps sold only in the local market. It seems to have the same features as the Hi-Color 35, with controls repositioned.

There are many online references for such a humble camera. Some sources are detailed, some are on the fly, and some are identical copy-and-paste editions. An interesting reference is made to a 1970 edition of Popular Mechanics,  where articles strikingly resemble the same information as found today on online advertising and YouTube. Some products, mainly tools and hardware, remained unchanged and are as current as they are today. Even how-to-get-rich schemes were offered, nothing new under the sun.

Notes about this camera, in no particular order:

• The back cover has an anti-glare black coating; it peels on all models seen or reviewed, as well as mine
• Same with the focusing ring, found stuck on mine and most cameras reviewed. I tried shots of lighter fuel and gentle heating, still did not budge. Using my son’s adage, if it does not go with force, try more force; it worked, and now happily turns.
• The battery found in the camera has an expiry date of 1976, 48 years ago.
• I got ten actuations on full spring winding; the manual says fifteen. Perhaps the spring got tired over the years.
• The film perforation over the guide cog cocks the shutter. With no film, turn it manually to cock the shutter.
• The viewer doesn’t show much.
  • No parallax marks,
  • A large dot on the viewer’s top turns white for good lighting and red for underexposure; see below.
  • A tiny frame at the viewer’s bottom shows the distance markings, not sure why they added this feature.
• The battery is in an unorthodox location, on top, covered with an easy-to-use large thumb nut. Available LR44 batteries fit in place of the original 675 battery.
• An equally friendly film speed selector is on the opposite side of the top.
• The winding direction of the spring-loaded mechanism is counterclockwise. It probably took time to get used to it.
• To rewind, turn the winder dial clockwise till the arrow on the inner ring matches the red line on the outer ring. Then, press and hold the button in the middle of the dial while rewinding the film.
• The Self-reset frame counter at the bottom is illegible.
• Different finishes are seen online; I guess they are dressed up differently but have the same features.
• Opposite the lightmeter lens, there is another simulated(?) lens, guess to balance the looks.
• Select shutter speed via a dial proud under the lens assembly. See the value in the window at the front at 8 o’clock.
  • For auto, set the aperture dial to ‘AUTO’. The aperture dial is the closest to the body.
  • For manual use, select the F value on the said dial.
• A large white dot on the viewer’s top indicates good exposure; it turns red for under-exposure.
• The focusing ring is marked with meters, feet, and icons: a silhouette, two concentrating rings, and a mountain. See the camera back to translate these icons into meters/feet.