Ricoh thread mount Cameras - Taken from long gone website

Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.

(?)Ricoh Singlex, 1964-??

(Also SEARS SL II in USA)
Fixed pentaprism
Shutter: 1-1/1000,B (vertical metal mechanical)
Flash: swtcheable MX synch (?)
Metering: none (clip-on exposure meter)
Finder: split-image rangefinder in Freshnel screen.
Battery: none

Manual diaphragm(?)
Instant return mirror
Self-timer
More often Ricoh Siglex have Nikon mount. But it seems that some were made with the thread mount. But I am not sure about it.

Ricoh Singlex TLS, 1967-??

(Also SEARS TLS in USA)
Fixed pentaprism
Shutter: 1-1/1000,B (vertical metal mechanical)
Flash: standard F and X synch at 1/125, no hot shoe
Metering: Stoped-down metering
Finder: Microprism spot and ground-glass collar in Freshnel screen.
Battery: PX625

Auto diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Self-timer
Shutter dial in front of the camera.
Viewfinder image 93%

Ricoh TSL 401 camera

Ricoh TLS 401, 1970-??

Fixed pentaprism with waist-level viewfinder on top, so the views can be switched.
Shutter: 1-1/1000,B (vertical metal mechanical)
Flash: standard F and X synch at 1/125, hot shoe
Metering: Stoped-down metering TTL average or spot, with selector on the back of the camera.
Finder: Microprism spot in Freshnel screen. The type of metering visiable in the viewfinder.
Battery: PX625

Auto diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Self-timer
Shutter dial in front of the camera.
Viewfinder image ?

Ricoh SLX 500, 1976-??

Similar to Singlex TLS but, cloth shutter 1/30-1/500, hot shoe, no self-timer.

Ricoh Singlex II, 1976-??

Similar to Singlex TLS but, hot shoe and shutter dial on top of the camera.

Ricoh Auto TLS EE, 1973-??

(Also SEARS Auto TLS in USA)
Fixed pentaprism
Shutter: cloth 1-1/1000, B
Flash: standard F and X synch at 1/60, hot shoe
Metering: Open aperture metering, shutter priority (?)
Finder: Microprism spot and ground glass collar in Freshnel screen
Battery: ?

Auto diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Self-timer
Max aperture of lens set on top of the dial; AE hold.

Should you buy one? The only Ricoh camera I have is the TLS401. The switchable viewfinders are really handy when photographing something close to the ground. I like the ability to use the spot meter as well. Unfortunately, the viewfinder is relatively dark. This is, probably, because the light sensors are located behind the mirror, which is transparent.

From Jeff Wiseman: I've been using mine Ricoh Singlex TLS off and on for over 20 years and have never had a problem with it. Built like a tank and weighs about the same. I have the original 55 1.4 and 28 2.8 lenses which are very good. I'll keep using mine until it falls apart.

What do you think about Ricoh screw-mount cameras?

 
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