ricoh slr suggestions

[zzzxtreme]

hi guys

Can ya guys recommend me a ricoh slr which have these features?

1) k mount

2) good metering

3) supports metering for "dumb" lenses. the camera doesn't know the aperture

4) split image focusing

5) easy to find batteries

any help is greatly appreciated

non ricoh is fine, but I was told split image focusing is more common with ricoh plus generally are cheaper than pentax options

 

[Heritage Cameras]

My favourite is the Ricoh XR-2s.

It's a full size but quite lightweight model with aperture priority auto and metered manual exposure, shutter speeds and apertures in the viewfinder, depth of field preview, connections for dedicated flash and auto winder, etc. In terms of specification it's like a Nikon FE2 with PK mount.

 

[Autonerd]

Hey there -- I own several Ricoh SLRs and love them.

1) k mount

[snip]

3) supports metering for "dumb" lenses. the camera doesn't know the aperture

Well, if it's a K-mount, the camera should know the aperture. There's a doohickey in the lens that engages a lever and communicates to the camera what aperture is selected. If you're using an adaptor (say for old M42 screw mount lenses) you'll need to do stop-down metering.

4) split image focusing

I believe most, if not all, K-mount Ricohs have this -- and what sets them apart is that the split is set on a diagonal which (I think) makes it easier to use.

non ricoh is fine, but I was told split image focusing is more common with ricoh plus generally are cheaper than pentax options

You are correct. I'd consider XR-2 or XR-2s, their most high-featured K-mount SLR; KR-10, which has a nice feature set; or XR-1 which is all mechanical. I'd avoid the KR-5 as it has pretty slim exposure settings.

The KR-10 Super is a newer model with an LCD meter that I find harder to read than the match-needle in the KR-10/XR-1/XR-2. Also they have a hair-trigger shutter. The XR-7 is the more fully-featured version of this camera. You can tell these newer cameras by the rectangular meter switch on the front of the camera, under the shutter dial.

I'd also avoid the KR-10M with power film winding, and I don't think they are as reliable.

You should also consider Sears cameras, which are rebadged Ricohs with Rikenon lenses. This page will show you the model equivalencies. Sears KSX is a KR-10, KSX Super is a KR-10 Super, KS-1000 is an XR-1, KS is an XR-2, KS Auto is an XR-2s.

Aaron