On December 20, 2022, Ricoh Imaging made an announcement that few within the pictures neighborhood noticed coming. The house owners of the Ricoh and Pentax strains of cameras introduced that they’re taking a look at making movie cameras once more.
In this video on the Ricoh YouTube channel, product designer Takeo Suzuki defined that the corporate needs to encourage younger folks to get into movie pictures. Not solely are they taking a look at making movie cameras at an reasonably priced worth, however they are going to be backed by a stable guarantee.
Suzuki then outlined a roadmap of 4 cameras they’re hoping to provide, beginning with a compact movie digicam adopted by a high-end compact movie digicam, an SLR, and eventually, a completely mechanical SLR.
As some extent and shoot fan, listening to that Ricoh is taking a look at making compact cameras was music to my ears. So, which movie cameras ought to Ricoh Pentax carry again? I’ve shortlisted 5 cameras I might like to see them severely contemplate as beginning factors for future compact movie digicam tasks.
Pentax Espio Mini / UC-1
Each Pentax and Ricoh have an incredible heritage of traditional movie cameras, so it is likely to be a shock that I’ve solely picked one Pentax digicam on this record: the Pentax Espio Mini, also referred to as the Pentax UC-1.
In contrast to many different Japanese digicam corporations, Pentax by no means made a premium level and shoot that you could possibly shoot in aperture precedence mode. The mid-range Espio Mini is as near a premium mannequin as they got here.
It’s a stunning digicam to take a look at and maintain, good and compact, and has a traditional clamshell design. I actually just like the 32mm f/3.5 lens, the pictures I took had been good and sharp and appeared nice. It’s additionally comparatively quiet, which is a bonus.
Execs
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Sharp lens
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Beautiful compact design
Cons
Ricoh MF-1
The MF-1 was primarily a Japanese model of the export-only Ricoh 35R launched in 1999. It seems to be massive and ponderous, however it weighs lower than 10 oz (230 g).
Its specs are sufficient to make it intriguing for any movie photographer. It has a reasonably vast 30mm f/3.9 lens, and you’ll shoot in program mode or you possibly can select three completely different apertures on the entrance of the lens: f/5.6, f/11, and f/22.
The MF-1 has autofocus in addition to four-point handbook zone focus, together with publicity compensation and publicity bracketing. Maybe the strangest factor in regards to the digicam is that it has an inbuilt flash in addition to a scorching shoe.
I used to be so intrigued by the digicam, I purchased one from Japan. I’ve loved capturing my take a look at roll, although it’s an odd beast. Directly, it feels each plasticky and premium, and it’s neither compact nor cumbersome. I’m wanting ahead to getting my scans again from the take a look at roll to see the way it performs.
Execs
- Numerous options for fanatic photographers
Cons
Ricoh R1 / R1s
As a fan of compact cameras, I’ve been within the Ricoh R and GR cameras for a very long time. Think about how blissful I used to be to choose up an R1 just a few months in the past for simply $65 at a neighborhood digicam honest.
The R1 is unbelievably skinny and compact, becoming in a jacket or pants pocket with out you realizing it’s even there. It’s tremendous mild, weighing simply 145 g or simply below 5 oz. It has an uncommon 30mm focal size with a most aperture of f/3.5.
It additionally has a cool celebration trick: like many 90s cameras, it has a panorama mode, however the R1 additionally has the power to shoot on the tremendous vast 24mm focal size solely in panorama mode, at a set aperture of f/8. I by no means use panorama modes on cameras often, however I discovered myself utilizing the vast angle panorama mode very often. The framing tips within the viewfinder enable you to get that poor particular person’s Xpan really feel.
I’ve owned a whole lot of level and shoot movie cameras, however I hadn’t felt this excited in a very long time. Sadly, my love affair with the R1 got here to an abrupt halt, as after two rolls, it stopped working. I nonetheless love the photographs I took with it – you possibly can examine them out and listen to my ideas on why the Ricoh R1 is the right 35mm pocket digicam on this video on my Matt Loves Cameras YouTube channel.
This encapsulates the problems with digital cameras made within the 90s and early 2000s: reliability and repairability are main points.
Execs
- Gentle, compact, and skinny
- Glorious lens
- Enjoyable to make use of
Cons
- Not identified for his or her reliability — will should be extra sturdy for the twenty first century
Ricoh Auto Half
With the worth of movie rising considerably in the previous couple of years, half body cameras have turn into extra talked about as a frugal approach of capturing movie. When speaking half body, often Olympus is the go-to model for traditional half body goodness. I personal the Olympus Pen FT, and it’s a improbable digicam, and if I may solely hold 10 movie cameras, it might be one in every of them.
However what you could not know is that Ricoh additionally had a line of half body cameras: the Ricoh Auto Half line. They had been initially made within the early Nineteen Sixties, with just a few new fashions popping up within the Seventies. Search the online and also you’ll uncover that the Auto Half got here in an unbelievable vary of retro colours and designs.
Think about if Ricoh created a twenty first century model of this digicam with autofocus and autoexposure. Given the success of the latest plastic Kodak Ektar half body digicam, a brand new Ricoh Auto Half would promote like hotcakes.
Execs
- Small and compact
- Cute design
Cons
- Digicam would want autofocus and autoexposure to class it above extra fundamental movie cameras out there
- Half body will deter some photographers
Ricoh GR1V
Once we discuss high-end level and shoot cameras, the Ricoh GR1V is all the time talked about alongside the likes of the Contax T3, the Minolta TC-1, and the Fujifilm Klasse S.
Launched in 2001, it was the final within the GR line to characteristic a 28mm f/2.8 lens. The digicam has the identical extremely slim kind issue as different R and GR collection cameras, making it one of many smallest and lightest superior cameras ever made.
The GR1V has autofocus, handbook focus, and the power to shoot in each program mode and aperture precedence mode. It additionally options a few firsts for the GR line: the power to set your ISO pace and autoexposure bracketing.
I’ve been watching this digicam for a couple of 12 months now, however have by no means truly pulled the set off. On condition that my first Ricoh R1 all of a sudden stopped working, I’m a bit hesitant to pay a lot cash for one. If Ricoh put this into manufacturing once more as their premium compact, it might promote very nicely.
Execs
- Premium compact level and shoot
- Numerous options in a compact design
Cons
- With premium options, there can be a premium worth
Ultimate Ideas
If Ricoh Imaging are going to carry again any digicam on this record, I hope they begin with a extra sturdy model of the Ricoh R1. This compact traditional will get rave critiques because of its extremely slim kind issue and the wonderful lens. A return of the R1 could be a shocking comeback for the corporate and can generate enormous pleasure amongst movie shooters. On condition that the Pentax division is spearheading this undertaking, perhaps it is going to be known as the Pentax P1?
Trying on the second stage of the roadmap, a brand new model of the Ricoh GR1V could be a surefire winner and would generate much more pleasure. Each the R1 and the GR1V have comparable kind components, so maybe parts may very well be shared throughout the 2 fashions, making it simpler for manufacturing and for restore technicians.
I additionally thought of just a few different cameras as attainable contenders for Ricoh Pentax to carry again; take a look at my video to search out out which of them. What are your ideas on compact movie cameras they need to carry again?
